When a relationship ends, knowing what to do with your ex can be challenging. On the one hand, you may have shared many great memories and still care about them deeply. On the other, the break-up may have been painful, and you may not be ready to forgive and forget just yet. So, should you be friends with your ex? Here are a few things to consider to help you decide.
Your Feelings
Do you still have feelings for your ex? Do you still hope to have a future with them someday? If so, remaining friends might do more harm than good, especially if they’re the one who broke things off. You don’t want to set yourself up for more heartbreak hoping that a friendship will once again turn into something more. If you’re still feeling hurt, upset, or frustrated about how the relationship ended, giving yourself space to heal and move on might be best.
Their Feelings
It’s also important to consider your ex’s feelings. Are they still holding onto hope that the relationship will spark up again? If you’ve moved on and they haven’t, remaining friends could give them mixed signals and false hope. If you choose to stay friends, make sure you’re both on the same page about the expectation for your relationship.
Your Future Relationships
Staying friends with your ex might not be an issue right away, but what about when you start dating someone new? How will they feel knowing that an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend is still part of your life? Even if the friendship is entirely platonic and no feelings are involved, it might cause a barrier in a new relationship. One way to think about it is to consider how you would feel if someone you’re dating still had a relationship with their ex.
If you stay friends with your ex, it’s definitely worth mentioning to someone you’re dating, especially if the relationship gets more serious. It all comes down to prioritizing the most important people in your life and deciding how you want to honor the person you’re in a relationship with.
Their Future Relationships
Then flip the switch and think about your ex’s next relationship. If you are going to remain friends, what boundaries can you put in place to ensure you’re not disrespecting their new relationship once they get another boyfriend or girlfriend? Finding that balance with someone you were once close to can be tricky. Texting every day used to be no big deal, but it might make their new partner feel uncomfortable. It’s important to find a balance and respect each other’s decisions for friendship, especially once new relationships get involved.
So, Should You Remain Friends with Your Ex?
Ultimately, it depends on the situation and your feelings. If you think you can remain friends without any hurt feelings or awkwardness, then go for it. However, if you think being friends would only result in more pain, it may be best to take some time apart. Whatever you decide, just be sure to stay true to yourself and consider the feelings of others.