Ending a relationship is one of the most challenging, heartbreaking things that we go through in life. While it can occasionally be quite simple to decide that it’s time to break up, most of the time it can be an extremely agonizing experience. So how do you know if or when to end a relationship?
To see if we could help answer that question, we reached out to our Instagram community for story submissions and were overwhelmed with the number of responses from people wondering whether to continue or end their relationships. Today, we’ll be sharing some of the stories we received, walking you through these nuanced and complex situations, and offering our best advice for how to move forward.
Timestamps:
[2:35] We talk about our ‘rule’ for each other while preparing for this episode and a disclaimer
[7:33] Story #1: “…I feel like he doesn’t like the person I am or thinks everything about me is bullshit. I don’t feel respect from him.”
[8:46] We share what has made a difference for us in our relationship and how to curb the ‘ebb’ and maximize the ‘flow’
[10:30] We talk through the differences this couple is facing (kids, religion, lifestyle, etc.)
[15:26] “…I’m left feeling emotionally starved” and the complexity of Love Languages
[19:17] “I often find myself thinking that I deserve better and even that my daughter deserves better.”
[23:14] Our recommendation for this first story
[25:44] Story #2: “I worry that I’m spending so much time waiting. Waiting for him to emotionally open up, waiting for him to show me that he wants to have a kid with me […] I don’t have years to spend waiting.”
[28:27] We have a difference of opinion on the biological child/vasectomy situation and also talk about the reluctance to be a step-mother to the partner’s first child
[33:54] Xander’s hypothesis on why the partner may not be excited to have another child
[35:08] Our recommendation for story #2, with a caveat
[36:56] Story #3: “I love and want to be with him, but I’m tired of being blamed for cheating when that is not true.”
[38:37] The trauma of being cheated on and how it preys on insecurities
[41:52] Vanessa suggests something she doesn’t usually recommend as we give our advice for story #3
[44:17] Our advice to you if you’re going through something similar
Links & Resources:
Podcast: How To Navigate Different Political, Social, and Religious Beliefs In Dating And Relationships
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