I’m not sure I’m ready to be in a relationship

Are You Ready to Date Again?

So are you, are you not ready to begin your new relationship? You might be eager to begin your new relationship soon after a separation, but how soon is just too soon? How long must you wait before beginning your new relationship? Is it bad to begin your new relationship immediately after a divorce?

Everyone is different, so there isn’t any single formula for everyone to use. Some people might benefit from a singles retreat while others might prefer individual counseling sessions with a professional counselor.

How Do You Know If You’re Not Ready For A Relationship?

There are some who begin dating within a few weeks after ending their previous relationship. And others who are lonely but don’t want to be alone for as long as they spent during their last relationship.

If you’re feeling nervous about going out on dates, or if you feel anxious when thinking about meeting new people, then maybe you aren’t ready for a relationship just yet.

We’re not doomed! Hopefully we can fix this soon. You might want to give yourself some time before trying again.

If someone asks if you’re looking for a relationship, you can say yes by saying ““no

To disappoint someone is difficult. Most people would rather not tell someone the opposite of what he or she wants to hear, especially if it pertains to matters of romance.

When you truly want to convey “I don’t need a relationship right now” without sounding cold, hurt, selfish, or desperate, here are some things to keep in ­​­­­­­­tention when delivering the bad news:

Define the dynamic upfront

When approaching this topic, be clear about it right away. If you’re just casually hanging out together, don’t bring up any interest in S*x unless you both feel confident doing so. Otherwise, if neither one wants to talk about it, then don’t force yourself into uncomfortable situations.

Of course, if things change later down the road, that’s fine. But starting out the conversation from an honest place where both parties are comfortable is essential.

Express yourself! Tell them exactly how you feel and what you need.

Instead of blaming each other for not doing things right, be honest and direct about how you feel, what needs to change, and how that isn’t working. For example, maybe you’re both stressed because you’re having trouble focusing on your studies due to too many assignments and you need to prioritize your workload; or maybe you’re both excited about being newly single and exploring new opportunities but you need to set boundaries and stick to them so you don’t get into trouble.

Regardless of the situation, focus on feelings and emotions rather than arguing. If someone else’s feelings and emotions are in direct opposition to your own, then listen to their point of view without minimizing theirs. Stay true to yourself at all times.

Be kind, but be unapologetic.

It doesn’t mean you have to stop caring for people who care about you. Being mature means talking to someone in an open, honest manner even if you don’t want to talk to them.

If the other person expresses disappointment in your ‘no’, try to understand why, rather than just feeling sorry for them. Expressing understanding helps defuse negativity and avoid letting a dispute escalate into an argument.

Try to determine whether the upset stems from being disappointed in your decision (that’s understandable), or because you didn’t get what they wanted. For example, you might hear things like “You know I love you, but this is too big for me to handle right now” or “This is so hard for me to deal with right now”. In such cases, ask for details – maybe they’d prefer to talk in private.
Or you might hear things like “You’re really disappointing me” or “It hurts my heart to see you hurting.” When someone says they’re sorry for your pain, acknowledge the apology.

Keep in mind that apologizing doesn’t mean saying you’re wrong, or that you think you were justified in doing what you did. To let go of resentment and forgive another, you need to move past blaming them. Only then can you resolve the conflict and put any misunderstandings aside.

As we’ve seen in countless Hollywood films, even when “No” is presented as a rejection, the person who says no may really mean yes—but they’re just taking advantage of our natural tendency to give others second chances before deciding. And that’s why saying no often means you don’t want to hear from them again.

Your feelings about a potential new partner may change over time, and the right thing for you to do in any given situation depends on whether you’re feeling relaxed or stressed. So if you find yourself thinking about someone you once liked, you might try asking yourself why you’re thinking about them. And then ask yourself what you’d say if you could talk to them directly. What would make you happiest? Would you want to tell them something important? Or send them a message? Do you want to apologize for hurting them? How do you think they’d respond? Which one sounds most likely to move things along?

MAD Experts reveal why “I’m not ready for relationships” really IS a legitimate reason for breaking up.

Therapist Kim Egel said people can get caught up in their ‘humanness’ and move quicker than they should

Excitement about dating someone new can mask ‘deep-seated issues’

Someone may have been trying to distract themselves from the pain of a recent breakup before realizing they aren’t fully healed yet from past breakup

‘You never know what someone’s been through,’ said New York-based Psychotherapist Lillian Rishty

Dating coach Jenna Ponaman said it’s best to give people time to themselves when they say they’re not ready

If someone uses this phrase as a ‘way out’, wish them well and move on

Experts advised talking about initial steps if a prospective partner is nervous about moving too fast

There might be nothing more disheartening than clicking with a potential squeeze only to hear them say, ‘I’m not ready for a relationship’ – but experts think that that sentence really is valid for many reasons.

While one therapist admits that it may be someone’s polite way of letting someone down easily, many agree that ‘you never know what someone’s been through’ in their past relationship that has left them unable to commit.

But why do they give off such open vibes in the first place? San Diego-based licensed therapist Kim Egel told Bustle that initially, excitement takes over that can ‘mask deep-seated issues’.

But what do they mean? Relationship experts weigh in on what the phrase, ‘I’m not ready to date’ really means and how to react when you hear it (stock image)

‘Initially, it’s easy for attraction and excitement to take over when you’re first meeting someone and feel a genuine spark,’ Kim, said.

‘After all, an initial magnetic connection is hard to find and resist. We can get caught up in our ‘humanness’ and the excitement of attraction.’

‘The initial excitement can mask the deep-seated issues that, perhaps, that individual has not dealt with in terms of blocks to the heart or past relationship wounding.

‘They might have a history of toxic relationships, or other baggage they’re carrying around. And that’s why, seemingly out of nowhere, they’ll say they aren’t ready to date.

Jenna Ponaman, a qualified dating and relationship coach, agreed.

‘Someone may say [“I’m not ready for a relationship”] if they realize they jumped into a relationship too quickly, such as after a recent breakup.’

She added that that person may not really know what they want yet either, and are perhaps trying to distract themselves.

‘People that aren’t particularly comfortable with being single will often jump from one relationship to the next without consideration of what it is they truly desire in a relationship, or simply not give themselves the space to grieve.’

Someone like this needs appropriate time to focus on themselves, she recommended.

New York-based psychotherapist Lillian Rishty said that someone who utters the words ‘I’m not ready to date’ could be harboring anxiety about losing their independence if they begin a new relationship.

‘They may begin to feel trapped or fear giving up their own interests, hobbies and time. If fear sets in, they may decide bailing is the best and only course of action,’ she said.

‘In a healthy relationship where each partner is independent outside of the relationship, this shouldn’t be a worry,’ Lillian said.

‘But you never know what someone’s been through, or why they might have these types of concerns. It can help to talk about it, create some boundaries, and see if they’d prefer to take it slow,’ she advised.

‘Let them grieve’ said relationship coach Jenna Ponaman, pictured

‘We are always evolving throughout or lifespan, in and out of relationships. It isn’t always necessary to be single in order to find yourself, and being in a relationship with a supportive partner can even help a person along their journey. But not everyone feels that way, and it’s important to respect that,’ she concluded.

Matchmaker and relationship expert Margaux Cassuto said that, unfortunately, some people use this sentence disingenuously; as a way to get out of saying they’re not interested in pursuing a relationship with someone in the long run.

‘In some instances, this comment can also be a polite way of saying they’re no longer interested. Instead of being honest, they may choose to let you down gently by making it more about them, before fading into the distance,’ Magaux said.

‘If this person says they aren’t ready to date because they simply don’t feel the synergy, then it’s usually best to wish them well and move on,’ Jenna agreed.

‘There is no sense in wasting your time on someone you inevitable cannot make like you. Chances are if they do not feel the spark, you don’t either,’ she added.

So, how to decipher what they mean when they say the words?

The women advised to ask questions, gather more information, talk about ways to move forward that feel comfortable for all involved. But, at the end of the day, respect their wishes and look out for yourself too.

If they aren’t ready for a relationship, shouldn’t you wait?

A relationship takes two to tango. Sometimes one person can think they are ready to move forward and the other one doesn’t feel ready. It happens more often than you might imagine! In any case, relationships do require work, effort, communication, trust, and patience. So if you really love someone, it might make sense to try to understand why they aren’t ready yet and give them space. But if you are absolutely certain that you want to move ahead in your relationship, then you should probably talk to your loved one about what they expect from an intimate partnership and how you can help them reach that goal. If you truly believe that your partner is worth waiting for, then you should never stop trying to convince them of this fact. You might also consider talking to a friend who knows both of you extremely well and can offer you sound advice.

Every romance goes through a certain amount of development before they reach the level of an official engagement. Love changes the mind of both people involved, and depending on the past history between them, they may find themselves starting in different places and moving toward each other differently. They may start out as friends, then fall in love, then decide to get engaged, or something else entirely may happen. No one knows exactly how these things work because no two relationships are ever identical. But just like in life, we know that the best thing to do is take baby steps forward. Don’t jump right into marriage without thinking about what you really like and why you like it. Take your time so that you can make sure you know what you’re doing.

It would be nice if they knew that you were waiting for them…

You might want to give your partner some extra space so that they can think through whether they’re really ready for a committed partnership yet. If they don’t move as fast as you do, then they may take longer than expected to reach the same conclusions. Don’t rush into things unnecessarily; let them get comfortable first.

When you stand by the side of your loved one during the courting period, it lets him know just how much you respect his feelings and commitments. Nicholson suggests asking a couple of key question to determine if one is prepared for a serious commitment. “Are this a good time for your date or lover to commit to a monogamous, long term partnership? Are they willing to make sacrifices for the sake of a committed union?”

Waiting is difficult, but if the outcome is worthwhile then it’s well worth it. Don’t expect your partner to fall for you right away. Give them some time to learn who you really are.

Tell them it’s okay for them to talk to you. Communication is important.

Waiting for something can be emotionally draining

If you’re concerned that your partner isn’t committed enough to you, it’s important to take care of yourself emotionally. You might be feeling frustrated, anxious, or unhappy because your partner isn’t committed to you as much as you wish they were. It could be difficult waiting for someone who really doesn’t want a relationship.

When you’re feeling stressed out in the middle, ask yourself whether the other party is really worth keeping up with. If you’re not quite sure whether they’re the right fit for you, the stress you’re dealing with might not be outweighed by the benefits of hanging around to watch them come into their own.

The key to healthy relationship’s

A healthy and growing partnership starts when both parties are already flourishing on their own. If there are unresolved issues from a past partner or if you tend to get lost in relationships, you should talk to another person first.

Consider your motives.

If you’re a teen, you might not have ever wanted a “real” romance, then all of a suddent everyone is getting together, and you feel like you should be included, too. If this describes you, take a step backward. Remember that romance is not a contest. Real feelings and real humans are a part of real relationships, and you don’t want to get involved in one just because all your peers are.

Be aware of what a relationship demands.

Teens and young adults are ready for relationships at different times depending on maturity. In order to be in a healthy romantic relationship you must recognize what you have to be ready to give. Healthy dating relationships consist of some of the same elements as other relationships (e.g. friendships, family, etc.). However, with dating relationships, it can be easy to get caught up in the other person and neglect friends or activities. Consider the following key components to healthy relationships

Feeling comfortable expressing your thoughts, feelings, opinions, or dreams
Being considerate of the other person’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions
Treating one another with respect
Offering support to the other
Avoiding violence
Being able to resolve conflicts
Trusting each other
Comforting one another
Being able to confide in one another
Communicating directly and openly
Encouraging the other to have friends and other interests
Being honest about past relationships or sexual activity
Participating in sexual activity by choice

Question whether you enjoy the person’s company.
This may seem obvious but you surely don’t want to get involved in a relationship with a person you don’t like to hang out with. Usually, when couples are “in love”, they want to be together for hours on end and dread parting.While your love symptoms may not be that strong, you should still look forward to the time you spend with this person.

Take note that, while you can be excited about spending time with your partner and saddened when they leave, there is a line drawn that can make this behavior obsessive or codependent. A codependent relationship means you frequently give up your needs or interests in favor of your partner’s, or always want to be with this particular person only. If you spot such a pattern in yourself, you need professional help to learn how to form healthier attachments.

Decide if you want to take a sexual relationship further.
To know if you should be starting a relationship, it’s important to determine how much you actually care about this person. Maybe you have been hooking up with someone, but don’t know if you want to keep it this way or take on the title of “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”.Signs that you are interested in upgrading a sexual relationship may include having fun together and spending time that is not sexual in nature, having absorbing and thrilling conversations, being encouraged to improve yourself because of the other person, and wanting to know more about them – including meeting their friends and family.

Signs that you want the relationship to stay in the “sexual” category may include only being lovers with no friendship element, having a greater interest in S*x than quality time or conversation, being consumed in the person’s physical appearance, and keeping a wall up in which you discuss things in terms of fantasy rather than real feelings, opinions, and dreams.

Ask yourself if you are okay with being exclusive.
Another way to know if you are ready for a serious relationship is your commitment to just one person. You like the person you are dating so much that you can’t imagine seeing him with another girl or having another make him bowl over laughing. The desire for exclusivity is often a major indicator of the beginnings of a romantic relationship.

Be warned: extreme possessiveness, jealousy, or controlling are not elements of a healthy love relationship. Yes, you and your partner should want to turn away other suitors, but pushing away friends and losing your head if they talk to someone else is a red flag and an unhealthy attachment, or even abuse.

Know how to handle, and dish out, rejection in a mature way.
At the start of a relationship, the last thing on your mind is the end. However, when dating, particularly in teenage years, you have to be prepared with the possibility of rejection. Your date may find someone else they like, or you may lose your interest in being in a relationship. Can you appropriately respond to rejection? What about rejecting another, can you let someone down in a nice, firm way?[

When rejected, it’s okay to feel sad, disappointed, or angry (or any other emotion). Feeling this way is normal. However, use these feelings positively. Be nice to yourself rather than making yourself feel even worse with negative criticism. Make an effort to remember all the good qualities you have. Pat yourself on the back for having the courage to be vulnerable in the first place. Then, use what you learned from this situation to improve yourself and your relationships in the future.

When having to break up or reject someone, think through the conversation beforehand. Carefully go over your reasons and decide how to share them in a respectful way. Always break up face-to-face. For example, tell your date that you need to talk to him/her about something important. Initiate the conversation by saying something you like about the person. Next, explain what’s not working and that you want to break up. Tell the person that you are sorry to hurt him/her. Finally, respect the other person’s need for space.

Ready to Date Again?

In order to determine whether or not you’re ready to reenter the dating arena—and if so, what your next steps would be—you’ll need to do some soul searching about why you broke things off in the first place. Were there issues surrounding communication between you and your partner? Or was he just unable to relate to you emotionally? If the latter applies, then perhaps another relationship isn’t worth trying out. However, if emotional incompatibility really did play a role, then it might be time to move forward with an effort to get back together. After all,

You don’t need any kind of special timing; each person needs something different and each situation calls for a custom solution. For example, some people might best be served by a couple’s relationship coaching retreat, while another might benefit from one-on-one personal coaching.

You Keep Making The Same Dating Mistakes

Some people have unhealthy relationship behaviors. They seem to get into relationships with the same kind of person, pick an unavailable partner, or attract people who bring out the worst in them.

Dating habits are usually influenced by past experiences—a reaction to bad relationships or ones from our childhoods.

A negative experience with someone, whether it be romantic, professional or social, has an effect on our ability to relate to others well.

If this has ever occurred to you, then the most effective method of moving forward would be to consult a professional therapist, so that you could determine your pattern of attachment styles and learn how to make better choices when dating again.

You Are Working On Yourself Right Now

It could be that if you’re feeling down or unhappy, there may be things in your life that need to change for you to become happier.

And that’s ok.

You need to be ready to let someone else into your life.

After all, it’s not possible to be available for others if you haven’t taken care of yourself first.

The key is to work through your pain, don’t ignore it; otherwise, you’ll be emotionally vacant.

It’s crucial to feel happy, balanced and healed.

You don’t know who you are if you are not happy with who you are now. If you aren’t satisfied by where you stand right now, you must identify your issues first before you can move forward. It’s difficult to maintain a relationship when you’re not yet who you want to be. In addition, workshops or one-on-ones might help you improve yourself.

How Do You Know When You are Ready for a New Relationship?

Don’t think that starting another relationship immediately after ending one will help you overcome grief. Rather than rushing right into a new relationship, take some time off before beginning to date again.

A lost relationship deserves to be mourned. Even when the decision to end it was made by both partners, there is still the grief of the missed opportunities and dreams that must be faced together.

Go slowly into a fresh new start. Take your sweet leisurely times. While there is no “magic” period of days that must pass before embarking on a new start, consider about six to 12 weeks. Some professionals recommend waiting a full twelve weeks after ending an old friendship before starting a new one.

Asking yourself questions — thinking, journal writing, and talking out loud with a trustworthy friend or therapist—will help you walk this walk so that you leave your life better than when you started.

Here are some suggestions to help you write down your thoughts and ideas. Make sure to read them several times. When you’re away from home, there may be new insights.

When you’re looking at the past relationships, look for clues about who you were as a person when they last broke up. You may discover some things you want to change before starting another important new romance.

These questions are excellent ones to ask yourself as you’re ending (or have ended) a romantic entanglement, several days after it ends, and again several months after it has ended. A distance often brings new perspectives.

Why do I think that my last relationship ended?

What would my partner say was the reason that the relationship did not work?

Is there any pattern between the ending of this relationship and the ending of other relationships?

Is this relationship truly over or is there unfinished business with that partner?

How intense are my feelings for my former partner, both positive and negative?

Have I accepted completely the end of the relationship and the hope that it will pick up again some day?

Have I fully grieved the loss of that relationship?

Sometimes choosing unhealthy relationships can lead us down a path we really didn’t intend. We believe we know what we want, but may not realize how much our partner would end up hurting us if they were to leave. Unhealthy partners take advantage of us because they know we won’t stand up for ourselves. In order to avoid these situations, choose partners who show respect, love, and appreciation. They should encourage us to grow and learn instead of pushing us away. They should accept our differences and help us work through them together!

What have I learned about the choices that I make in partners?

Do I seem to be picking the same kind of person or making the same mistakes over and over again when making a choice? (Do I often pick partners that are disrespectful? Distant? Have difficulty with affection? Abusive? Have addictive personalities?, etc.)

Have I clearly identified what characteristics, qualities and values are important to me in a partner?

Am I looking to find something in someone else that I don’t have in myself?

Am I more concerned about whether or not the other person is right for me than if I am right for them?

Do I know that I cannot change another person?

No relationship ends completely because of one person. Even if the choice was a bad one, part of the reason it got bad has to do with the dance between you and your partner. Carefully look at how you handled situations and ways that you treated your partner.

What have I learned that I have done well in relationships?

What have I learned that I need to do differently?

Do I sabotage myself in relationships?

Have I received any advice from a trusted source that might give me information about how to be a better partner in a relationship?

To be part of a healthy romantic/sexual (or platonic) relation­ship, one must be a whole and healthy person who feels comfor­table with himself or herself and his or her current situation.

Do I feel strongly about myself and about my own identity?

Do I get my sense of self from people that I date?

Do I know the components of an emotionally intelligent relationship?

Do I know how to be a healthy and emotionally intelligent partner?

Do I have other things going on in my life that are fulfilling and rewarding or do I spend my life around my dating partner?

Do I have other intimate (non-sexual) relationships?

Is there anything that I am afraid of or avoiding?

Do I have any behaviors that are out of control (drinking, shopping, work, etc.)?

Do I know what I want to get out of dating … a committed relationship? Fun?

Do I know how to be open and direct about my needs with my partner?

There may never be a time when everyone knows exactly what they’re doing in any given situation, but the better we know ourselves and our partners, the more likely we are to be half of a healthy, functional relationship. We’ve got to learn to see things clearly, to be aware and observant, to act appropriately, and to evaluate whether something seems right or not.

Exclusive Dating Vs. A Relationship – The MAD Difference, Explained

Your relationships go smoothly for awhile until someone asks “so, like, what are we?” and then suddenly an awkward silence ensues.

You may be wondering if your relationship has any chance at surviving long term. Are they someone that you could potentially see into a relationship with? Or maybe you’re thinking about trying something new. If so, read on! Keep reading to find out why they deserve some attention.

But the real question is… Is it worth having the “define the relationship” talk now? Right after the breakup or just when things get rocky again? Or even later on down the road? If we don’t know what kind of relationship our ex wants, then we won’t be able to give them exactly that. And if we don’t know what they want, then we won’t know whether we’re giving them what they need! So it may be a good time to have that important discussion.

What does exclusive dating really mean?

“To be clear, when someone says they’re ‘dating strictly,’ they mean both members of the couple are focusing solely on each other.” “They’re not juggling their own clients either,” she adds.

Your goal is to be committed to each other in a monogamous relationship, but you still want to test drive things out a bit longer. Ya know, just to be sure. It’s also a lot less pressure than throwing a label on things right away.

You’re continuing to get to know one another, and you’re putting the same amount of time and energy into doing so, without distractions from any other potential suitors. After all, you gotta make sure the other person is okay with sleeping with the fan on or your strict reality TV schedule. The main thing is, you see potential and are mutually willing to work toward a future to see if you’re truly compatible.

This exclusive-dating process means your lives are starting to become naturally more entwined. Maybe you start hanging out with their friend group regularly on weekends, or you bookmark a funny meme to send them later because it reminded you of a shared experience.

You’ve likely lost interest in your work crush, and if a dating app is still on your phone, you haven’t touched it in weeks. And when you make it onto their Instagram story—or even more telling, their main feed—it’s a sign things are becoming exclusive.

All that said, exclusive dating does not mean that this person is your significant other. That role requires legit responsibilities and a shifting of priorities—namely, putting your bond together before other commitments.

Oh, and while you’re at it: Exclusive dating isn’t something you want to assume or infer is happening. Even if you’re ~so sure~ that you’re both only interested in each other, it’s still a good idea to have an actual (out-loud) conversation about it, when you’re comfortable. Trust your intuition, but know that hearing is way more reassuring.

An actual monogamous relationship takes exclusivity a step further, when you can commit to a future with this person.

“When it shifts into a relationship, there’s a focus on the longer term,” Concepcion says. “There’s a desire to get on the same page about bigger life goals, such as living arrangements, finances, family, career goals, and anything requiring true partnership.”

Of course, these life elements take some time to build up to, as well. It’s not like you’ll be moving in on day one, but by the time you’re in an established relationship with this person, you could see it down the line.

You also should feel more comfortable in your skin and willing to share more of yourself and your time with this person—since, ya know, you’ve made a commitment to them.

When coupledom is on the horizon, it’s likely bae starts asking you to spend way more nights over their place, even on (gasp) work nights, or (bigger gasp) wants you to meet their parents.

If someone who was once one of your top prospects becomes your first or second choice when you’re ready to disclose important new information, that’s a good thing because it indicates that you may now be ready for the next step.

Whatever you decide to do, at the end of it, you’ll have to be able to verbalize what you want so that your partner understands why you want him/her to come back to you.