Is it wiser to wait for someone to work through external stressors or move on with my life?
Hi Beany. Thanks for reaching out. Relationships can be difficult to navigate and manage. Relationships require intimacy, vulnerability, communicating feelings, and working together as one to be mutually happy.
We have all been hurt and have things we need to work on and resolve to be stronger and there for others. Self reflection and open truthful dialogue is needed to assess how you are both feeling in your relationship.
How do we work towards forming healthy relationships? We trust, respect, and support each other. We communicate with honesty and show compassion.
Can you be there for each other, move forward, and be supportive together? These are questions to openly discuss and resolve with each other. This will help create goals as a couple, boundaries and lead to better understanding.
Is being together causing pain or hurt? Do your values align? Do you both want the same thing in the relationship? While you were apart, did you miss each other or feel calm and at ease? These are all important questions to ask yourself and each other. Not a simple process or easy situation to manage. Knowing when to walk away or deciding to stay and be together can be challenging and difficult.
What do you need in a relationship to feel happy, intimate, safe, relaxed, and one with your partner? Are you better together or apart? Knowing and understanding these things helps us establish our boundaries and enables us to set limits with ourselves and the loved ones in our life.
In many situations, it is helpful to reach out and seek guidance from a mental health professional. An objective person with whom you can share your feelings and express your emotions in a safe space free of judgment. In addition, should you decide to pursue the relationship, couples counseling can be healing for both of you and help you move forward to heal from past hurts. In counseling you will learn strategies and coping mechanisms to help figure out how to live a healthy, balanced life. We need to gain these skills and techniques to be our best selves and be present in the relationships we form.