Dating these days is hard because people are afraid of bad relationships. Let’s face it – things are much different than they used to be. Societal values have changed dramatically, and technology has revolutionized the dating scene (and not necessarily for the better).
Even worse, chivalry seems dead, but many modern women don’t mind since they feel more liberated than they did so many decades ago. That leaves men confused and women who like chivalry feeling missing out.
While all these modern-day changes may be suitable for human advancement, it’s not necessarily the best for dating. You may have noticed this already, especially if you’re reading this article. People are confused when it comes to dating – they’re afraid of a lousy relationship, but they’re also afraid of being alone, so they settle for someone who doesn’t meet their standards. This results in lots of relationship problems.
What keeps a person in a bad relationship?
Many people stay in toxic relationships for various reasons. They think being alone is worse, so they deal with unhappiness and abuse. Here are three reasons people stay in bad relationships.
You think there is no one better.
As mentioned before, dating is hard. Finding someone compatible is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s so difficult that it can feel like there are no good prospects out there. When you feel this way, giving up a partner you’ve already snagged off the market can be scary, even if the person is unhappy in the relationship.
Thoughts of everything you have been through can be stifling. You may feel like finding yet another partner to create memories with is impossible. It may seem like so much work to do it all over again.
Going through the dating process all over again can seem tedious, especially if you already think there aren’t good prospects. There is just no motivation to do better when you feel that there isn’t anyone better. You might give up on the idea of being in a happy relationship.
You must change this way of thinking if you’re ever going to be happy. It’s not easy, but you must believe someone is better out there.
Relationship coach Jordan Gray suggests that the best way to meet someone better is to be better. Work on improving yourself, and you’ll encounter someone better than your ex. Remember, you need to leave the current lousy partner as soon as possible because you’ll never find someone if you are stuck with the wrong one.
You feel that you don’t deserve better.
Perhaps you aren’t concerned that you can’t find someone better. It could be that you feel like you are unworthy of someone better. Clinical psychologist Suzanne Lachmann, Psy.D. says that feelings of not deserving better come from things that have happened in a person’s past that influence their outlook, or “in-look,” as Dr. Lachmann puts it.
Something in a person’s past makes them feel like they should be in a bad relationship. Another way to look at it is that something in their past also makes them afraid to be alone, so they stay with a lousy partner.
Dr. Lachmann suggests that this isn’t uncommon. Everyone holds on to something from their past that makes them feel undeserving. For some people, it manifests as staying in a toxic relationship.
It can be hard to change this pattern, but the first step is to realize you need to change. For this to happen, it may take an outside influence to help you see the issues you are dealing with.
You may be financially dependent on your partner.
When you get most or all your financial support from someone, it can be terrifying to think about leaving. The world is expensive and getting pricier by the minute. Good intentions don’t pay bills.
Striving out independently without money, support, or resources can be tough. It can be crippling, which is precisely why you would stay in a bad relationship. However, this doesn’t mean you are stuck. It just means you need to prepare to struggle a little bit, and you need to get creative.
Some programs can help people coming out of abusive relationships. They won’t provide the best resources, but they will provide you enough to get out of the relationship and stand on your own two feet. If you’re worried about handling life alone, you may be pleasantly surprised at how well you handle it when you give yourself a chance to.
Here is why you shouldn’t be afraid to be alone.
Psychologists agree that being alone is better than being in a bad relationship. It might be rejuvenating for a person to focus on themselves. Here are some reasons you should embrace being alone.
You can focus on building yourself up.
Being in a lousy relationship can do a number on your self-esteem. Your confidence may have hit the floor, and you might be at the end of your rope. When you are single, getting your self-esteem back is much easier. This is because you don’t have some lousy partner eating away at your self-love.
If it helps, don’t think of being single as being alone. Think of it as you are dating yourself. Get to know yourself. Find out what you like – what makes you tick. Take yourself on nice dates and buy yourself nice gifts. Make yourself happy. Fall in love with yourself.
When you love yourself, you won’t ever have to worry about being in a bad relationship again. Your self-esteem and self-worth will be so high that no one can bring it down.
You’ll have room in your life for the partner of your dreams.
You can’t meet the right person if you’re in a relationship. The right person will have too much respect for your relationship to deal with you. That’s exactly what you want – someone who respects boundaries.
Don’t miss your Mr. or Mrs. Right because you’re trying to hold on to someone so wrong. It’s scary, but you must believe that there are good, worthy people out there that can make you happy. You also need to ensure you’ve healed from dealing with the wrong person so you don’t let those old feelings affect your new relationship.
You can believe that it’s okay to be alone.
People seem to give the status of “alone” or “single” such a negative connotation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with not being attached. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to be attached.
Society tends to make people think they should be dating by a certain age, married by a certain age, and have kids by a certain age. This may have been the norm at one point in history, but now it’s not. People are more focused on themselves and their careers than ever before.
People are more interested in living life to the fullest before settling down, and that’s okay. If you take the time to entirely focus on the things you want to do before settling down, you won’t have any regrets later in life. You won’t feel trapped, and you won’t feel unfulfilled.
Don’t let anyone pressure you into believing something is wrong with you for wanting to be alone. Embrace all that being alone has to offer.
You’ll discover what you really want in a partner.
Being in a lousy relationship can sometimes cause you to have blinders. You’ll be so consumed with emotions from dealing with your partner that you don’t have time to think about what you really want. You may wish that your partner did certain things or acted a certain way, but it can be hard to think clearly when you’re so emotionally invested in a situation like this.
Being single lets you focus on what you genuinely want in a relationship. The freedom you’ll have lets you truly get in touch with your feelings. You’ll have the added benefit of dating – even if it’s hard – and this can help you discover all the traits you don’t want in a partner.
Final Thoughts on Being Alone Instead of in a Bad Relationship
Humans are naturally social creatures, so it’s no surprise that people don’t want to be alone. However, being alone doesn’t mean you have to be alone forever. Being alone can be a period of enlightenment that helps you grow and become a better person.
One thing is for sure. You shouldn’t stay in a bad relationship out of fear of being alone. No one benefits from a lousy relationship, not even the person that’s making the relationship lousy. If you’re in this situation, the best thing you can do is embrace being alone to have a bright and loving future with the right one. In the end, you’ll be glad you faced your fear.
