Wednesday 29 August 2012

BUT.... WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!!!!


A common plea: But, we're "just friends." However the "emotional connection" is quite obvious by the amount of time spent in communication and the "vibes" that are set off.
These emotional connections often arise at work or in a social context in which working intensively toward a common goal consumes energy. 

Here are a few observations of the "just friends" emotional affair:
1. This person often struggles knowing where to draw the line. S/he often throws him/herself into something 100%. Other aspects of his/her life may suffer or be ignored. There often is a lack of personal balance between family, work, self care.

2. He/she struggles with intimacy. (I want to be close to someone, but don't like intimacy.) The "just friends" emotional affair means neither spouse nor OP (other person) ever get "intimate." Neither relationship is fully consummated or has potential for growth.

 

3. Of course the "just friends" comment means either "stay away" or "I'm, underneath all this, really confused about where I fit in relationships, what I want from them, or what they mean to me." There is an "emotional connection" to the OP that defies description. A sad kind of "stuckness or lostness."
The lover or "falling in love" emotional affair has a different twist.
The common complaint to the partner is: "I feel badly about this, and I don't want to hurt you, but, I'm not in love with you anymore." "I love you but I'm not in love." This often indicates:
1. This person usually has a need for drama and excitement. Life easily becomes a soap opera. Emotional juice from the fall-out of emotionally intense relationships reigns rather than living life from the core of who one is.

2. The person “looking for love” is actually looking for the ideal, someone out there, who will project back to him/her that he/she is OK. No, more than OK, close to perfect.

3. This person needs to be adored, or think another adores him/her, because there is a lack of inner strength and solid identity. The other becomes my world, because I lack a world. Being “in love” is the panacea for my emptiness.

4. This type of affair often occurs when there is a “lull” in the marriage relationship. The responsibility of raising children, starting and maintaining a career, paying bills, etc. become the focal point for the couple. Romance becomes a foreign word.
There are many many subtle differences in affairs. Emotional affairs are only one kind. Once you begin to see and understand the differences, a new sense of empowerment overtakes you embark on a more confident path of resolution.

If you enjoyed this article please share with friends and leave your comments...

Thank You,
Liz John Black.

11 comments:

  1. i can see myself in this, this is so true, now i understand that i need to build a life that i enjoy and anyone who wants to be a part of my life will have to work hard at it.

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    1. Hi dear,
      I'm glad you recognise now certain about how you handle relationships. Find yourself, know who you are and define yourself. set standards for yourself, build your and have interesting activities such as swimming, gyming, dance classes, going to the movies with friends, reading books, religious activities, etc. make yourself very busy that you hardly have time for an undeserving person.

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  2. i also agree, when i meet a guy i like, i become immediately soaked in and attached, and every other thing in my life suffers, i can usually multi-task, but when i hook up, i am all about this new guy and i find myself seatin around doing nothing waitin for his call or messages. i'm i pathetic?

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    1. Hi dear,
      thanks for your comment and opening up.i do not think you are pathetic, however, i think you have a low esteem, and you constantly feel the need for assurance and affirmation from people. you need to look at your life and take notes of all the wonderful things you do and the great parts of who you are, and get your confidence from there. You also need to develop life goals and work towards achieving them. Once you do that, you begin to feel a sense of purpose in life, and that will affect your decisions especially in relationships. never sacrifice for a man who isn't worth it, he needs to have broken an arm, leg and spine for you before you raise a finger for him.
      i hope i have answered you satisfactorily.

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    2. thanks Liz John Black, God Bless you.

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