One Sided

It may be a good reason to break up if you find that your relationship has become entirely one sided.  Maybe it’s you that is putting in all the effort to make things work or maybe your partner is the one who is always giving and receiving nothing in return.  Either way, if one person has essentially switched off and is no longer contributing to the relationship, it’s probably time to move on.

Out Of Love

There are times when two people simply fall out of love with each other.  It can be difficult to explain and to understand, but when the love is gone, there’s not much point carrying on in a romantic relationship.  It’s best for both of you to move on and find someone else who will inspire passion in you again.

Out Of Lust

It’s almost impossible to maintain the kind of sexual excitement you experience as a couple when you first get together and it’s natural for that ardour to fade over time.  So while a dip in sexual attraction is natural, a complete lack of it is not good.  If you find yourself having no desire whatsoever to touch your boyfriend in a sexual manner, it’s a sign that things are not going well.  If it’s unfixable, it may be a good reason to break up.

Distance And Time

Distance and time away from each other don’t have to be dealbreakers for a relationship.  There are plenty of couples that has successfully weathered long distance relationships and managed to stay together happily.  Naturally, it depends on the how far apart you are and how long you plan to be that way.  If he has an internship in a city a short drive away from home or you’re planning to backpack across Europe for a couple months, these situations should be somewhat easily endured.  If, however, you’re planning on attending school in England for four years or his job is relocating him across the country, these may be trying times for your relationship.  You may find that it’s easier to end your relationship, at least for the time being.  If you are ever in the same city again, you can always pick up where you left off.

There’s Someone Else

In the case of monogamous relationships, having feelings for a man other than your boyfriend is generally a relationship killer.  Similarly if he has fallen for another woman, you’re unlikely to want to stay with him.  It’s hard for the monogamous to reconcile their partner being in love with someone else and still being with them.  For the polyamorous it’s another story, but that’s a subject for a separate article.

Think It Through

Even if you think you have a very good reason to end things with your boyfriend, be sure to take some time to think it through.  It also couldn’t hurt to talk about it with him, with your friends or even with a therapist if need be.  Don’t do it on a whim, immediately after a big fight or until you’re absolutely sure it’s the right thing to do.

Share your thoughts with Sarah at sarah (at) thesoko (dot) com.