should i break up with him?

November 13, 2008 7:12pm CST
I have been going out with this guy for 4yrs now, and although some things about him have bothered me right from the start, i always thought i loved him and tried to ignore those things. There was a time when I thought we would get married, or at least live together, but neither of those things have happened. Lately the things that bothered me before, and now other things, have been bothering me even more, to the point where i don't want to spend time with him. In the past few weeks, I have met someone that i find i really enjoy talking to. I don't see very much of him, except in the mornings during the week, and sometimes he comes to where i work. I find i really enjoy the times i see him, and look forward to the mornings when i see him. The thing is, my boyfriend tries his best to always treat me like a queen, he always tries to be the perfect boyfriend, but that is one of the things that bothers me because i feel like i have to be perfect around him, and it's like walking on eggshells. I don't know what to do, as my feelings for him have changed and i find it harder to hide that from him. I don't want to string him along, yet i hate to hurt him. These feelings were there before i met this other man, so he really doesn't have anything to do with my feelings for my boyfriend, but i can see something starting there, and cheating on my boyfriend is not an option for me. Can anyone help me out with this one?
3 people like this
19 responses
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
14 Nov 08
hello KhittiKhat77, You need a lot of thinking before making your final decision. Choosing between your boyfriend and your new boy friend is really tough. Have to weigh between the two who is the right guy for you. If you're really decided then you can tell both of them who is the perfect guy for you. Talk to your boyfriend so you can find out the answer what's bothering you about him. You're the only one who can decide.
14 Nov 08
i wouldn't say this guy is a new boyfriend yet. I'm not even sure that when i do break up with my boyfriend that i even want another one just yet. I mentioned him, simply because he is there, and i like him. As for what bothers me about my boyfriend, there are many things, one of the biggest things I have already tried talking to him about, but he told me i was being unfair.
1 person likes this
• Canada
14 Nov 08
I guess what you should do is to find your self first. Don't ignore your feelings, and find within yourself what do you want to be. Also with this you should also be open to whatever you feel you want and the decision lies in your hand. You are the one holding your fate. Listen to your heart and do what it say. Sometimes the truth hurts but it will set you free from the things you want to let go and the changes you want to come in. You will need to go for what you desire to do. I am sure sooner or later the feelings you have on the guy will go deeper since he stands to be the guy you wanted unlike your present bf. If you want to search for a real happiness then you have to accept you might get hurt or you may hurt someone at least you are not making it more longer of hiding it. It's better he hears it from you rather than he will find it out to someone else or seen it for him self. Thats a lot hurt to feel, because he will really feel he is betrayed.
2 people like this
14 Nov 08
Thank you for your response. You make a very good point, since as i said this guy comes to see me at work sometimes and my boyfriend can show up there anytime also. Although i only talk to this guy, if my boyfriend saw me talking to him he would know something is up right away. I do not want to do that to him. I guess i just hate to hurt him, but i can't keep this up anymore.
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
14 Nov 08
I guess you are the only person who can make that decision, I think you have to keep in mind that this is your life, to be happy and make the most of that life is what it is all about, but before you make any permanent decisions make sure you know what you are doing, it is not an easy thing to do I know..
14 Nov 08
your right it is not an easy decision to make. I care about him, but i really don't think i love him. I'm no longer even sure i ever really did. We broke up once before, because i told him i didn't love him the way he loved me. I just hate to hurt him in the same way all over again. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Simple answer- if you are unhappy with your current boyfriend then leave him. He obviously doesnt want the same things you do. It's not like you would be doign it for this other guy it would be for yourself. He doesn't have to know that you met someone else.
• United States
15 Nov 08
Well to start off you have to think about you what makes you happy. and you have to weigh in how much you love this man 4 years a long time to quit someone because of communication errors. have you ever expressed to him how he makes you feel? and if so, has he attempted to change,if not then I beleive its time to move on. Don't play with his feelings be honest in what you do, because i beleive you should never settle because you don't want to hurt someone because in the end you end up hurting yourself. take some time to talk it out with your BF, and see if he is willing to fight for your love if not I say move on
1 person likes this
@Rachelce (19)
• Australia
14 Nov 08
I was with a guy for 4 years, we lived together and we had a dog. He was supporting me so i could finish my educaion and working long days. My feelings toward him started to change...i just didnt find him attractive anymore and we never really paid affection to eachother (we were still only 18! so i kept thinking what our elationship would be like wen we were older). I wanted to break it off for ages ut felt so guilty becuase he had given me so much, but where he go?....where would i go. And we had all our joint friends....finally it got too much and i ended up falling in love with one of our closest friends. This friend was Rikki, we kissed once and i felt so much guilt that i had to tell my bf. I ended really badly but we regained a friendship with him (probably because we new eachother sooo well) and now 3 years on im still with Rikki. Im glad in a way that i left...but not in that way. You should just come straight out with him and tell him how you feel. There is no way that wont hurt him...im sorry.
14 Nov 08
Thank you for your response, but your right too, no matter what I'm going to end up hurting him. He's always said that if i found someone else, just tell him, but don't cheat on him. I understand that part, i've had that done to me and i know what that feels like. I have not cheated on him even once, although i had the opportunity a few years ago, but i did not. We really don't have any joint friends, it's more like i have my friends from work and he has his friends. We each know the others friends, but in all the time we've been together we have not made any new friends together. I feel so much guilt just talking to this other guy, but we only talk we don't even flirt, but i know that he is interested in me, as i am him. My boyfriend has noticed the difference in me and has asked several times if there is someone else, but i always tell him no, now i'm wondering if i should just tell him yes.
1 person likes this
@trixyteddy (1070)
• India
14 Nov 08
Isn't it better now than later? What's the point of being unhappy your whole life? You will be miserable and in the bargain, your boyfriend too will become miserable. You cannot keep pretending forever. Tell it to him straight. He might get hurt, but this hurt will last for a very short time. Then both of you can go on with your live. Never, never ignore your intuitions. I made this mistake and it really scares me when somebody ignores it. Go ahead with the guy you like. All this is of my opinion. You are the final decision maker. I do wish you all the best. Let all go well for you. May God bless you.
1 person likes this
@teejams (88)
• Philippines
14 Nov 08
okey first of all i admire you for choosing not to cheat on him. and it's the right thing to do. another thing you can do for now is to really really assess what you're feeling for both guys. is what your feeling for the new guy real? or maybe you're just excited with the new attention and thrill in meeting someone new. on the other hand, if you think there's still a chance to fix things between you and your boyfriend and if he really is the perfect boyfriend that your saying then he should understand why some things are bothering you and he should reassure you. have you talked to him about these? well if you're way past the talking about the problems stage and there's no growth or action towards it then i think it's time to end it. there's no ending it nicely. either way it will still hurt the both of you. breakups will always be painful but what's nice about it is that you can look forward to a better relationship. it will open doors for both of you. especially if you've been waiting to get married or live with him. i totally understand. i've been there done that. 4 years too. i waited and have gotten tired. but i met someone after 5 months and was happy with my decision. if staying with your current boyfriend is becoming a burdensome than a growing relationship then it's time to let go. good luck!
• United States
14 Nov 08
I would have to say from first hand experience to follow your gut feeling!! ,,, 9 times out of 10 your gut is usually right. I Know in the past i wish i would have listened to my gut. and due to me not listneing to my gut i ended up in a domestic violence situation that was NOT fun. So Please if you feel your gut is telling you omething is not right , get out now and while you can!
@mythreya (90)
• India
14 Nov 08
It is not tough to answer.Have a Heart to heart talk with your old boy friend.Tell him about what you feel about your relationship.You are hurting yourself by thinking that you dont want to hurt him.So speak to him once .
1 person likes this
@chiaeugene (2225)
• China
14 Nov 08
follow your instinct and heart on this. no one can help u. only u can find your own happiness and 4 years in a relationship is rather long. it is normal that a relationship may turn blend and has its up and down but the most important is u must have feelings for your partner. if not, then there is no meaning to be together. meanwhile u may find it refreshing cos u met someone new but that does not mean that he is the one as courtship is different from already in a relationship. my wife always complain my 360degree change before and after courtship. haha
1 person likes this
@deedeehall (1144)
• United States
14 Nov 08
sounds like you have thought things thru before this other guy.however if you dont think you love the guy you are with now you should let him know .hold off on any other relationship until you have cleared all problems up with this guy .you dont want to make it look like the new guy is the reason you are wanting to get out .and you dont want that to be the real reason it will only make things harder if you have guilt and hurt it will make you more confused .move out give it time and if you feel like you will never go back with your man now then you know you made the right move and will be much happier with you self.
@lenmay (6)
• Philippines
14 Nov 08
I think I understand what you're feeling right now. You don't have to agree with me, I just want to express my opinion on this matter. First of all, do you really love your bf? have you really loved him? and do u still love him? Second, if you know deep in your heart that you really HAVE LOVED your bf and STILL DO but you have doubts in your relationship with him and you feel that you should break up with him, first ask yourself these questions. 1)Why did I do some sacrifices for him and our relationship? 2)Why did I try so hard hard to make our relationship last this long? 3)Am I just feeling too insecure around him because I think that he is too perfect compared to me? $)He accepted and loved me even though I'm not perfect, then why can't I do the same thing? 5)Even though he hasn't tried anything like for us to live together, I should understand him because it just simply means that he is not ready yet. But if you really feel like you want to break up with him just because after all these years, he hasn't lived up to your expectations, then why on earth did you even bother to have a serious relationship with him? Being in a serious relationship with someone means that, you accept everything that he/she is and everything that he/she is not, and be content of whatever he/she can or can't give you. i feel sorry for your bf. if you can't adjust or stand the way how he treats you like you're his life and the most important person in the world. then talk to him, ask him in a nice way to minimize it a bit and not go over the board. explain to him that there are times that when he treats you too nice, you can't stand it because it makes you feel that you're not good enough for him and that you don't deserve to be treated this way especially by him. All you guys need to do is talk. And stop avoiding him. But if you plan to keep on not wanting to spend time with him, then break up with him because it just means that you don't love him anymore and that you don't want to have anything to do with him anymore in terms of commitment. Unless of course you don't mind hurting him, then continue whatever it is that you are doing behind his back. Try to save the relationship you both have first, before deciding to end it and move on.
• China
14 Nov 08
Never give up your love. IF you have the feeling for him, keep your love and maybe get married. Love should resist passing of time. After dating for a long time, you will find more shortcomingss or weak points in your lover. Then, what you should focus on is finding out whether the weak points are acceptable ones. Make your own story and make your own decision and girl, be strong. Simon
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Dec 08
It sounds to me like you have already made up your mind. You just need to figure out how to let him down easy but you know what? I don't think any way you break up with him will make him any less hurt. I would not tell him about the new guy because you have not cheated on him and you are just friends right now. If you both keep the friendship then he will have to know at some point but I think it will hurt more so for him if you say there is another man. You definately need to tell him because it is not fair to either one of you to be in a relationship that is going no where fast.
• United States
15 Nov 08
Well to start off you have to think about you what makes you happy. and you have to weigh in how much you love this man 4 years a long time to quit someone because of communication errors. have you ever expressed to him how he makes you feel? and if so, has he attempted to change,if not then I beleive its time to move on. Don't play with his feelings be honest in what you do, because i beleive you should never settle because you don't want to hurt someone because in the end you end up hurting yourself. take some time to talk it out with your BF, and see if he is willing to fight for your love if not I say move on
• Philippines
30 Dec 08
I think it is you who will make a decision. You have lot of time for that anyway. If he does something that makes you hurt, you mst think of what should you do in order to overcome that situation. I also have a girlfriend whom I broke up with her few months ago, because of her continuous bad behavior, I have spoken up with her that it is not yet right to continue my relationship with her, she should learn a lot more to develop her attitude, and she agreed and she understands, but right now, we are only friends. So it relies on your decision, not on someone else.
@yangshuai (136)
• China
14 Nov 08
not too hurry.after all you have a long time feeling with your boyfriend,if suddenly announce to break up with him,hard to receive.the better way is to talk each other ,having a nice communication.exchanging feeling from each other,if you had done this, but you still feel not happy,and then thinking further,breaking up is the last choice.
1 person likes this
@liisafiat (659)
• Latvia
27 Dec 08
Well, if he were a REALLY GOOD BOYFRIEND, he would have married You within 1 year since You first met. There is only one way left, since You start to notice other man around him: ask him if he wants to stay with You and...is he brave enough to go for a marriage with You? This might be the last decision that might help You to figure this one out. Sometimes they are just enjoying the benefits from `I have somebody` or `there is somebody who takes care of me`. It does not mean he is ready to keep You for a lifetime and have common babies with You. This one zaks, because it would mean that You have wasted 4 years from Your lifetime. Be smart, be clever. And good luck!