Are you triggered when he calls you a friend?
You’re in the right place at the right time, reading this.
When “a friend” of mine asked me if I was looking for the title, I was bamboozled. Why would I need to have the title to define the relationship? This reminded me of how far I’ve come in my journey.
I used to want to get the title. I used to want to know what it was. I wanted to define what it was. And I know, many women get stuck in needing to validate the situation by getting the title.
Does it truly matter? Why place the value of the relationship on a label?
Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes it can be a cop out. The guy acts as if you are together but his words tell you otherwise. I’ve been in these situations too where he wanted the commitment without committing to me. He wanted me to cater to his needs yet he got quiet soon as I asked what this was.
I’ve also been in situation where we were just friends with benefits. He wanted me around while his girlfriend was crying over his behavior. (He claimed they were in an open relationship.)
So, I started to despise the word friend. I didn’t like it, I didn’t want it. I wanted more. I needed more. But at that time, I was emotionally unavailable to myself.. and so were the guys I was seeing. I didn’t value myself. I wasn’t confident in my own skin.
Whenever we put labels or categories onto something, it takes the magic away.
I have never conformed to what the society wants or thinks, whether it was me coming out of the closet as a lesbian because I was seeing another girl at the time, then turned into bisexual who’s now a straight woman. Wanting to be the girlfriend, the wife, the sister-in-law. Moving from old fashioned monogamy to open relating.
When my “friend” called me that, a friend, I laughed and asked him Friends, huh? 😉 To which his response was “friends mostly”. You know the feeling when you meet a person and they trigger the shit out of you but also change your entire life? This man triggers me because he makes me get out of my square box. For the longest time, I was resisting the idea of open relating. I thought it got in the way of my life, my love life to be exact. Not going to even lie, I’ve cried so many times wondering what is wrong with me and why he doesn’t want just me. But I started looking at the patterns, I started questioning my entire life.
It took me a minute, and it took me to ask for support in this new paradigm shift. That’s when I hired one of my favorite relationship coaches in the world. I am thankful I did! She helped me navigate through the feminine choice. And now, I am embracing all of the men who are in my life. Romantic or not. And I wouldn’t be here, this blog wouldn’t exist, if this “friend” hadn’t triggered my beliefs.
We get to decide what we desire.
Now I see the benefit of having multiple partners. There is zero desire in being obsessed with the guy(s) in my life. When you’re secure in yourself, when you’re confident in yourself, when you trust yourself, you become magnetic. It trickles to everything you do.
At the end of the day, pay attention to how he treats you not what he says. Categorizing yourself into a box should only be used as a guideline but as you expand and elevate, get out of the damn box. Don’t let society conform you into its definition of what you should or shouldn’t be.
Ask yourself, what value am I bringing into his life?
You don’t need to validate the relationship based on a silly title. That screams insecurity. He will show you that he wants you around through his actions. Words are just words, they have no meaning until the meaning we give them.
Rather than focusing on the title, focus on how you feel around him. How you feel when you’re not around him. Know and feel the value that you give him. The relationships that are mutually beneficial, will be long-lasting.
Watch how you speak of him, especially when he’s not around. I’ve written about this before but feel the need to reiterate this as it is crucial. Your desire and pleasure for him, is going to make him want you in his life.
A man will always give you clues for his boundaries and the level of commitment he is able to give you. It is your job to be attentive. Pay attention to details; if he cannot commit to seeing you once a week, but instead says he prefers to go with the flow. Get used to the element of surprise. Surrender to his leadership. If you want him to be more committed to you, you will have to meet him where he’s at.
Finally, don’t overthink things. Focus on yourself, especially when insecurities pop-up. Don’t put any blame, shame or guilt onto him — he isn’t at fault. It is your internal beliefs that are making you feel some type of way. If/when he asks, you can be honest with him but take responsibility for yourself. I do encourage honesty, there isn’t a man who doesn’t appreciate vulnerability.
The best kind of relationships, are the ones that help you progress positively through life. They will trigger you but when you see the growth in that, you’ve found love. Our society has taught that being in love is something to be sought after. That feeling doesn’t last for long. It is merely an adrenaline and endorphin rush. And as soon as it’s over, you start thinking what is wrong with this, I thought we were supposed to be in love. Love in its truest form, it just is. No pretenses, no shaming. Honesty, openness and open communication will get you far. True love doesn’t make any promises, in fact it is supposed to trigger you. You are supposed to grow because if you’re not, you become stagnant.
Don’t be that girl who needs him in your life.
Be the woman who desires him.