Thanks, but I’ll pass.
But not everyone wants to fall in love.
There are many reasons you might want to avoid falling for someone.
Justin Paget/DigitalVision/Getty
You might not have time forlove.
You might be afraid of getting hurt (again).
Or maybe you enjoy the freedom of being unattached.
Loving deeply makes the loss of a close relationship feel even more intense.
You Love Being Single
Sure, love’s great, but so is being single.
Or maybe you’re just not ready for a serious commitment.
There’s also the fear that being attached might prevent you from reaching your goals.
In many people’s minds, falling in love is followed by marriage and kids.
Sometimes, it’s linked to worries about our lovability.
For example, you might worry about getting attached and then losing them.
If you havelow self-esteem, you might struggle with feeling unloveable or undesirable.
Rejection and loss hurt, so instead of facing that possibility, you might avoid love altogether.
However, not letting love into your life does have some very real drawbacks.
For example, you might miss out on the supportive and close bond of being in ahealthy relationship.
You also won’t have someone to share your life experiences with or rely on during difficult times.
Consider all the factors involved before making a decision that feels right for you.
Sometimes, developing some good coping and communication skills can make it much easier to successfully navigate romantic relationships.
If your fear stems from afear of vulnerability, try opening up to close friends and family members.
Talk about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences with them regularly.
Having strong social support is essential for mental well-being.
Remember that it is possible to love someone without being in love with them.
Focus on developing platonic relationships with others.
Here are a few ways you’ve got the option to help yourself stay comfortably unattached.
Being honest with your potential partners about your feelings is critical.
If you’re not ready for a serious relationship, let them know.
Oops, You Fell in Love Anyway.
You might worry that you are letting yourself down or abandoning your plans.
Proceed Slowly
When you’re getting to know someone, take things slow.
Don’t rush into anything physical or emotional.
Get to know them as friends first and see how things progress from there.
Talk about your feelings, your expectations, and your fears.
Enjoy getting to know someone without stressing out about where the relationship is headed.
In many cases, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to avoid falling in love.
Be honest with yourself and your partners about your feelings.
That way, it’s possible for you to avoid getting hurt or hurting someone else.
Langeslag SJ, van Strien JW.Regulation of romantic love feelings: Preconceptions, strategies, and feasibility.PLoS One.
2016;11(8):e0161087.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161087
Jin W, Xiang Y, Lei M.The deeper the love, the deeper the hate.Front Psychol.
2017;36(4):888-904. doi:10.1007/s12144-016-9478-3
