My boyfriend is offended when I say everyone is important: How should I respond?

Ans:

Dear PS,

What are you worried about? That by spending time away from you or not involving you when he is in a social setting, he might forget you or move away from you?

After 10 years, why do you feel the need to cling on to him in insecurity and anxiety?

Time to give yourself some love and attention?

Become your best friend and pamper yourself with a lot of care instead of constantly expecting it from your relationship?

The more you become safe and secure with yourself, the less you will cling onto your partner.

Clinging on and ‘owning’ another person will only make them move away from you as no one likes to be controlled and dictated to.

Instead, why don’t you ask him about his day and who he met up with and genuinely try and integrate into his life?

In this way, he will want to engage more with you and invite you when he is with his friends and family?

When you watch him interact with others, instead of feeling insecure and jealous, can you think of appreciating what he has brought into your life and why the two of you have been together for 10 years?

Also, involve him into your life and life’s journey.

Playing the victim involves a lot of drama, but playing a liberated person involves no effort.

So love yourself and love your partner for who he is.

The change in your relationship and your state of mind will be almost magical.

Enjoy the moment and be happy!

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
We are in relationship with so many people in different ways throughout our lives.
When you say one of them is your best friend and that you are very close, why are you keeping the fact that you have boyfriend? What are you afraid of? Will he stop being your best friend because of that?
And on the other hand, what is the issue your boyfriend have with your best friend? Does he doubt you or are you showing more than signs of just being a best friend?
Clearly, you seem to be confused with both your 'relationships' and don't know which one is what!
My suggestion:
Please tell both of them about each other and how important each one is to you. Watch their reactions and yours as well. It's a clear-cut way of easing out of the confusion and knowing your true feelings for both of them rather than just play under relationship 'labels'.

All the best!

Ans: Dear Anonymous,

I understand your dilemma. Let's start with the positives- your boyfriend wants the best for you, he is trying to improve himself for you, and your family places more importance on people's nature rather than their finances. These are some great things you have going on in your life. Now, let's try to fix the issues- I am assuming that you have tried having an open discussion with your boyfriend and he is still not understanding your family dynamics. We can't blame him; very few people are as open-minded as your family. The best course of action here would be to arrange a meet-up with your family. If it comes from them that they do not mind his financial condition as long as he puts effort into improving it, he might believe it and might be relieved of his insecurities.

If you feel like you are running out of time between your boyfriend trying to be well-established and your family's search for a groom, it would be best to have a serious conversation about your relationship with your parents.

After all your efforts, if your partner still does not understand or believe that finances are not an issue, you should reconsider the relationship. As much as he is doing everything in your best interest, one insecure partner and the other forever trying to assure them never makes for a healthy relationship. Occasional insecurities are common and completely normal, but continuous ones are exhausting.

Best Wishes.

Ans: You're in a tough spot where your boyfriend's focus on supporting his brother's family is overshadowing his attention to your future together. It seems like he feels responsible for his brother’s kids, especially since their parents are no longer around, but this comes at the expense of his own financial planning and goals with you. While it's admirable that he wants to help, it’s essential for him to also prioritize the future you're trying to build together.

The fact that he gets irritated when you bring this up may suggest guilt or a deeper emotional attachment to his brother's family. However, a successful partnership requires shared goals, including financial stability. If he continues to avoid conversations about your future and gets hurt without making changes, this could point to deeper compatibility issues.

You’ve voiced your concerns, and it’s important to be clear about your needs and expectations. If he’s unwilling to focus on your shared future, you might need to question how committed he is to building a life with you. It’s essential that both of you are on the same page before moving forward, or this dynamic could lead to more tension down the road. Trust your instincts, and don’t hesitate to reconsider the relationship if your needs aren't being met.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
You are invisible to him now. Honestly, you need to figure out if he's still interested in the relationship. Because canceling dates, not wanting to listen to what you have to say seems like red flags; do explore this further and you can decide to have an honest conversation with him.
Be clear on what you want in this relationship and don't settle for less; you will thank yourself for it.

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/