How does it sound when a man tells you to date others?
Ridiculous.
Confusing.
Upsetting.
A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G
When you commit to someone in a relationship, you expect them to do the same, so when they tell you to date others, it can feel like an attack on your self-worth.
However, understanding why a man tells you to date others and how best to approach the situation can help you to move forward positively.
There are many reasons why a man tells you to date others.
Some of them are good, and some of them are not so good.
But they all have one thing in common: they can be hard to hear, especially if you’re in love with him.
Here are some common reasons why guys tell their girlfriends to date others and what they really mean:
When a Man Tells You To Date Others: What Does It Mean?
Why would a man tell you to date others?
1. He needs space
When a man tells you to date others, it could be because he needs some space.
He might need time to sort out his feelings or work on his own personal development, and so he is asking you to give him that space.
This is especially true if you have been clingy.
When you are clingy, it can start to feel suffocating.
And when your partner feels suffocated, he may start to pull away and look for ways to get some space.
2. He’s not sure about his feelings
A guy who is sure about his feelings for you wouldn’t tell you to date other people.
But when a man can’t decide what he wants, he might feel it is easier to tell you to date others rather than commit and risk getting hurt if his feelings change later on.
Being asked to ‘see other people’ when you are in a relationship can be hurtful, but it could also be an indication of his uncertainty.
So he’s giving you the liberty to date other people so he doesn’t hold you back with his indecisiveness.
3. He wants to keep things casual
In most cases, when a man tells you to date others, it means that he doesn’t want to commit.
For him, it’s more comfortable to keep things casual and not enter into a serious relationship.
That way, when the time is right for him to move on, he won’t have to worry about hurting you or feeling guilty.
After all, he has told you that you are free to date other people.
So a guy may tell you to date others to keep his options open.
4. He doesn’t love you
If none of the other reasons seem to apply, then it could be that he simply doesn’t love you.
It can be hard to accept when someone says they don’t feel the same way about you as you do for them.
But when a man tells you to date others, it could be his way of saying that he is not in love with you and does not want to pursue a serious relationship.
Most guys will rarely tell you that they don’t love you, so when they tell you to date others, it’s as good as confirming that he doesn’t love you.
5. He’s not ready for a relationship
There are times when a man isn’t ready for a relationship but doesn’t want to let you go either.
In these cases, he might tell you to date others as a way of letting you know that although he has feelings for you, he is not ready to commit right now.
So instead of telling you to leave him, he gives you the freedom to explore other relationships.
6. He doesn’t want the same type of relationship as you
Sometimes when a man tells you to date others, it could be because he does not want the same type of relationship as you.
Maybe he wants something casual and you are looking for something more serious.
In this case, when a man tells you to date others, it might be because he feels that it is better for both of you to find someone who wants the same type of relationship.
If you also want a casual relationship, you’d be on the same page and he wouldn’t have to tell you to date others.
7. He wants to test your loyalty
This is annoying and ridiculous but it’s a possibility.
When a man tells you to date others, he might be trying to test your loyalty.
Maybe he wants to see if you will still stay with him even when given the possibility of being with someone else.
Will you pass this test?
Haha
Not funny!
8. He doesn’t want you to get hurt
Sometimes when a guy is aware that he won’t be able to give you the kind of commitment or relationship that you deserve, he might tell you to go and find someone else who can.
This is usually done in a bid to protect you from getting hurt when he can’t fulfill your expectations.
So when a man tells you to date others, it could be because he really cares about you and doesn’t want to see you get hurt.
9. He’s afraid of being hurt, so he’s trying to protect himself from getting too attached
It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable when it comes to relationships, and when a man tells you to date others it could be because he’s afraid.
Most people don’t want to get hurt, so when they start developing feelings for someone they might not want to fully commit in order to protect themselves from getting too attached and then getting hurt when things don’t work out.
So when a man tells you to date others, it could be because he’s trying to protect himself from feeling too much.
10. He wants to keep your friendship intact
Sometimes when a man and woman are friends, there is always that possibility of developing feelings for each other.
And when that happens, when a man tells you to date others, it could be because he wants to protect your friendship and doesn’t want either of you to get hurt if things don’t work out.
Because things are bound to get awkward if you date your friend and things don’t work out.
It’s like the moment you go from friends to lovers, you can’t go back to being friends, and it hurts more to lose a friend than a lover.
When a man tells you to date others, it can be confusing and hurtful.
But when you take time to consider all the possible reasons why he may have said it, you can better understand his feelings and make an informed decision about your relationship.
So the best way to deal with this situation is by confronting him about it directly when he brings up the subject or if he starts acting differently when you are together.
When it comes to relationships, communication is key.
Depending on his answer, you can decide whether you still want to pursue the relationship.
