We love our friends; they have been with us through the good, the bad, and unfortunately, the ugly. We value their opinion, insight, and expertise. But, at what point do we put up boundaries when it comes to our friendships and our romantic relationships?
It’s typical to involve our friends in our romantic relationships, as they tend to know us better than we know ourselves sometimes. And often, they can see red flags that our rose-colored glasses are blinding us from. However, while we take their opinions into consideration, we have to be mindful that sometimes their advice isn’t always the best. Being in a relationship with an individual shows you many layers of them, some layers your friends won’t be able to see. This is why their advice isn’t always sound.
Here, we listed seven ways to determine if your friends are ruining your relationship.
They Don’t Approve
We take our friend’s opinions of our romantic partners seriously, almost more serious than our own. But sometimes, they tend to compare our current partner with our old partners, not realizing that we have grown as a person. So, it’s natural that they are defensive of us, but there should be clear boundaries about how much their opinion can affect the way you see your new partner. Your approval matters more than theirs.
They Encourage You to Cheat
Any friend that encourages you to cheat or puts you in a position to jeopardize your relationship is not a friend; they are an enemy. If you are in a happy and healthy relationship, you shouldn’t have any desire or interest in another person. Any friend that attempts to bend your ear does not respect your relationship.
They Know Too Much
It’s normal to talk to your friends about your partner so they can understand them more. However, it is not normal to dish every single little detail about their life to your friends. If they can write a biography about your partner, then you have clearly divulged too much info. Certain things should be kept between you and your partner only. The more they know, the more opinion they will have on your love life. Leave a little mystery; only you know what your heart truly desires, don’t let other people affect your outlook on your own life.
They Flirt With Your Partner
A clear indication that your friend is really a foe is if they overstep their boundaries with your partner. Keep an eye on how they act when around them. Are they putting you down and trying to embarrass you in front of them? Do they intentionally bring up sex? Are they too eager to be involved in their life? These are all signs that your friends are crossing the friendship boundaries.
They Are Secretly in Love With You
If you have a friend of the opposite sex and they have a tendency to offer negative advice for nearly every relationship you have, then there is a good chance they have a secret agenda. If their advice is fueled with pessimism and jealousy, and they will never approve of any partner you’re dating because they want to be your partner.
