Question: My ex and I broke up almost 4 months ago. Well, I broke up with him first because he just wasn’t there for me and despite all my complaints he made no effort to spend time with me and treat me the way a man is supposed to treat his woman. He begged me to come back, said he gets it and promised he was going to change. I stupidly took him back. Two weeks after we got back together he broke up with me saying it was a mistake for us to get back together. I was hurt like I’ve never been hurt before. In short, it was a very messy breakup.
Recently I found out he’s seeing a woman I know and since we live close to each other, I see him with her and it drives me crazy that he treats her so much better than he ever treated me. Sometimes I think he’s intentionally doing this to hurt me because we don’t like each other at all. I have nobody right now, but I also don’t want to jump into a relationship in order to fill up my lonely nights so I sit and feel sorry for myself. My question is: why am I jealous of my ex’s new girlfriend even when I don’t want my ex back? Why am I having a hard time accepting that he’s moved on?
Yangki’s Answer: I think your feelings are a natural response to someone new coming into the picture. There may be several things going on here:
- Feeling lonely can make most of us feel unwanted and in my experience, usually the last of the two to get into a new relationship after a breakup feels like the loser.
- You may be struggling with feeling that the person who doesn’t deserve it has been rewarded with a new relationship while the person who deserves it (you) has nothing.
- Even if you don’t like him at all, knowing that you’ve been officially “replaced” can trigger all kinds of emotions.
- It’s also possible that you may be feeling like you’ve been cheated on because the new woman is getting what you always wanted but never got.
It helps to accept that your ex is his own person, not an extension of you. He can do whatever he wants, it has nothing to do with you. If you really look at it with different eyes, how much more can he “hurt” you more than he already has? You only hurt as much as you allow yourself to be hurt.
I know this might sound “uncaring” but you probably are in a better position than he is — though it doesn’t feel that way right now. The reality is that if your ex hasn’t worked on his issues, it’ll only be a matter of time before he and the new woman have the same problems the two of you had.
Last but not least, it takes two to have a relationship. Focusing on your ex takes away from the time and energy you should be using to make sure your next relationship will be that relationship you’ve always wanted. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself or trying to “move on” as most people do, only to end up stuck and bitter, use that energy and time to become a better happier fufilled partner.
Do many of the things you’ve always wanted to do but never came around to because you were in “a relationship.” That includes going out, meeting new people and really learning more about yourself. The more you “know” about yourself, the more self-assured and confident you become and the more more self-assured and confident you are, the less likely it is that you’ll repeat your mistakes.
And when it comes to nurturing a self-assured and confident “Self”, nothing beats trying new things and putting yourself out there.
So get off the couch or bed, and go share your loveliness!
We dated for 2 years and engaged for 5 month and he broke up with me. I did no contact for 60 days and reached out in a nice friendly text but he has not responded. It’s been 3 weeks and no response. Do you think he moved on? I can’t stop crying even though it’s been more than 2 months since the breakup.
You had planned to spend the rest of your lives together, anyone with a heart would still be crying two months later.
Has he moved on? I can’t say yes or no for sure. There are several reasons why someone does not respond the first time you reach out after being away for so long.
Try to reach out again a couple times at intervals. If he still does not respond, then you know for sure that he’s moved on.
Hello
I woke up one day and it all started, my bf was not picking my calls nor returning them. This has been happening for two months now without any reason. I have tried everything possible but to no avail. He told me he thinks about me and misses me but something is restricting him so for now he needs time to reflect on things. He said he doesn’t want to come around because he can’t guarantee me the future. Please I need advice.
Give him the time he needs. If he’s open to some form of contact, reach out once in a while just to keep the lines of communication open.
In the meantime, try to figure out what is “restricting” him, and if it’s something to do with you, work on on. You will not get back together if whatever is “restricting” still exists.
Hello Yangki,
I downloaded your book and read it until the part that if my ex has someone new. I know you said in the book to focus on both of us instead of the new guy/girl. But I don’t know how to respond when she talks about her new partner. I acted as not interested but I’m scared that I would come across as jealous. What should I do when she talks about her new boyfriend again?
The answer is on page 305… I have included an example of a response you can modify to suit your personality.
I asked my ex if he still loves me and he said he didn’t know and didn’t want to talk about it. I asked him what he means by he didn’t know and he just said he didn’t want to talk about it and hang up. I called him three times but he did not pick up the phone. Yesterday afternoon I called him again and this time he picked up the phone. He said if I stopped trying to force it we might get back together in the future. I don’t want to put my life on hold only for him to later tell me he does not want to get back together. Should I wait or would it be better to just stop talking to him?
Whether you want to stop talking to him or continue talking to him is a decision only you can make.
In my opinion, it’d be a mistake to stop talking to him when he obviously wants to stay in contact. If you cut him off and try to reach out to him later, he may not want to talk to you.
If he says there is a chance you might get back together then give yourselves a chance to see where things go. Your life can only be put on hold if you’ve built your life around him (what he decides to do with it).
I was with an amazing woman and feel like it’s all my fall that she fell out of love with me. I pushed her away when she wanted to spend more time with me and be more of a couple. In hindsight I feel that she was justified in her wanting to be close but I was unable to meet her needs. We’ve been broken up for 2 years 3 months. Do you think it’s too late for me to try to get her back?
I have learned a lot from your articles and book and better prepared to be the kind of boyfriend she deserves. I’m just nor sure if a lot of time has passed.
I don’t know if it’s too late or not. The best way to find out is to try.
If she’s not with someone else, still has feelings for you, you can convince her (by your actions) that you are a better boyfriend now than you were then, and she can see herself happy in a relationship with you… you could get back together!
8 months and I still can’t get over my ex. I’ve never felt anything for anyone like I felt and still feel for him. Even after all this time he gave me a second chance, I would be a fool to let him go again.
woo, this article really helped me in a way, i’m going trough a situation with my ex that is practically the same,me and her share lots of classes together at college , the breakup was painful to me since she cheated on me , i tried to forget everything and treat her like a friend from then on,i don’t want her back anymore, but she having someone new now and me being alone did really hit me hard,now i’m trying to focus my energy on other things, and keep up with my life , but is still a little hard, when i watch them on a daily basis on classes ect.
We broke up and 3 months later I met someone else. But I still love my ex and he’s told me he still loves me too but he’s giving me space because I have another boyfriend. I found out from his facebook page that he’s flirting with another woman, so I asked him if he is interested in her and he said he’s thinking of asking her out. How can he say he still loves me but wants to date other women?
In the same way you say you still love him but are with someone else. If you have a new boyfriend, it is selfish of you to get mad at him for wanting to date someone else.