They say hindsight is 20/20. Of course, it’s easy to look back on a failed romance and see troubling warning signs when reviewing it months or years later. Yet, in the heat of the moment, many people have difficulty recognizing whether or not they’re really compatible with a new partner. Given that fact, it’s important for people in new relationships to solicit advice from their friends and family members. Here, we’ll explain the many benefits of having candid discussions with trusted friends about your love life:
Help & Support
Let’s face it: most relationships in your life will end in acrimony. That’s the sad reality of romance in the 21st century. Having a strong support network of dedicated friends will allow you to bounce back from a bad breakup or a rough date. Plus, friends can also offer cogent advice should you find yourself in a stressful situation. For instance, they can help you search for testing facilities if you’re concerned that you may have contracted an STD. Such a scenario isn’t ideal, but having a few friends on your side can help you get through it and access the professional assistance you need.
Perspective
As alluded to above, individuals in a new relationship are unlikely to notice flaws or issues with their partner. Simply put, they’re too close to the situation to view anything objectively because their emotions have clouded their judgement. That’s where friends can come in. They can observe and comment on the behavior of your new partner without any of the distractions you’re currently facing. From there, they can tell you whether you’re making a huge mistake or have found a real “keeper.”
Performance in Group Settings
Not only should you talk to your friends about your dates and some conversations you’ve had with a new partner, but you should let them interact with your new significant other as well. Sometimes, people behave differently in group settings as opposed to one-on-one dates. Getting to know someone means seeing how they act in a variety of situations. And if they don’t connect with your friends, it could mean that they don’t share your values, interests, or disposition.
Interpreting Signals
So much of dating is done through subtle maneuver and innuendo. After all, people are rarely open and honest with their feelings for fear of rejection or criticism. As such, people on dates tend to try and give each other subtle signs about how they feel. The bad news is this means you could miss out on these clues if you’re not paying super-close attention. Thankfully, your friends can help you play codebreaker with an inscrutable text message or a befuddling gesture if need be. So keep that in mind moving forward!