No Relationship, but Exclusive Dating? The Conundrum of the Grey Zone
Dating may be a challenge! What does it mean that you’re only seeing each other socially but not romantically? Is it love when you’re in a relationship when you only see each other? Let’s decipher it together.
Having a sexual relationship with a person but not being in a committed relationship is an exceedingly complicated situation. You’d think that if you’re only seeing each other, you’re already in a committed relationship. However, what if the other individual has a completely different definition of the word? We can all agree that dating is a confusing experience!
So, you might wonder if it’s feasible to be seeing someone yet not being romantically connected. Most casual daters see multiple persons at the same time.
Of course, this is fine as long as everyone involved is aware of the situation. When you don’t know what your relationship status means, it becomes a problem.
What causes people to be confused about dating?
In other words, two people are attracted to one another. It’s possible that one or both of them prefer the other, but they refuse to call it a real relationship because they aren’t sleeping with or dating anybody else.
As ludicrous as it may seem, the very foundation of any healthy relationship is that you’re not sleeping with anyone else! What if you’re just seeing that individual and have no interest in seeing anybody else? Isn’t that already a form of relationship?
You might think so. A person’s definition of relationship, whether or not they have any underlying worries about using the R-word, and what they hope to achieve in the future all have an impact.
You define a connection in different ways depending on who you’re talking to. If you’re in a relationship, it’s when two people meet, begin spending time together, don’t want to see anyone else, and see where it goes from there.
There isn’t always a need to have a clear vision of the future. A lifetime commitment may not even be an option for the two parties. You and your partner are spending your time together, exchanging ideas and anecdotes. Confusion is simple to enter the equation when two individuals are dating on an exclusive basis but do not consider the relationship to be complete.
But hold on, things just got more perplexing!
Because one of them is truly afraid of commitment, some people are only dating but not in a relationship.
To be frank, the R-word essentially denotes I and them. As a result, they’ll be viewed as a couple and won’t have the freedom they had previously. However, they fail to grasp that by agreeing to only date one another, they’ve actually entered into an agreement. They’ve already made it.
When you’re dating someone but not in a relationship, here are some things to watch out for.
It’s understandable if you’re unsure about the specifics of your predicament. Something doesn’t feel right even if you and your partner aren’t seeing anybody else. In other words, there may not be any actual commitment on your part yet.
Take note of these indicators to determine whether or not you belong in this stage of dating solely for the sake of romance but not yet in a committed relationship.
You hardly bring up the topic of the future.
Making plans for the future is common when you’re dating. In the summer, you might plan to take a trip. It doesn’t have to be a long time from now. You can bring up the possibility of attending a relative’s wedding in a few months. In a relationship, this is perfectly normal. In other words, if you’re in an exclusive relationship, but you’re not talking about anything more than tomorrow, you’re not truly in a relationship.
Sexuality appears to be a major theme.
Maybe the sex is so great that it’s the only reason you’re not seeing anyone else! There is more to a relationship than just having sex. If you and your partner spend the most of your free time in bed together, then your relationship hasn’t developed much substance yet. It’s possible that you and your potential partner just need more time to work things out, or that a relationship is unlikely to develop at all.
You’re not given any introductions to friends.
Your significant other should be introduced to the individuals that matter most in your life when you’re serious about them. This may eventually include your parents, but for now, it’s more likely to be your close pals and, if they’re still alive, your siblings. You’ll be able to discern if it’s time to move on based on how long you’ve been seeing each other. In the meantime, why is it that there is no sign of progress?
It’s possible that one of you is afraid of making a long-term commitment, or both of you. If they keep dropping signals like this, it’s a sign that they’re not interested in a long-term relationship. However, it’s possible that’s why you’re dating exclusively but not in a real relationship.
The topics you do bring up are few and far between.
Relationship communication is critical. There is no real connection between you and the other person if you don’t talk about the things that bother you. That’s a bad sign because it suggests you’re not dating anyone. When a partnership is formally established, you are free to express yourself and discuss your issues. As a result, you’ll be able to help each other out when things go tough and celebrate when things are going well.
The idea that you can have an exclusive relationship but not be in a relationship is a logical fallacy. Dating is, by definition, a social activity. Basically, it’s a “wait and see” issue. At first, dating multiple people is perfectly OK as long as the other person is aware of the situation, and you aren’t in a serious relationship.
As soon as there is no one else in the picture, you’ve already announced your intention to spend time only with the person you’re dating. Now we’ve moved on from the laid-back atmosphere. If you’re not happy, don’t stay put. It’s okay if you’re dating someone but not in a relationship and you don’t like it. Even if things don’t go your way, if they make it obvious that they don’t want a relationship, then it’s time to go.