When you’ve shared a special connection with someone, it’s hard to let it go.
Especially when you know there’s still a lot of potential if he would just open his heart again.
You could build a beautiful life together.
If that’s something you want, then it’s only natural you would try to convince him that he should give the relationship another shot. After all, convincing him feels like the right thing to do.
Why would you not try to reason with him? Why wouldn’t you try to show him he’s making a mistake by pulling away?
Yet this is one of those times in life when our instincts lead us awry. Because convincing your ex never works. Fortunately, I know something that does.
Triggering feelings.
Here’s the thing, triggering feelings will always trump logical argument.
Why? Because emotions run the show. We humans are not as rational as we’d like to believe. That’s true of all forms of decision-making, but especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
(By the way, If you’d like laser-targeted advice about getting your ex to talk to you again, check out my Relationship Rewrite Method here).
Emotion. It’s your best shot at winning him back.
I care about all my clients. But I have to be honest, sometimes a client’s story tugs at my heart and it gets personal for me. That was the case with Leah, a mother of five, the oldest of whom was born when she and the father were both seventeen, just high school sweethearts.
I’ll admit there was a judgmental part of me that thought Leah and Joel had been incredibly irresponsible to start having children while they were still children themselves. But I soon forgot all about that as I learned of the beautiful family they had created together. These two clearly belonged together.
And it was difficult to watch this beautiful family be torn apart by a short series of missteps and what I’ll call “almost-infidelity.” First by one, and then (in reaction) by the other.
Leah sought out my professional services first. Joel had moved out three months earlier. I could tell we had our work cut out for us.
Joel joined us a few sessions later. He was complacent with me and defiant with Leah. He had his mind made up. The hurt was just too great. But he claimed it was because Leah was “crazy.”
Leah, on the other hand, was not ready to let go of what they shared. She was going to fight for their love.
She had fire in her eyes every time she spoke directly to Joel in our sessions, demanding that he stop living the life of a bachelor, pursuing other women while her life began to look more and more like that of a single mother, just struggling to get by.
And this is where things get complicated for me. It was hard for me to maintain professional objectivity. You see, I wanted to convince Joel as well. I wanted to jump in with Leah and fight for this little family to survive.
Fortunately, I knew better.
So I privately began to teach Leah the techniques I’m going to share with you today. Let me show you the difference between convincing your ex versus triggering the right kind of feelings.
The easiest way for me to illustrate the difference between convincing your ex and triggering feelings is to offer you a simple list of do’s and don’ts. So let’s get right to it.
Don’t Do This:
- Don’t argue that he owes you an explanation since you know he still has feelings for you.
- Don’t tell him the relationship was going just fine and then try to get him to own his share of the blame for why things began to fall apart.
- Don’t imply he owes you something after all you’ve been through together.
- Don’t tell him real relationships take work and he needs to grow up.
- Don’t try to prove you shared something special by forcing him to acknowledge specific examples from your past.
All that telling, convincing, and arguing will get you nowhere. In fact, it will simply reinforce the painful emotions that are driving him away from you in the first place.
Why? Because his brain will automatically come up with counter arguments.
For example, if you tell him things were great in the past, he will immediately test the truth of that assertion by scanning his memories for contradictory evidence. He’ll think of the fights, the frustrations, and other low points.
He’ll mention those problems. And this will reinforce your efforts to convince. You’ll end up showing him your worst side. Angry. Desperate. And if that goes on too long, you’ll become bitter, resentful, and maybe even sarcastic.
You know it’s true. This is how we all react when something matters to us deeply but the other person refuses to be convinced. This is not what I want for you to show him. Don’t try to convince.
Instead, let his emotions do the work for you.
Do this:
I’ll explain each of these briefly after listing the techniques.
- Build a private line of communication.
- Use private flirting but not broadcast flirting.
- Be vulnerable about struggles interfering with your goals.
- Throw rocks at his enemies.
- Make time your servant.
Build a Private Line of Communication
Here your goal is simple. Completely eliminate any communication via channels where others can observe his responses to you. Then ensure you have at least one private method for communicating with him directly. Text messaging is the most common method for achieving this.
Why not communicate on social media channels like Facebook? Because privacy releases him from the human compulsion to remain consistent. We don’t like to appear inconsistent. Psychologists call this “the consistency bias.” Once we have publicly committed to something (like a breakup) we feel foolish showing any sign that we are wavering or may have even made the wrong decision.
So your job is to completely remove that threat by eliminating any communication in public settings.
Don’t talk to him in front of the kids. Don’t talk to him in front of your friends or his friends. Don’t ask him to meet you in a public place for coffee and a chat.
He won’t even notice you’re not communicating with him publicly. Without realizing why, he’ll feel more open to exploring where things could go with you.
Just send him a pleasant message once every four or five days. Something you knew he would find interesting, funny, or exciting. Nothing about your relationship. No convincing.
Only send the kinds of messages that gradually condition him to expect that pleasurable little rush of dopamine you get when you open your favorite email newsletter or text messages from a friend who is good at making you laugh.
Don’t demand any kind of response. Just keep the doors of communication open.
Use Private Flirting but Not Broadcast Flirting
I wrote an entire article on this one powerful concept. I encourage you to read it in its entirety here.
For now, I’ll just share this simple explanation.
Broadcast flirting is on display for everyone to see.
When a woman uses broadcast flirting, everyone around can see what she’s up to.
For example, it’s broadcast flirting when Debbie laughs at all Daniel’s jokes at the office party and purposefully compliments him in front of others. Exclusive flirting is different.
Think of it like an exclusive club. There are only two people in the club, and the two people share something exclusive.
This is another reason your private line of communication is a must. You need an avenue to bring up insiders-only stuff like an inside joke or a reference to a funny moment only the two of you would remember.
Any message like that evokes the right kinds of emotion. It evokes the emotions that naturally arise from feeling part of something special. No convincing is needed.
Be Vulnerable about Struggles and Goals
Once your private line of communication is up and running, it’s time to step things up a notch.
Many brilliant people have talked about the power of vulnerability, including Brené Brown who has recently popularized the concept while helping us all to understand its true power. But I have a more specific purpose in mind for you.
If you are honest about goals you care about, and the struggles that block your way, it naturally triggers his hero instinct. It increases the chances that he’ll want to come to your rescue in big or small ways.
And for men, being someone’s hero is romantic in ways that are hard for women to understand. It tugs at an ancient instinct all of us men share.
Throw Rocks at His Enemies
It sounds cruel, but I mean it metaphorically. We all want someone to have our back. We all crave validation more than we are willing to admit.
And guess what? Your private line of communication is the perfect opportunity for him to complain about anyone or anything that’s getting in his way.
When it comes to your ex, this is an ideal opportunity to put “the respect principle” to work.
The respect principle is the main topic of the downloadable relationship course that first made me famous as a relationship coach. Thousands of women have taken my course and used the respect principle to bring out the best in their man.
Simply put, men confuse the emotional sensations they get from love and respect. And if forced to choose, they would rather feel respected than loved.
So when the frustrated text arrives, recognize it as the golden opportunity it is. Because we will do anything for someone who validates our frustration and takes our side when we are feeling insecure.
Give him the impression that you hold him in high esteem relative to other men. He’ll love you for it even if he’s not ready to admit it.
Make Time Your Servant
Waiting is hard. Especially when you fear his heart may be taken by another woman at any minute.
But feeling pressured to fix things fast is one of the worst culprits when it comes to my clients pushing men into a corner and inadvertently triggering his instinct to fight or flee.
Don’t let time pressure be a master. Instead, make time your servant. Make it work for you.
The key to accomplishing that is to recognize that time is on your side. He’s already pulled away from you. That’s done. Now you need time on your side because it works day and night to gradually break down the emotional walls he has built up against the idea of getting back together with you.
Give a man and a woman enough time together, and something’s bound to spark romantic feelings eventually. Give it enough time, and your private line of communication will eventually present you with an opportunity to see each other again face-to-face.
When that opportunity arises to spend time in person, here’s what you’re going to do. Make long, deep eye contact. Less talking, more silence.
Silence carries great power between lovers. It speaks louder than words and often evokes emotion in ways that bypass the barriers of words.
Plus, sustaining eye contact while thinking loving thoughts toward him will cause your pupils to dilate. Humans subconsciously notice this small change and it triggers reciprocal feelings of attraction.
So use periods of long, sustained eye contact. Make him wonder what you are thinking. Let his imagination do the work.
While you’re at it, it helps to wear something new and different. It helps to differentiate the woman from his past and the woman standing in front of him now. If you have the opportunity, show up in something he’s never seen you wear before.
I understand your situation is unique. Some of my suggestions may not apply. Despite that, I hope you will find opportunities to use this understanding of the difference between convincing and evoking the right feelings in the man you love.
To your happy future,
James
Hello James! I have been reading your books and they are good, I’m just not sure which category my situation falls under. I started seeing my ex and things were good we were togetherfor 2 years. I had read in your book about reactions and how that is a no no, well I had reacted to my feelings from stress by asking him if he was talking to other women, well everytime I would get really stressed Iit only happened 3 times I would ask him that. The last time I asked him that I was getting ready to under go a major surgery and had no one to help me or take me to the hospital. I lashed out and asked if he was talking to other women and he said no and ended it with me. It’s been about 2 months now and he is seeing someone new but my question is will the get your ex back work in this situation. He is doing things with her he never did with me. He is also sharing his personal life with me still. Not his life with her but his everyday life with me still. He also still asked me to help him out with things he can’t do himself, for example he wants me to take him to this important doctors appointment, if he has someone new in his life shouldn’t she be doing that? I am going to try to use the steps you’ve given and hope for the best. If there is any advice from anyone I’d love to hear it!!!!!!!! James sir please keep helping us women, we have been taught to do whatever a man wants and that is not at all helping in a relationship.
Hi James,
I recently broke up with my boyfriend of 3 years. Well he broke up with me. I did everything I could to prove my love and devotion. I quit my job, sold my house, took a job and moved away from everything I knew to be with him. I’ll admit the signs were always there that his feelings were not as strong as mine but I kept telling myself that it would get better. He never saw anything good that I did. The sex was almost nonexistent. I practically had to beg for it, which now I have really questioned if he is actually gay or not. My problem is that I know he will never love me the way I do him, I lost hope of him ever understanding that I would do absolutely anything for him and not expect anything in return. How do I let go of my feelings and let go of the hurt?? I swear I didn’t do anything wrong but he acts like he hates me. Even though I had to move back home, get my job back, and deal with a broken heart, I did not ask him for anything. I did not inconvenience him at all, but he still so mean and cold. The worst part about all of this is I still love him with the same intensity as I did the moment I first saw him. It was real for me. Please help me. I’m so tired of hurting.
Hi James,
I really need help. Me and my boyfriend had a pretty crazy ride. Spending 1 day together first time we met, then 10 days in a row, then going into a relationship and moving in together . After moving in together things changed . The problem is i was in a different country after our 1 day together due to some surgery i needed. And we only stayed in touch by phone. So we didnt see each other for 1,5 month after our first meeting. Only text and video calls. Then he booked a flight to come see me for 10 days. We ended up in a relationship. Then it took additional 1 month before i could return. then we moved in together. It has Been him all along pushing things to happen. Wanting the relationship, begging me to move in. Even saying he loved me after one month . He has Been completely obsessed with me and i actually loved him Right back. We had everything in common, and it has Been a dream. But after moving in things changed quick. He wasnt really giving a lot when it came to sex and being physical, and i was silently punishing him. I had the same struggle with my ex who was asexual because of depressions. But my new boyfriend said he had the same need as i do- and that sex never would be a issue. So i felt pretty fooled when he started rejecting me. It was a though month. We never argued , But i was really dissapointed without adressing it ( i know i should, But it was hard reliving my last dissapointment and i didnt lnow how to say it without coming off too strong!) Then I went home for the holidays- and so did he, so we again found ourself in different countries only communicating by phone. We had a argument , and it ended with me actually asking him directly – and it ended with him saying he felt pressured to be better than my ex, and that his feelings for me had changed when i moved in. It was him that first put This pressure since he said he wanted a lot of sex and would never say no. But he never told me he felt stressed. His previous girlfriends wasnt really sexual, and he was used to being rejected himself, so he tought he would like being with someone who is actually sexual. We agreed trying to fix it since we are in a distance and cant return to our fellow home. But its Been a month and he keeps withdrawing. I feel like Ive lost him. He text me But without being loving. Never saying he miss me or anything. And its me that have to Keep the convo alive . if not it stops. I tried following your advices. But its hard since we are apart in different countries and we are not returning to each other before mars. I feel like im dying inside every day, and every day he is more distant . I tried trigger his hero instinct, talking about his dreams, being interested in his interests, finding activeties we can do «together» to reach fellow goals. But nothing helps. He even started following a old flame again in some. ( i havent told him i know, But she always stalks me, so i saw it by accident when i checked her profil after seing her hanging on mine) i really dont want to lose him. But i feel i’m losing myself. I cant eat, sleep or think straight , and hanging on to the little crumbles he gives me. Which is not much 🙁 what can i do?
Hi Marlene,
Thanks so much for your comment! Your situation sounds complicated and I feel like you’d greatly benefit from being a part of our community and some back and forth consultation. I recommend that you bring it up in our private forum where we have actual relationship coaches on staff to answer questions and give advice. To access this forum, you would need to sign up for the Irresistible Insiders Club.
Within this private community, you can also ask questions and share experiences with like-minded women and our most advanced members. This way you can get extra real-time feedback and support for your unique situation.
Warm wishes,
Tracey T.
My ex and I have known each other since I was 14 and he was 15. We would get back together on and off throughout the years. Now I am 45 and he is 46, and he just broke it off two weeks ago. There were a lot of problems – trust issues, etc. I was the problem. I have a hard time telling the truth, and I am getting professional help for that. I am devastated over the breakup. I am not sleeping well or eating right. We still live together. We are not spending time together. He sleeps on the couch, and I sleep in the bed room. There is little communication between us. I feel that he values his dog more than me. It’s like he is having an affair with his dog. In 2017, I was horribly addicted to drugs and alcohol, and I treated him poorly as my addiction was the only thing that mattered. He had me arrested to get me off of drugs and alcohol, and it worked. I have been clean of alcohol and drugs for three years now. I feel that he still holds a grudge against me for all the bad things I did in 2017. He has almost no trust in me. I have been apprehensive about using your techniques as there is no communication, and he seems mad all the time. I am desperate for help. I do not know how to rebuild that trust with him. I have watched videos on compulsive lying which is what I have suffered from since I was a child. I have been trying to pay for everything (bills, his music equipment, etc) for three years. I have been trying to make up for my past for three years. I feel like I have tried so hard only to be let down. He says he is not happy. I am starting to think there is nothing that will make him happy. We are rarely intimate. We do not have dates. He refuses to have any affection with me. Yet, when I was on drugs, he was affectionate and intimate. I feel like, why did you get me off of drugs in order to punish me? I know that is probably the wrong way to approach it, but seriously why is there no change after three years? I did not have any in-house rehab or treatment, and I had been addicted for 18 years. He was my whole motivation to quit. I just could not stop, because the addiction was too strong. Now that I have been clean for three years, I would hope to see things change. I know you speak of the Hero Instinct, and when I have used techniques from that, he tells me I am crazy and looks at me as if I have two heads.
I miss spending time with him. I hear him laugh at the TV, and I am like how can you laugh when all I do is cry? We have this huge past behind us. He has always been my desire since I was 14.
I do not know what to do. Please help me.
This article was so helpful. I only wish I had read it before I made several mistakes repeatedly in trying to reunite with my ex.
My ex is older by 16 years but we had an amazing emotional, spiritual and sexual connection. We got together almost immediately and were together 3 months. He started pulling back after 2. I tried to communicate with him and he wouldn’t give me any answers. In the beginning month I did break up with him a lot because I felt he would lie by omission when I told him honesty is very important to me. Anyway he started dating a woman and I only found out when we broke up. Both of us are going through divorces and he said he just wasn’t ready for me. The love I showed him was too much for him at the time it scared him to be in that type of loving situation again after 18 years of marriage. At first I was heartbroken and tried to get him to explain why he was willing to date this other woman, but then I crossed all boundaries and demanded explanations, showed up at his house etc. each time in between we would take a break from each other and then come back and be willing to be friends but each time I’d revert back to this behavior due to being so hurt. We have been broken up about 2 months now and I’m starting to realize the incompatibilities such as me being very dominant and vocal and him not liking to feel controlled and him shutting down when issues arise. I’ve also identified that I need to stop certain behaviors like crossing his boundaries.
I also seem to only call him when I’m having a meltdown because of my estranged husband which I know puts a lot of pressure. More recently he revealed that he thought that I had suitors lined up and he didn’t take me seriously because he thought I was being dishonest which is not the case. He never talked to me about any of this until things came to a head about 2 weeks ago.
I love him and I know he loved me too. He has said many times that the love and connection is there but we are just out of sync.
I don’t know if I’ve ruined things completely because of my post-breakup behavior and the fact that we both have trust issues (I’m willing to forgive). At one point he said he needed space and time to figure out if we could work it out or if he wanted to pursue something more with this other woman but I was so persistent that now he just doesn’t talk to me and if he does he seems indifferent.
What can be done? Is it too late to reverse the situation?
Wow this seems ALOT like my story! Except he is 15 yes older than me… so weird. I wish you would’ve gotten a reply cause I’m sure would help us both.
How do you incorporate these techniques or strategies on someone who is a narcissist sociopath?
My now ex and I were together for almost two years and split 6 weeks ago. I am devastated and he was too. I know he loves me but he struggled for a long time that I couldn’t speak his love language but turns out I thought words of affirmation meant something entirely different.
I have read so many books and now know that we tackled things wrong. He didn’t give me enough quality time that I craved so I didn’t feel loved (didn’t realise at the time) and he wasn’t getting what he needed from me so there was a lot of resentment.
This then made the emotional connection in intimacy die because he wasn’t loving me right so it was like he just wanted sex all the time.
We both love each other a lot but he came to the decision that we are too different and it won’t work even though it broke him to do this.
He is so stubborn and prideful. I wrote him emails and have told him everything but that was before I read this article. I just don’t understand why he can’t see what I see and where we went wrong and why he wouldn’t want to try one more time.
Everyone is telling me to give it time but I really don’t think he will change his mind. I think he will deal with his decision and move on.
Hi James. I’ve been a fan of your work now 6 years. I dated a guy for a year. The first six months, was more than I could hope. My guy led all the way, he brought me into his family. I grew into his 7 kids and really bonded with them. But to be honest, he was in a bad situation. He had set no boundaries and his estranged wife came and went as she wanted. she left him 15 years ago. He told me the divorce papers were signed and ready to go to the judge and 8 months into the relationship, he started to execute the divorce. I could see she was competitive with me, but he couldn’t see it. She quit her job and because she had no place to go, she was sleeping on his sofa at times then other times with her sister or family. This was June. Then in August, the tower moment. Apparently she set some deadlines with him. He stopped me from staying at his home, he told me he couldn’t sleep with me because I snored, we only did things with the kids and his mother, our 1-2-1 time was cut to the bone, although though we never had that much anyway. Every month there was one more thing he did to destroy our connection. I even told him if all of the demands were too much for him, I would leave and he would not ever have to be concerned that I would bother him again and I decided I would let him break off the relationship. I wasn’t going to let him tell the kids I left because of them or because of his crazy life. On December 11, he told me he had no room in his life for me, that emotionally he was stretched to his limits, he did not want anyone else in his life for whom he had to be concerned about showing up for. He told me he didn’t want sex nor did he needed that he had no interested in anything sexual with anyone. He just wants to be alone. I didn’t try to convince him. For his sexual issues he said was related to not taking his antidepressant and anti anxiety meds, I told him we could work that out. He said he just wanted to be alone. After that, I said okay. I don’t contact him every three or four days. I have texted once, two weeks ago and he was so abrupt. He accused me of asking people around him how he was doing. Which I had never done. I am friends with his family, I had not initiated contact to any of them. His daughter brought me cookies and I asked how was everyone. I suppose that was what he was talking about. I didn’t respond with anger I just asked how I could support him. He said by asking no questions, if I respected him and by waiting to hear from him when he has some news. So, I just decided, no contact with anyone. If his family, whom I love contacts me, I will respond, but I will not initiate anything to him or to them. With him, I don’t think I can handle another attack. I might let him have it. What shall I do. Just let the relationship go? I am on a dating site as dating goes in Europe. But it keeps me busy.
James you have the answer for many nuances Related to ‘my story’.
Mainly I believe, I am experiencing the abundance, vs. Uber abundance
Reaction.
There is no time for a relationship.
🙂
I love James so much I’m struggling with my partner right now and these emails are just so helpful and supportive. Everything you say is absolutely right and important and I am putting it all into practice and without a doubt it is working.
Thank you so much for your help and emails you are a rock and a blessing
Best regards
Joanne
Galway
Ireland
Xx
Thank you, Joanne. You are so sweet and your kindness fills me up with happiness today.
Great piece, thanks. I feel like I’m dying and need advice. My (now) ex fiancé of 9 years just out of the blue told me he’s moving into his own apartment. We have been madly in love for almost a decade and both said that we were each other‘s loves of our lives, we were waiting to get married until I graduated from school. He has been raising my two children for nine years and we have a seven-year-old together. I thought we were doing fine except for some stress like his job and my schooling and of course the kids… It all seemed normal and then I was blindsided with his separation. He says he still loves me and wants to work things out and “fix things” but he won’t tell me what the things are. We’re talking about going to counseling, and he says he still wants to see me and be involved in the children’s lives on almost a daily basis. Honestly, for a couple months I felt like he was a little closed off but I thought it was stress from work… I love him more than anything and I want it to work, I have literally cried and begged him to tell me what went wrong and he just shuts down. Once I started reading your courses I stopped asking, but I’m afraid once he moves out it’s going to be over. We have kids together so I will see him often and apparently we are going to “date and see where things go”. I need help, advice…I don’t want to mess this up! I literally can’t stop crying but I have been able to control myself when he’s around better the last few days.
Hi Sylvia,
This sounds like a very painful situation and I think you would benefit from a bit of back-and-forth dialogue so I recommend that you share your story in our private forum.
Within this private community you can ask questions and share experiences with like-minded women and our most advanced members. This way you can get extra real-time feedback and support for your unique situation.
There are also topic specific reports available here. Have a look and see if any fit what you’re going through.
I hope it helps. I’m rooting for you!
Warm wishes,
Tracey
I have been finding reading all this extremely helpful at this stage in my relationship. My husband and I have recently separated (his choice). We are still currently living in the same house (very hard). We have been together since 1998 and have 2 amazing children. We have had many ups and downs over our years together, but we always managed to work past them. There have been affairs, mine was physical and his was an emotional one. We worked through them. My husband has been sober for almost 2 years and I am grateful every day for it. When he drank he became very emotionally abusive with me. Every incident over the years chipped away pieces of me but I always forgave him because he is the love of my life. I can’t forget but I forgave. He knows the pain he has caused me and our children during these times. My husband also is self employed and works unlike most people I know. His current project he works 7 days a week. This has been hard and unhealthy. For him things haven’t been good for a long time. I didn’t realize how bad he felt until he said he wanted to separate. I have been looking at myself and it makes me so sad. I haven’t been a supportive wife, our sex life is few and far between and I have developed some lazy bad habits. We are coming up on a month and I have started to be physically active again, reading, journaling, doing so much to get to the bottom of myself that it’s crazy. I don’t take on sole blame for this because he too plays his role but I do realize my parts. My husband had very few sexual experiences before we got together as we were both young ( him 3 years younger than me). Last week he told me he has feelings for someone else and she him…I was shattered. Nothing had happened at that point but knew it was a matter of time. I knew instantly when the relationship became physical because he didn’t come home and avoided me for a couple of days. I honestly don’t blame him as we are both very sexual beings, but we lost our way with each other. We are planning a face to face sit down tomorrow night and I’m extremely nervous. I truly love this man but I am at a crossroads. I am not eating or sleeping. I cry every day but get up and keep going for our son ( daughter moved away for 1st year of University this year). We have so much love and history together but the fact that less then a month after separation he is with another woman I just don’t know. I know why and don’t blame him but wonder if I can reach him? Make him see that through self work and positive change we can get back on track? I am painfully grateful that this happened as I really was in a complacent rut that I didn’t even realize. It pushed me up and made me dig really deep and ugly. I have realized things about myself and my past that are shocking and make so much sense. I know he loves me still but is he in love with me at all still? Any kind of advice I would be grateful for. Thank you.
Hi James,
Thank you very much for your advice.
I have been with my boyfriend for almost seven years now. Since very early in our relationship, we started talking about the future (getting married). We purchased a property together, but decided that we wouldn’t move until we were engaged. Together we decided that we would get engaged sometime last year and he started making a lot of promises. Towards the middle of the year, he started telling me he didn’t feel good (something I have been trying desperately to understand since we have always talked very naturally about our future), but he has never been able to really explain what he feels. Then he started promising he would propose before the end of the month, but when the time came he backed off, then he makes the same promise again and the cycle has been repeated for about 6 months now.
All these promises that are continuously broken have made me insecure, which I feel has brought the worst of me (increasing my jealousy and doubting his honesty). It feels like this has unleashed a vicious cycle since every time he lies, I trust him less, and this causes him to pull away even further and keep lying (it has also brought out the worst in him). Every time we talk about it he tells me that he is 100% sure that we are destined to be together, that I am the love of his life, and that he wants exactly the same thing that I want. He simply does not take the step, like he has some sort of commitment phobia.
It has been hard for me to understand why he acts this way since he is still as romantic as always, intimacy is the same as always, and he treats me the same way he has for many years now, with love, affection and respect. Nothing has changed that would cause him to have doubt and he assures that there is nobody else.
I recently told him that I would rather break up than to continue this relationship if he is not really sure of what he wants (he says he is sure but his actions tell me he is not). He insists that this is not a solution and that he never wants to lose me. I have always been very sure of what I want with him and it feels unfair that he is “playing with my feelings?” and making me wait while making promises he can´t keep. I have tried to make him understand that fear is normal when taking such a big step but that the reward will be worth it because we will be very happy together. I am sure he knows this is true but I am really tired of just waiting for something that feels like is never coming. So since I don’t really want to break up but I feel like I have to look after my own happiness I asked him for some time off. I don’t know if this was the right call since it could push him further away or make him miss me enough to know that he must do something to avoid losing me.
How can I make him understand that staying true to his promises (or at least being honest about what he is feeling) is the solution to our problem? How can I make him feel safe enough so that he is no longer afraid? This entire process has been extremely painful for me, a part of me just feels like giving up, but another part of me wants to save what has been an amazing relationship so far.
Hi! I read this post some time ago when I was going through this very difficult situation. I just wanted to share that after a ton of work, counseling, and quite some time, we finally worked things out. We got engaged and moved in together, and honestly we couldn’t be happier! I just wanted to share this for people who may be going through something really difficult with their partners and it feels like there is no hope. I was there, feeling it was all over, feeling hopeless and defeated, but patience and determination can really get you anywhere. If you really love that someone, if you can feel it in your heart, never give up on love! It will all be worth it in the end.
I’ve learned so much from this difficult experience and now I know that relationships are not always easy, they require work and persistence, and there will always be hard patches every now and then. But love is something worth fighting for, when you know in your heart it is right.
I just wanted to share my gratitude for all the advice I was given that got me through this situation.
Thank you for sharing the story and inspiration with us, Camilla.
What a beautiful story, Camilla. I’m so glad that things worked out for you, and really admire your patience, strength and persistence. Your story will be a real inspiration for many other women in a similar situation. I have been in a similar relationship for what seems to be forever, except that my “love interest” also has a drink problem as well as phobias about commitment and being abandoned – he has the lot!! (which is probably why he turns to alcohol to deaden the pain!) Now he has a 90year old mother with dementia to worry about, too, and has just finished chemo treatment for cancer himself – although they say that he is probably now in remission. I have tried being patient and strong, as you were, but it is very difficult. I truly admire you for sticking at it, and wish you a beautiful, long, happy and healthy future, you deserve it. Well done!! Lorna
Hello James. I got your book one night and read most of it right away. It really has been helpful in ways that surprised me. – But, I have fallen for a man who is in a difficult period of his life. Settling a divorce, recovering from a very difficult and unfriendly marriage, getting settled in a new high pressure company, supporting his kids. I do not want to get too graphic, but he is also sexually submissive. I’m good with all of this and do believe he cares for me. But he has no time. Any pressure and he pulls back. He will always answer if I contact him, but I do not feel comfortable asking for much because I know he has too much on his plate and he will shut down. I’m willing to see other people who come along and I can be patient. Giving him space is fine with me, if I can trust that the issue is his life and not a lack of feeling for me. This is of course complicated by the fact that he seems to want a woman who is assertive and strong. So it’s a weird balancing act between many things. But, in your opinion, should I forget someone like this person? It will take effort to truly give up on him and I’d rather not. It’s just hard to know what to do in a situation like this, when you care about someone the way I do.
Hi Lisa. It does sound like you find yourself in a tricky relationship situation with this man. So I can understand why this is a difficult decision to make.
I know there must be reasons you feel attracted to him given that you are trying to find a way to make things work with him despite all of the less than ideal issues you’ve described for us.
I find myself wondering if you have given him a clear picture of what you want for the future (even if he is unable to do his part to create the full version of that right now due to his time constraints).
It’s one thing for a man to back away from requests for his limited time when he is already overcommitted to other people (job, kids, basic survival after a lot of changes, etc.). It’s another thing for a man to back away from even talking about what’s possible.
Aiming for a beautiful future is something I ask my clients to never compromise on. That’s true even if a potential partner needs some time to decide if they want to be a part of that beautiful future, or at least audition for the part.
For the most part, it seems like you are taking a wise approach by giving him space and being willing to wait and see how time changes things. I’m also impressed to see that you are not putting all your eggs in one basket or allowing him to completely control your dating life given his lack of investment so far.
All that to say it seems you are doing a great job but may just want to consider whether or not you have given him the chance to truly know what you want. Has he had an opportunity to tell you whether or not he believes he’s worth waiting for given the vision you have for the kind of relationship you want to create?
James I had an affair with my boss for six months after I worked for him for three, he left his wife and we talked of marrying and he introduced me to all of his friends and business partners through the course of the affair his children loved me but once he and his (almost) ex separated they started being ugly to me (they didn’t know we were together) and my family had known his family my whole life, he’s older. His ex is an alcoholic and abusive towards children and a total embarrassment. He hired another older nanny to help w kids bc he had then so much and she is fifty and older than he and then as things w the divorce got extremely bad he had me stop coming to work and now hasn’t spoken to me in weeks. He still pays me through direct deposits and gives me healthcare, hasn’t cNceled the company business card he got me not asked for the keys to the house or our old love nest he owns… one of the last things he told me was it would be better if I came back to work after the court date we’ll that has come and gone and it hasn’t been solved according to court records and I don’t know if he’s keeping me away and planning to get back to me after divorce is over or if he broke up w me bc my insecurities (and bribing me to stay silent) made me nervous around him and the children bc Of the new nanny and his on again off again request at the advice of his attorney to put our relationship on pause which he implemented twice, and was pretty dedicated to it he second time an stray started throwing me and the hire of the new older nanny and I was ego centrical bc of how he had spoiled me w love and attention prior to the separation and by the time I truly grasped the necessity of his distance it was too late.
Wow, that’s a lot to go through. I can see how confusing this must feel. It’s like he never communicated with you about what was going on and you were left to just guess based on his actions and reading between the lines.
Have you decided to steer clear of him, or does your heart want you to give him a chance to explain himself and his intentions for the future?
I want to be with him. I’m not sure if he got back together with his wife though because of some things she’s been posting and I saw her car back at the house the other day. Although he could have asked for it back as part of divorce proceedings…
You have no idea how much I benefited from the “Secret Obsession” and the bonus. I had just started reading it when I got the message I was hopping for as I was afraid I had messed up a promising wonderful friendship. By that time I was on page 38. Carefully I responded and I had similar result as your sister.. I know I have to be careful since I just started, but I had no choice.; I had to respond and my beloved friend immediately replied and flowered me with love better than before. Thank you sooo much!
Woohoo! I never get tired of hearing this kind of story. Thank you for sharing!
Hello James I really find your book very helpful it made so many things clear to me .
Up to now I never was so much fallen for someone that I decided to look for help . The thing is if you look reasonably at the situation it is impossible he is much too young.
But what makes things so hard for me ,first I didn’t start and even wanted but he did so many things maybe he even used such things for women until he was sure I had completely fallen for him then he said I misunderstood and he wants us to be friends forever.
Now the problem is i can’t get him out of my heart I don’t even know why if I apply at the reason I can clearly see it has no sense and to stay like a friend only and doing all these things he wants me to doe with him (he made me even meet his family)for my feelings is not possible and I told him so and even though he just wouldn’t stop calling , we tried both to not call but it never worked for a long time
So I decided to try everything with your advice if it works I be the happiest person on earth but I think even if it works it won’t be easy .
Thanks so much for your advices they truly help
Maha, we like hearing from people like you. I totally understand why this situation is so difficult for you.
Is the situation that he appreciates you as a close friend but does not have romantic feelings for you? Or is it that the age difference prevents him from acting on the romantic feelings he has for you?
Hi James,
I just purchased your book. I was so lost on what to do and say and was feeling him pull away. I was so excited to read. I’ve known this man since I was 5. I had moved away when I was 10. I always had a crush on him. We grew up together and I was best friends with his sister. Anyway, long story short we became friends on rbc years back but didn’t really talk because he was married. So now he’s in the process of a divorce. We started talking and hit it off, talked and text non-stop every day. We would talk hours on end for a month. I went out to see him for a week, he lives Iowa. I felt such a strong connection didn’t want to come back home. I loved it out there. So anyway we still talked a lot when got back. Then this corona crap started and his mom had gotten very ill, the courts closed, work is slow, etc. he has a lot going on. I was very concerned so I kept trying to check on him and his mom, he said needed space and guess I didn’t give him enough. I feel in my heart he’s the one. I would even move out there it’s so hard. He sent me this the next day after I bought your book. “Please stop. I’ve told you everything in my life right now is upside down or backwards or dying. I know you want to help but you can’t. I’m trying to fix things or figure out what to do. I do not have time or the energy for any kind of relationship right now. I can’t even relate to myself sometimes.” I don’t know if there is any hope but I truly don’t want to give up on him. I’m also worried about him and his mom..
James, I could not believe how Cornelia’s situation is exact to mine. I’m interested in your answer for both, he has romantic feelings and he doesn’t. We were together 5 yrs, I pushed him away due to the age difference but have always loved him. He wants me as his best friend, says he just doesn’t think of me romantically anymore. His actions say diff. He is attracted to me, we have an unexplainable bond. He now has a young girlfriend who is treating him terribly. I’ve been struggling for months on what to do. I don’t know how to just be his friend, what’s more, I don’t want just friendship. I want him. So please, answer so I can stop this cycle of pain, I’m tired, yet can’t seem to let him go, he wants to be close…help.
Hi James, thank you so much for this helpful relationship tips you share.
I met this guy online and we’ve been communicating for about three years now, only becoming kind of serious within the past year. He says he loves me and he’s always so helpful with advice and assistance when I need it and it’s within his power to do so. Did I also mention that i’ve never met him before as we live long distance from each other, though he claims to have seen me before on one of his trips back to our country from his base abroad. Now my dilemma is he prefers video chatting and most times asks me to send him my nude pictures which I did against my better judgement, though I made sure my face was carefully cropped out. Recently he started asking that we video chat naked and honestly I find the idea scary because i’ve come across women who were in a similar situation and their nude pictures and videos are today being used as tools of blackmail, by the same men who once claimed to love them. I’ve refused on many occasions to participate in this naked video chat with him and he usually backs off when I say no, but he still keeps trying and recently I find my resolve weakening but I’m still reluctant, though a part of me wants to please him by doing this with him. I recently sent him a long message telling him how scared I am and why I didn’t want to do the nude video chats. I know he has read the message, but hasn’t replied me yet. Now I’m wondering if maybe I pushed him away or if I’m right by holding on to my principles. Are my fears valid or are they unnecessary?
Will be looking forward to hearing from you.
It’s a good question. In many relationship situations, compromising to make each other happy is the key to a lasting relationship that meets each other’s needs. But not when it comes to your personal boundaries. He doesn’t need nude video chats with you to have a good relationship with you, and there are many reasons not to put that kind of thing out on the internet.
Hi James,
I am pleased to see you addressing pulling back your ex. This is why I got involved in your course. My situation has gone to the extreme I don’t have any contact with my ex husband. We have been separated for over a month, he decided to end it and just disappeared. It got a bit messy towards the end as I had to get a restraining order against him. We aren’t allowed to see each other but we can contact via txt, call or email. I have all his belongings etc and have no way to contact him. He has changed his number, email and doesn’t have social media. I also don’t know where he lives only know where he goes to gym. This is the love of my life and I went crazy during the break up as I couldn’t understand why. I was reading your course notes and a lot of things made sense and I now know how to spark his hero instinct. However I have given up, I can’t apply the pull my ex back theory if I have no means of contacting with him. He has also started to move on and adding women on this dating app. He believes that living the bachelor life is better then being married as he doesn’t deal well with stress. I’m spiraling into a deep hole and can’t get out. How do you go about pulling back your ex with no means of contact?
Kindest regards
Massi
Those 5 ideas fit him perfect!! I have thought about trying to get him to explain etc.
I knew I really shouldn’t & after reading your advice I KNOW your method is best for this guy. I would almost think you know him personally, you have described our situation so accurately.
Thank you!
I’m glad that was useful to you! 🙂
I am in love with a man that says he loves me but his actions sometimes say otherwise. Right now our we are not together and that was his decision. I love him with all my heart but I don’t want to chase or beg a person to be in my life. I am devistated by not being with him. But I’m also scared to let my walls down again. Help please I am so confused
Hi Amy. It is my perception that there are too few people like you in the world. I’m talking about people who have a personal, sincere desire to love another person deeply.
In other words, you are a rare gem. There are men out there searching for someone like you.
Whenever our heart gets set on a specific person, it’s hard to imagine happiness with someone else. It’s hard to believe that the odds of finding true love is much greater if you open yourself up to a person you have yet to meet.
If you are meant to be with this man, he will pursue you again, even if you busy yourself with the task of finding a new partner. A partner who is chomping at the bit, just hoping to find someone who has the kind of intense love you are capable of lavishing on another person.
I have a question,
I been with a guy for three years , but it has been long distance. I know a lot of people say they don’t work. But I love him so much , he recently took time off . Because the feelings haven’t been the same. It’s been a week since this break. The last time we talked he did said we were just working through this. But I don’t know how long I should wait, until I text him again?
Marlene, some people find it helpful to write letters that you don’t intend to send. When you find yourself writing a message that emerges from the heart, you’ll know if it’s something you want to communicate to him.
When you have something to say to him, that’s when you should text him. It doesn’t need to be at a specific time, but rather it should come when you have something meaningful you want to communicate to him.
Hi James, my question is, when should you just let it be and stop trying? I feel like Im just making a nuisance of myself and creating unnecessary stress for both of us. I love this guy, but maybe I should just back off and give him space. If he wanted to be together, he would make some kind of effort….and he has stopped.
Laurir
Hi Laurie. That’s a good question, and an honest one too. It’s good to be honest with yourself about the situation so you can see your options more clearly.
This is one of those “it depends” situations. Should you give up on pursuing this guy? It depends on a lot of things including the following:
1. Have you triggered his hero instinct using the methods I teach in my course?
2. Some men do not respond to hero instinct triggers. Those men are not worth pursuing because they are unlikely to make good long-term partners. So if you have triggered his hero instinct several times and given him space and time to interact with you, then it’s important to pay attention to whether he is the kind of man who wants to build his life in the context of a beautiful relationship with others.
3. Do you have any propinquity with him right now? In other words, are there enough opportunities for natural feelings of attraction to emerge between the two of you?
4. Is he in a difficult transitional period of his life where he is pursuing a mission that causes him to set aside all relationships, or just his relationship with you while he pursues other women?
These are all important factors to consider as you decide whether or not to leave the door open for this man to return to you in the future. Sometimes it is better to cut your losses so that you can refocus your mind and energy elsewhere. But in the beginning stages of relationships it’s okay to have several suitors so you don’t put all your eggs in one basket until you see who is serious about building something real with you.
What you mentioned at the end… Having several suitors. I do not want to put all my effort into someone until I know it will be worth it. I have been hurt, and my walls are up at the moment. I have a lot of guys that are interested. I just do not know how to juggle all of them. I’d say at least three guys like me and I like them; one of them is my ex boyfriend of 7 months. We broke up a few months ago, and now he is trying to win me back. I do not know what I am doing. I feel like I am three different people: one part of me loves my ex and wants him back, another part of me wants a guy who came back into my life after ten years, and the last part of me wants the guy I met a few months ago. I am so confused and lost. I need guidance, if you have any.
Thank so much for this James!!
I’ve been waiting for exactly this post to show up. Thank you so much for excellent advice and continually reminding me of how not to shoot myself in the foot…
What if he will not speak to you and runs when he sees you. For Two years he has not spoken to me & runs when he sees me coming. So I feel hopeless. He doesn’t except texts ( flip phone). Or phone calls from me. What can I do? I can’t communicate with him.
When someone ignores your call or text or runs when he see you, you should stay away from him. It’s self respect. That behavior is not worthy of you, that man doesn’t deserve you. Love yourself. He is not the last man in this world. Let time heal the wounds and pain in your heart. Let your strength defeat the weakness, for you will see, you will overcome all the obstacles that are triggering in your mind and heart. Letting go is the best, for you will also let yourself go and be free.
If he is that dead set against communication, you might have to just start with a physical letter, snail mail. It’s slower because you can’t use the back-and-forth techniques I describe in Rewrite Your Relationship. But you can start to create a new kind of interaction that feels different to him than whatever he felt before that caused him to think he needs to run.
Thank you!!!! This is such a helpful piece!!