One of the most thrilling but also nerve-wracking moments of falling in love is falling for your best friend. This person has seen you both in all your glory and your bad times, the bad breakups, awful dates, and career changes, so what happens when feelings arise for this person that just turn everything upside down?. This article explores what it means to be in love with your best friend, how to navigate these feelings,
and what possible outcomes to consider.
Table of Contents
Identifying Feelings: Is It Love or Something Else?
The best friend usually takes time to find, and sometimes confusing. You may not always feel like you are in love. Sometimes, it’s a deep respect or admiration. Sometimes, it is also a strong emotional connection. But then how do you know if these feelings turn from platonic to romantic?
Here are some signs that you might be in love with your best friend:
You cannot stop thinking about them in a different context outside the normal friendship.
You start to get jealous when they are talking about their dates or are interested in some other person.
You’ve start to envision that imaginary life with that person outside the friendship level; hence, it may comprise date nights, traveling, and even the couple thing.
Whatever they have is so intimate for you that you want them to be happy even at your own cost sometimes.
All these aspects would let a person know whether it is real romantic love or the deep connection of being good friends.
Pros and cons
First, consider the pros and cons of stating your feelings. Here’s an error:
Profession
Emotional connection: You already have a solid foundation of trust and understanding, which most couples work to achieve for years.
Shared values and interests: Being best friends, you would likely be in sync as far as what matters most to you, making long-term compatibility more probable.
Communication Skills: Your friends understand the way to communicate openly and respectfully, a skill that is important in a romantic relationship.
Less pressure on dating: Because you are well-known to each other, there is little need to impress each other with artificial gestures or masks.
Cons
Loss of friendship: This can be the biggest concern. If they do not feel the same, or if the romance does not work for you, then you will lose the intimacy that you built.
The first potential awkwardness is the fact that if the feelings are not mutual, it would make the execution difficult and hence create an uncomfortable dynamic.
Different relationship expectations: you and the person are close friends doesn’t mean your relationship expectations in a romantic context will be aligned.
An honest assessment of these factors can thus help determine whether it’s worth pursuing.
Timing is everything.
Timing is the most important thing when navigating romantic feelings for a best friend. Sometimes, your friend may already be dating someone or perhaps going through a phase when he or she is not ready for something serious. On the other hand, huge changes in their lives can make it difficult to enter into a new relationship. Thus,
consider whether the timing feels right and whether it fits their current situation before acting on your feelings.
If you feel that the time is ripe, ponder over how you could bring up the topic with them so that they would not get hurt.
Test the waters with subtle hints
If you still do not want to confess your love, you can let them have a few subtle hints as to how they might react if you open up and confess your love. It may give you an idea of how they are going to react when you finally confess your love to them.
Here are a few ways of testing the waters:
Flirt lightly: Observe how they react to light banter or jokes.
Spend more quality time with them: Invite them for events or activities that feel closer or more intimate to measure their response.
Open up emotionally: Share deep feelings or talk about your ideal relationship. See if they reflect your emotional openness.
Testing the waters can help you gauge their feelings without immediately jeopardizing the friendship.
Prepare for different possible scenarios.
Before you open yourself and show your feelings, think and prepare yourself mentally and sensibly for any possible or healthy reaction from the opposite end-of mutual love, possibly a rejection. The right mindset prepares you in the face of any situation that may arise.
If they feel the same: This is the best outcome. Gradually slow things down to have a romantic base without losing the comfort of friendship. Remember that mutual feelings require patience and effective communication before entering into a romantic relationship with a friend.
If they don’t reciprocate: If they do not feel like it, respect their reaction and give them space when needed. It’s natural to feel frustrated, but respect and friendship can often help you both get through the situation without losing your relationship.
If they need time to process: sometimes your confession will shock them, and they need some processing of their emotions. Do not push them; give them enough time without rushing them to answer.
Preparation for all outcomes will also make the approach more considerate and empathetic.
How to confess love softly.
In case you have decided that you want to share the fact with them, do it in a calm and open way. Choose some private, relaxing setting where you both feel comfortable. Be honest but avoid pressure. For instance:
“I feel really close to you, and the feelings have grown over time. a value our friendship, but I wanted to be honest with you – my feelings towards you started getting beyond being friends. I don’t expect you to necessarily,
but I felt important enough to share this with you.”
By putting it this way, you make it clear that you’re open to whatever you feel, emphasizing the value of friendship.
On moving on: Staying friends no matter what the fallouts
Regardless of the outcome, you can still hold onto your friendship by showing respect for their feelings and choices. If your friend retaliates, set boundaries between the friendship and the romance. For example, you may agree to keep open lines of communication, continue with your routine, and not take each other for granted.
If they don’t feel the same way, then let some time pass in process of feelings before continuing friendships as usual. This break will help a person cope up and approach friendships from space of mutual respect instead of lingering romantic hopes.
Dealing with one-sided love
Unrequited love, especially that of a best friend, may be quite a handful to deal with. There are a few tips to deal with it here:
Create space. Sometimes, you need to physically and emotionally get away, so you can move onward.
Redirect your emotions to a hobby or passion-acting on them in a more healthy way.
Talk through it with someone you trust a trusted friend or therapist offering you perspective and support along the way.
Learn to accept and let go of unrequited love, and you may just find your emotional resilience strengthened,
and be able to enjoy friendship for what it is.
Real life stories: When friends became couples.
Many couples start by being the best of friends. A good example is Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. They were such close friends for many years before dating each other.
If they made it, who are you to say that transitioning from being friends can never work? Success stories even show how friendship can indeed become true love.
Read More: Meet Local Women: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding Real Connections in Your Community
Consequence: Love or Friendship – Love the result.
Love My Best Friend, It’s pretty cool to fall in love with your best friend. Whether that turns into a new relationship or is stored as fond memories, travel is rewarding. Valuing the friendship and honoring both of your feelings will allow you to navigate this delicate situation with grace. No matter what,
you’ve shared a deep connection that could remain special, be it as a friend or something else.