Should You Stay Or Should You Go?
By Johanna Lyman. Posted on .
Should you stay or should you go? This is the perennial question in long term relationships that have gotten stale. It's the question that launched my business, Romance Recovery, and the one that prompted me to write my new book, The Soulmate Myth. (YourTango readers can go here to get a preview)
It’s an important question, but in order to answer it with clarity, you have to ask yourself another important question first.
More from YourTango: 5 Ways Abandonment Issues Can Ruin Your Relationships
That question is: Why are you in this particular relationship? In a perfect world, you’re in a romantic relationship to open yourself to love. You’re in it to experience an intimate communion that opens you both to something greater than yourself. You may even say that you’re in it to open yourself to the God of your understanding. That’s great and all; it is truly why our souls long for such union.
But the reality is that you might be in this particular relationship for a whole ‘nother reason. You might be in it for financial security, for emotional stability, or to raise a family together. You might be in it because you don’t think you deserve better. You might be in it because you don’t think you’ll find another person to love you, and the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.
Not one of these reasons is necessarily wrong. As long as you can be honest with yourself, you can still find solace in your relationship. It’s when you lie to yourself or judge your reasons that you end up being dissatisfied with your relationship.
Ask yourself now why you are in your current relationship. Be still and listen for the small, quiet voice to answer. Is the answer what you expected? Sometimes we think we know why we’re doing something, but it’s really just an excuse. If your answer makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself why. It’s for one of two reasons. One, it’s really just an excuse. Ask again, get quiet and see what bubbles up to your consciousness. The second reason is that you’re judging your answer for some reason.
More from YourTango: 50 Shades Of Grey: Do You Like It Rough?
If that’s the case and you’re judging yourself for the reason you’re in the relationship, see if you can figure out why you’re judging yourself. Ask yourself what’s so wrong about being in a relationship for that reason, and let yourself receive the answers.
Even if your answer for why you’re in your relationship isn’t about opening deeper into love, it doesn’t mean that your relationship is invalid or a waste of time. You can use your reason to go deeper into whatever the lesson is. For example, if you are really in your relationship for financial security, explore what makes you insecure. How could you feel more secure inside yourself? You might want to consider my Abundance course here to help you relax into financial security. If you’re in it to raise a family, then be the best child-raising mother you can possibly be. Whatever your reason, own it.
