On the surface, the phrase may seem like a sign of genuine care, but there's a lot more going on beneath it.
Dating Expert Reveals The One Phrase That's An 'Instant Red Flag' Your Relationship Is Doomed
Keeping relationships on track can be challenging, but according to one expert, there's a particular phrase that should make you seriously rethink the whole relationship.
Most people don’t want to set themselves up for a heartbreak, yet, as relationship coach Louanne Ward points out, ignoring this one statement could lead to a lot of pain later on.
In a TikTok video she shared last year, Ward explained that this single line is a major warning sign.
It’s something both men and women should be cautious about if they're seeking a long-term partner.
In her video’s caption, she emphasized that the phrase might seem like they're “putting you first and being considerate,” but that’s not what it really means.
Fortunately, the relationship coach provided a breakdown of what the person is actually conveying with this statement and shared a few suggestions on how to handle it.
During her social media video, she stated: "When somebody says, 'I don't want to hurt you' what they're really saying is that they believe that you have more feelings for them than what they have for you."
"There would be no need to hurt you if they were committed into the relationship and they see you as a future potential."
Ward continued by explaining the reasoning behind why someone who doesn’t see a future with you might say this. She stressed the importance of evaluating your relationship and considering what kind of future you envision with them.
She further elaborated: "If someone doesn't see you as potential for a long-term relationship and they don't have strong enough feelings for you they can see that they are potentially going to hurt you."
"They've probably been guilty of doing this before. [They] can also say it because it makes them come across that they're a nice, caring, kind person. They don't have to feel guilty about it because they warned you."
"If you hear that line, it is time for you to get serious and ask 'what am I doing with this person?'."
Even though ending things with a partner can be tough, Ward emphasized that hearing this phrase is a strong sign that the relationship isn’t going to last.
She also pointed out that, no matter how they phrase it, if someone says this to you, it’s likely that they’re going to hurt you in the end, especially if you choose to stay where you are, as Ward advised.