9 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Stay Friends With Your Ex (4 of 5)

6. It provides a false sense of hope

In most cases, when a break up happens, it is not a mutual decision. One half of the pair will continue to hold on to the hope that the other half realizes it was a mistake and will wait for them to ask back in. If you’re still hanging out with your ex because you feel guilty about dumping them, that’s only going to make them suffer even more in the long term. You should want them to move on with their lives, just like you want to move on with yours.

7. Staying friends won’t make the break up easier

Even the person initiating the break up feels pain after the relationship is over. After all, they still hold onto the vacation memories, the breakfasts in beds, introducing their partner to the parents for the first time, etc. Making the decision to remain close friends and keeping up with them all the time will not make things go more smoothly. It is only a temporary Band-Aid that will only prolong the pain that you are feeling, even though you realize there is no returning.