Relationship Issues: When You Feel Replaced
There comes a time in almost every relationship when one, or perhaps both, parties worry about being “replaced.” Of course, you’re irreplaceable, and you might even know down deep that your unique qualities make it impossible for someone to replace your role in another person’s life. But down deep, you might also wonder if your role in your sibling’s or friends’ lives is being taken over by someone else. These feelings of jealousy and insecurity can lead to some really serious relationship issues. There’s someone new in the picture By nature, most people thrive in the familiar. That’s why many of us love being at home, surrounded by familiar and comfortable things, like our favorite sounds and smells. And of course, we love our familiar people too. Family members and good friends are a beloved part of your life. You treasure their company and rely on their companionship to get through difficult days. Of course, they annoy you, as you do them, occasionally, but these people, your people, are a foundational part of your life. Enter someone new. What could upset this beautiful life, these familiar people and surroundings? A new person. Why are they a threat? Uncertainty and unfamiliarity are often a threat to our peace. When someone new enters a friend group, a neighborhood, or your life in any capacity, you don’t know how to contextualize them yet. Are they going to be your new best friend? Are they going to be a threat to your marriage? Are they going to be a temporary acquaintance that you won’t remember six months from now? But as you get to know these new faces, sometimes they start wiggling their way into your life in a more concrete and consistent way than you expected. It’s great at first. They’re a [...]
