Though it seems odd to say, friendship and romance have a great deal in common, it is true and sometimes hard to tell the difference. Being friends is important in any healthy, romantic relationship, but is it enough? It is important to know whether you are feeling truly romantic toward someone or that you would thrive best as platonic friends. There is a line between friendship and love, but which would best serve you? There are some factors that people often associate with relationships that are romantic in nature, but they are just as important when it comes to friendship. These are shared below.
Attraction
Though feeling drawn to someone is a wonderful and powerful event, it is not a definitive sign when it comes to romance. In fact, friendship has a central theme of mutual attraction. In fact, when long term friends share experiences, especially emotional ones, they can feel a longing for the other person. This is like romantic partners.
Intimacy
Closeness is important in romantic relationships, but also in friendships. Intimacy is shared between friends as well as in relationships. This is gained through sharing of the self through feelings, reactions, and concerns with someone who responds. This sustains both friendships and romantic partnerships.
Respect
Both friendships and romantic relationships require a healthy amount of respect. Just because you admire someone does not mean, in and of itself, that you are to be together romantically. In fact, having friends you can admire is a wonderful thing, especially if they also respect you too.
Support
Offering support is important in romantic relationships and friendships. This helps both individuals thrive.
Pleasure
Having fun together is ideal in both romance and friendships. Just because you like spending time with someone does not mean that romance is in the future, perhaps you are just going to be close friends.
Divergence
With so many similarities, it can be hard to know where the difference in friendship and a romantic relationship. One obvious component is sex, but there are also others that means you are better suited as romantic partners, not friends. These are shared below.
Shared Goals
One of the main ways in which romantic partners are different from friends is their future paths being aligned. This means they are inclined toward a similar future and future expectations. This includes things like having children, financial habits, and even religion. Though friends may share this stuff, it is far from a prerequisite.
Time and Attention
Romantic relationships will come before friendship when it comes to the amount of time spent together and how much attention is given. This is because the two people choose to focus on one another and feel comfortable with all the attention given.
Interdependence
While friends may depend on one another, romantic partners are more netted together in such a way they rely on one another moving the relationship from you and I to us. The depth of this is much different than friendship.
Positive Illusions
In a healthy relationship, individuals become enchanted with their partners with heightened views of one another in all areas. This is healthy in romance.
Influence
Friends can help influence us, but even if our paths differ, we can remain friends. In romantic relationships the influence is stronger. People’s self-definition includes romantic partners, but not usually their friends.
Commitment
Romantic relationships are predictors of stability and a choice to work on creating something romantic. This is the most important factor in determining the type of relationship or friendship.
When deciding on the future of either a friendship or romantic relationship, it is all about weighing costs, expectations, benefits, and the investments already made in the current partnership. While many friends could become partners, the commitment to a life together is what matters the most.