Sometimes 'the end' is a welcome relief

We have all heard the stories before of relationships that aren't working out but people cling to them to try and patch things up. Sometimes, putting patches over things that are broken don't fix them. Not everything in life will turn out the way you plan, but you can't waste your life in a dead-end relationship for fear of hurting someone else's feelings, for sake of keeping face, or for fear of being alone.

Life is too short to live with your regrets and happiness is too precious to miss out on.

So how do you know if a relationship has reached its end?

You can't imagine a future together.
Close your eyes and go inside your head for a moment. Picture all the things you want in life - your dream home, holidays, children, pets, family occasions. Was your partner with you in those dream images? Can you imagine being old with your partner? If not, you have a problem.

You constantly feel frustrated and annoyed at the relationship.
You might have a good day at work, but the second you walk in the door you feel annoyed for no apparent reason. Your partner's presence drives you nuts and you find yourself staring at the back of his head angrily when he's not doing anything 'wrong'. You have a problem.

You and your partner do not have common interests or shared goals.
It's important you are your own person, but it's just as important that you and your partner get excited sharing ideas and goals together. You must have something that you do together that makes you feel close to your partner and stimulated by being with them. Watching television does not count.

You find yourself attracted to other people and make excuses to spend more time away from your partner.
It's natural to notice 'attractive people' but you should not be attracted TO them. If somebody has caught your eye, your thoughts, and your fantasies, and you find yourself trying to avoid spending time with your partner in order to spend more time with another person, you have a big problem. Do not have an affair. Stop and look at why you are drawn away from your partner and to someone else.