One of the most reassuring things I can tell you right now is that some of the most beautiful love stories were born out of a close, intimate friendship.
So if you’re currently struggling with feelings you think you probably shouldn’t be feeling for your best friend, don’t be so hard on yourself. Chances are this could be the beginning of a love story for the ages! If you don’t give it a go, you’ll never know what you could be missing out on.
Now, I understand that summoning up the courage to let your friend know how you truly feel about them is one of the most difficult things you’ve been faced with.
Firstly, you risk losing one of the most important and closest people in your life… and you’re just not sure if it’s worth taking that huge risk. And secondly, the inevitable fear of rejection…
Don’t let this stop you. If your friend is that important to you, no matter what their reaction will be, they will never compromise having you in their life. Your best friend will always be your best friend. And however they take it, just know that they love you no matter what happens.
The first thing you need to do is acknowledge how you feel. Give it time and don’t rush anything. Make sure that this is not just a phase but an actual, real connection you’re feeling that has surpassed the friend stage and is of a purely romantic nature.
Relationships can be hard work. Think for a second and reevaluate if what you have right now is worth losing for something that might not have what it takes to last.
This is difficult to hear but is of the utmost importance if you want to be doing this the right way. You have an incredible, close relationship with your friend. They probably mean the world to you and your friendship is sacred to you. Is it really something you want to jeopardize?
If you’re sure that you do, then okay. That means you must really be falling in love with your best friend. What’s important now is that you observe their signals and behavior around you.
Does he/she clearly enjoy spending time with you? Do you feel like they could possibly be feeling the same way but are afraid to say it out loud due to those same fears that are troubling you?
Perhaps your friend has been battling with the same feelings toward you and out of fear of ruining your amazing friendship, they have been hesitant to act on it just like you.
This is uncharted territory for the both of you. There are no rules as to what you should and shouldn’t do… In this type of situation, you are the only one who can determine whether you should pursue this or not. There is no wrong answer here, only what your gut feeling is telling you.
My advice is to try to engage in some innocent flirting. See how they take it. Be a little cheeky and put on some moves, just to see how they will respond. In case it doesn’t go down well, you can always say that you were just joking around and playfully dismiss it.
But it could also go down well! Your friend could be very receiving toward your playful flirtation and it could be your sign that you’ve been waiting for!
Be cautious about this. Honesty is your best policy. If your flirty test has gone well, then find an excuse to be alone with them and just be genuine with them. Don’t expect anything in return, otherwise it could be hurtful for you.
Understand that your friend could be really surprised by your admission. Even if they do feel the same way, they might not be ready to admit it at that moment and you could be taking them by surprise, so don’t be surprised if your friend reacts a little worse than you’d like.
If it’s the worst case scenario and the feelings are not reciprocated… it’s not the end of the world. Your friendship might simply be too valuable for your friend to let go of just like that and you have to respect that.
If you are true friends, you will find your way around this. I know it’s such a struggle being in love with your best friend and being torn all the time… but look at it this way; you didn’t lose them and you most probably never will. The love between you two is just too strong.
And if you have found the strength to be honest about your feelings and you found out that they are reciprocated, congratulations! Now you see that without honesty, transparency and a little inevitable struggle, nothing can be achieved.
Sometimes you just have to go all in, because some things are just worth it!
Being in love with your best friend is a truly unique feeling… This is the person who knows all of your secrets. This is the person who knows all of you, good sides and bad. And they stick by your side come hell or high water!
They are the first person to comfort you when you’re down and the first one to know your happy news. There’s no one you’d rather share all of your glorious moments with and no one you’d rather have by your side in the most difficult times.
And you should never take a friendship like that for granted. This is a rarity in this corrupt world and even when those feelings you didn’t expect appear… sometimes, you just have to take that with your head held high and just know that no matter what happens, that bond is unbreakable.
The most important thing is to be honest with yourself. Don’t try to fool your mind into feeling something that isn’t there. Your conscience is clear and your intentions are pure. And when you know you’re coming from a good, genuine place, never regret it.
Those who don’t try will forever be haunted by what could’ve been but never was. So whatever happens with your friend, know that the bond you share is too strong to be broken. Find solace in that, because some people don’t even have that.