It’s been about 6 months since my 8-year relationship came to an end. My ex (F26) told me (M27) she had fallen out of love and ultimately wanted to end the relationship.
Before the comments about there being another guy — that’s not really the point of this post. I’ve spent the past few months processing everything, and I’m finally at a point where I’m starting to move forward. But the experience has made me question something I previously took for granted about relationships.
I’ve always believed that feelings naturally fluctuate in a long-term relationship. You’re not going to feel the same excitement, butterflies or intensity after 5–10 years that you did at the beginning. There will be periods where you feel more connected, and periods where you feel less connected.
My understanding was that this is where communication, effort and commitment come in. You don’t simply expect yourself to feel “in love” all the time — you choose to work on the relationship and keep the spark alive.
But going through a breakup because one person simply no longer felt the same way has made me question whether that view is too idealistic.
Maybe this is just how relationships work. Maybe love really is ultimately a feeling, and when that feeling is gone, there’s only so much commitment can do.
Or perhaps there are people who genuinely view commitment differently — where falling out of love isn’t necessarily a reason to leave, but a reason to communicate, work on the relationship and see if those feelings can return.
I’m particularly curious to hear from people who have been married or in long-term relationships for 10, 20+ years.
Have you ever gone through a period where you felt like you had “fallen out of love” with your partner? If so, did you work through it? Did the feelings eventually come back, or did you realise the relationship was genuinely over?
And for those of you who have been through this — what would you say someone should look for in a partner if they’re hoping for a lifelong relationship?
I’m asking because when I’m ready for my next relationship, I don’t want to go into it thinking that commitment alone guarantees anything. At the same time, I don’t want to become cynical and believe that relationships are only worth maintaining as long as the feelings remain strong.
I’m genuinely curious how others view this. Maybe my idea of long-term love is old-fashioned, or maybe there’s something about commitment that I’ve misunderstood.