As someone once said, happiness isn’t having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.

Unless there’s a significant and unresolvable issue between you and your current SO, that is ongoing, it is probably the better choice to stay.

I’ll give an example: My college gf, who we will call Jen, because that was her name, lived with my midway through college, and we got along line peas in a pod, except for one thing. She was highly religious. Her belief was some form of Christian, I’m somewhere between a spiritualist/agnostic and atheist. My view is mostly live and let live on such matters. I frankly don’t care whether anyone has faith; the only time it’s an issue is when I’m preached to, that my beliefs are wrong or whatever and that God wants me to blah blah blah whatever. That’s my line. She wasn’t the preachy type, so I never had a problem with the arrangement. She, however, continually had little crisis attacks about it. Worrying over my soul or whatever, she was clear that according to her faith, I would be going to hell. For me, this poses no issue. I couldn’t care less what get faith thinks of what will happen to me after death. So I’m unbothered. However this concerned her greatly. It was raised time and time again, and I could feel more and more resentment of her faith, every time it did, but I’m not the sort to either be preached at, nor preach to anyone about what they believe. I didn’t make efforts to dissuade her of her faith.

It was literally the only thing we ever fought about.

What ended the relationship can be summarized by one statement she made to me near the end of the relationship. I don’t remember the exact wording, but it was along the lines of “I don’t want to be with someone, if I can’t spend eternity with them in heaven [after we die]”. To me, that was the nail in the coffin that solidified the fact that this was an irreconcilable difference and the relationship would not survive. I would not capitulate to being a part of a religion I genuinely did not believe in, and she would not compromise that stated objective, and so we were at an impasse that could not ever be resolved.

She’s a lovely girl. Like anyone, Jen had/has her problems, but they were far outweighed by her demeanor, care for others, consideration… Just everything about her was fantastic. Any other issues she had were very minor to me, and I hope she makes someone (who is of the same faith as her) very happy some day, and in turn, leads a very joyous life.

I still have a lot of love for her, even now, though in more of a friendship kind of way (“agape” love, if you will), and I will always think of her and wish her a happy life.

For me, I went on and found a very nice and lovely young lady, who shares a lot of the same traits, but in a different way, and also has more compatible religious views. (Not that young, it’s only a 6 year difference… I just don’t want that to come across wrong. Heh).

We’ve been together now for… Gosh, seven years? Or something? It’s never been a big priority for either of us to track anniversaries or anything, so I lose all sense of how long we’ve been together. It feels like she’s always been a part of me and right now, I can’t see myself ever leaving, and she feels much the same. We address issues head on with discussion as it becomes relevant, and we do not scream/yell/fight the same way most couples do. We deliberate, disagree, discuss productively. We even have agreed to disagree on things, but even that form of “fighting” is rare. Neither of us is so picky that anything becomes such an important matter to get angry about it. I’m very happy, and even if Jen were to reverse her decision and want a relationship, I would say no. That ship has sailed, I’m happy where I am and even with all the love I still have for Jen, I will not sacrifice my current relationship, nor would I hurt my current SO like that. I’ll be her friend, nothing more.

That situation may be compounded by the fact that my name and my current SO’s name are on the mortgage and deed for our home. Ha. Not the only reason, and certainly not the most significant reason, but still. We’re in this together and nothing can undo the bond I share with my SO. A ring will be appearing in the near future when finances allow for it.

The point of all of this is to demonstrate that there are irreconcilable differences that should be recognised, and with Jen, it took upwards of a year for that to surface and longer to become such an issue, that we parted ways. When you know that no such difference exists, then the relationship is worth trying to keep.

At the same time, if you’re so dissatisfied with the relationship that you’re entertaining the thought of finding a different mate, then I would advise that you examine why you feel that way and address that, with professional help if required. Being true to yourself and genuine with your partner is the only way to “make it work”. If there’s something that is leaving you wanting more, then you either have to adjust your expectations, or they will have to step up to meet your needs, or you’ll need to find someone who will. It’s not uncommon that you’ll simply need to find someone better suited for you than your current partner. It happens, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing to move on. Simply: over time that lack of whatever you need to feel satisfied, will evolve into resentment of your partner and lead to both of you being unhappy. That’s unfair to you and them. So if you’re dissatisfied and you are unable to change how you feel through adjusting your expectations, and they cannot commit to change long term, then it’s time to leave and find someone who will meet your needs. It’s unfair to drag someone through the pain and arguing surrounding those feelings of resentment that will inevitably follow; both to them, and to you.

The right choice will be very personal. Nobody can make that choice but you. It sucks, in the moment, but long term, you’ll both be better off.

I was happy to make it work with Jen, she was unable to accept me for who I was. I went through that with her. It ended things. I’m better off and I hope she is too.

All the best Jen. I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but I hope you’re happy and healthy. You’ll always hold a special place in my heart and I will always care for you deeply. I wish we could have stayed friends, but you determined that was not what was best for you. I hope it helped.