6 Ways To Know For SURE He's Not Holding Out Hope For His Ex

By Chelli Pumphrey 

Dating someone who is recently out of a relationship can feel a little vulnerable. Before you open your heart, you want to be sure that they are ready to do the same. You may be hearing the words, “I’m over my ex,” but something tells you your new partner may have lingering feelings for a relationship that once was.

Here are some ways to tell if someone has moved on from their ex:

1. There’s Respect for the Ex

Does he talk about his ex with respect, or is there anger or disrespect? Can he acknowledge anything good about her or the relationship?

Frequent name calling, put downs, or game playing that indicate continued conflict or unresolved feelings are a red flag. While it’s appropriate to feel hurt and anger after a relationship ends, constantly disrespecting a former partner is a sure sign of someone who is struggling with letting go.

2. Relationship Lessons Have Been Learned

It’s ok to feel hurt after any relationship ends, but someone who has truly healed and released a relationship can acknowledge that “it takes two”…two to create a relationship, and two to destroy a relationship.

If she is only capable of seeing herself as a victim and seems unable to take any responsibility for her part, she may need to do some more work on either letting go of the former relationship, or on herself to learn more about relationships in general. There are always gifts to be found when lovers part ways, and the healthiest partners will be able to acknowledge these gifts, along with their pain.

3. You’re Not Hidden from the Social Circle

If you’ve met his friends, or he’s not afraid to post pictures of you with him on social media, it’s a good sign that he’s moved on. Someone who is still holding out hope for an ex will find ways to keep you hidden from those who know him, and the ex.

4. The Ex is Not a Focus of Your Relationship

Is her ex a frequent topic of conversation? It’s good to share relationship history as you get to know each other, and to have occasional discussions that about past relationships. What’s important to notice is the frequency and the emotional quality of what is expressed. 

Does it seem like every conversation somehow gets directed back to her ex? Does she express a lot of emotion when mentioning him, with tears, bitterness, or anger? Maybe you’ve even been accidentally called the ex’s name…a definite red flag. Once or twice this can happen, but if it occurs frequently, especially during sex or an emotionally heated moment, take notice.

If he seems to be an invisible presence in your time together, it is likely an indication that she is still emotionally connected to him. 

5. Time to Heal

Every breakup requires time to heal. Someone who has truly released a former partner will have given himself time between relationships to process and heal. 

If you’re dating someone who is within weeks of a breakup, or someone who’s married but just “separated,” use caution. If he’s been in a long term relationship for over a year, anything under a minimum of 4-6 weeks is probably not a safe time to date. It takes time to grieve, and it’s not uncommon for people to rush into a new relationship to avoid the pain of a breakup. 

6. Awareness & Detachment

People who have truly let go of a relationship demonstrate a level of self-awareness which allows them to express feelings about past relationships, but without getting lost in the feelings. They also don’t deny that they had an emotional reaction to an ex or a breakup.

An example is someone who can calmly say “I felt heartbroken when she left me, but I learned something from it”. Someone who is not detached yet may cry about the heartbreak, blame the other person, or have other emotional displays when discussing the relationship. Or, they may deny that they had any feelings at all.

To gauge a person’s level of awareness and detachment, talk about it. Notice the emotion, or lack thereof, that’s connected to the discussion.

Overall, if you notice any kind of pattern that makes you question your partner’s loyalty to you, pay attention. Actions usually do speak much louder than our words.

That being said, any one of these signs are meaningless if you don’t put things into context. Talk to each other before you make assumptions. Mindful relationships require mindful connection. Ask questions. Listen to the answers. And most of all, trust yourself. The truth is always there.