No one likes the idea of being taken for granted, or worse, being used. Unfortunately, it’s only human nature to occasionally forget how much others do for us until it’s too late. Sometimes, when you’re on the receiving end of the bad treatment, you might not even be aware of how much you’re being respected until it’s too late.
- He’s stopped meeting you half way. Back in the day, he’d go out of his way to please you. Now, he’s expecting you to do all the legwork of just about anything you do together.
- You repeatedly have to remind him of how much you’re doing for the two of you. You bust your ass trying to make your lives as happy and comfortable as possible, but he’s sorta blase about all of it and doesn’t seem to care about the sacrifices you make.
- You’re worried that he’ll flip out or leave if you refuse a request. While this can be attributed to being too nice for your own good, the truth is that anyone who throws a tantrum because they don’t get their way isn’t going to be grateful for anything you do. So, stop agreeing to things, and cut it short. You are better off without this kind of guy in your life.
- He seems to think that he’s the boss of you (and he’s not). Obviously, if he’s actually your manager at work, this is a bit different, but if he’s just a boyfriend, then you have a problem. Guys who boss women around don’t respect them.
- He and his friends have little to no problem insulting you or ignoring you, despite you doing a ton for them. This isn’t just a sign of being taken for granted, it’s a sign that they are full-on using you, and that they’re not even trying to hide it. When a guy actually goes so far as to allow his friends to walk all over you, it’s time to break up ASAP.
- He refuses to do you any favors, despite how many you do for him. The biggest sign that you’re being taken for granted is a lack of reciprocity in a relationship. If you’re always doing amazing things for him but know for a fact that he wouldn’t do the same for you, it’s safe to say that they don’t appreciate you enough.
- He always puts you on the back-burner. When you’re being taken for granted, everything matters more than you. His job matters more. His friends matter more. Taking a nap matters more. His toenails matter more. If this sounds like your relationship with him, then you’re definitely being taken for granted. Never be someone’s option.
- He expects you to pull special favors for him. Simply put, special favors are just that — special. They aren’t an everyday occurrence. When people automatically assume that you’ll give them something extra “just because,” the truth is that it’s no longer special to them. When this happens, it’s obvious that your efforts are unappreciated. When this happens in a relationship, he’s using you.
- You honestly can’t remember the last time he thanked you for anything. It’s just basic manners. If he doesn’t even bother to say thanks when you do something for him, no matter how big or small, it’s a sign that you aren’t respected or treated with gratitude. Stop doing things for him until he learns that phrase.
- He’s stood you up, and expected you to be OK with it. No, this is not acceptable. If he’s at the point where he knows you’ll come running back to him regardless of how much of your time he wastes, he’s worthless as a boyfriend and a crappy person who takes you for granted. Dump him.
- He cheated on you. One thing that cheaters don’t get is that being unfaithful is the ultimate gesture of taking people for granted. People who cheat want to have their cake and eat it, too. At times, they even feel entitled to cheat. Truthfully, they assume that they’ll get away with it, that you’ll forgive them, or that they’ll have another person waiting in the aisles. You deserve better than a guy who has that kind of attitude towards you, so if he does this, leave.
- There’s a huge gap in how he treats others, and how he treats you. Your boyfriend treats others with respect and goes goes out of their way to impress certain people. However, when he’s with you, he does not seem the least bit interested in doing anything to make you smile. In fact, he’s not even respectful. When people take you for granted and disrespect you, you have to wonder why on earth you’re with them in the first place.
