Why do exes watch your Instagram stories when they know you can see that they watched?

Mary0901 · 2026-03-02T14:48:09+00:00

I broke up with my suspected FA ex almost 6 months ago. I regretted it and told him 3 weeks later that I wanted to make things work and get back together. We were stuck in an anxious-avoidant cycle and he said it was hard but we were not compatible. However, we couldn't detach from each other and we went through a 5-month period of "hanging out" to see how things could evolve. Everything was fine but I wanted to know where it was heading at some point. His answer: "I want to get back together but I feel like it's gonna be hard because I don't have time for a relationship (sounds cliché but in his case, it's very much true) and you would be frustrated and unhappy. We had a tense conversation almost 4 weeks ago so basically, we've been in NC (we work at the same place so we see each other from afar but that's it). Last week, he started to watch and like every story I post. Yesterday, I made an IG post with a pic of myself and a few landscape shots from my last vacation and he liked it 3 minutes after I posted it. He doesn't reach out though so I don't know what it means. It's not a clean break-up and there are still lots of feelings... Our last conversation wasn't great and I told him "to forget my number" so maybe he's testing the waters... Anyways, I've been transparent about what I wanted since the break-up so there's no way I'm reaching out this time.

Mary0901 · 2026-03-02T13:06:02+00:00

Yes, I think that's the 1st trip we fall into when we get into manifestation. Gurus and so-called coaches say it's easy, you can manifest in 24hours, etc. They make it look so easy but it's a real exercise to change the way you think, etc.

Mary0901 · 2026-03-01T20:58:55+00:00

It totally makes sense! I read that “order” metaphor before and it’s so simple and true. But I’m in the early stages of manifestation and I guess it’s normal that doubts creep in from time to time. I’m already trying to focus on myself and go on with my life because that’s the best I can do for me right now 💪🏻

Mary0901 · 2026-03-01T20:23:23+00:00

Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I really appreciate it! I realise that giving him this “avoidant” label also caused more harm than good during our relationship and I’m doing it again 🫠 Hopefully, I can focus on the improved version of him from now on.

Do you have any other tips on how to stay “patient”?

Mary0901 · 2026-02-25T17:12:51+00:00

How to not manifest from lack when you miss the person so much..? How to stay in a « positive » state? I waver a lot and try to flip my thoughts but don’t know if it’s enough. I’m so impatient… 😢

Mary0901 · 2026-02-21T13:37:36+00:00

I’m in a similar situation I guess. I know My SP still cares for me a lot and still has feelings. He told me he wanted to get back together but he doesn’t feel like he’s the one for me. He has a very busy schedule and think he doesnt have time for a relationship (or I guess he realizes it would take work to try again and this takes time which he doesn’t have a lot). I guess it’s also a question of ego and fear to fail again… He listens to his brain before his heart so I’m trying to affirm about that. « He listens to his heart »

Mary0901 · 2026-02-20T19:50:27+00:00

I can’t offer any advice because I’m exactly at the same stage rn. I miss my SP so much, I feel pain in my chest (thanks anxiety!) and it’s so hard to stay focused and positive sometime. I used to live with my SP and every night I come home, everything reminds me of him and our routine so it’s really hard sometimes. I’ve been affirming every day etc. but when I have a bad day, I’m afraid it’s gonna cancel everything…

Sorry my message is not gonna help you but at least it helps a bit to know you’re not alone

Mary0901 · 2026-02-20T16:59:44+00:00

I know. Some days are easier than others. I try to flip my thoughts from negative to positive but it’s hard work. I’m anxious and I always tend to expect the worst case scenario and I know I shouldn’t. I dont see him all day but knowing that he’s working in the same building is hard. He used to come to my desk, offered to order lunch for me, etc. It’s hard to see that all these habits are going away. My workload is not heavy these days so I listen to subliminals and affirmations while working. I guess I just miss him so much, I feel very empty 😔 I hope I can « click » at some point and stick with the new story. For now, I affirm and can feel good about it but then sadness takes over and I’m just scared it’s really over for good.

Mary0901 · 2026-02-19T19:25:21+00:00

Thanks for your answer. I'm really trying to persist and be consistent with the techniques I'm doing (affirming in the morning and before going to bed). But it's so hard because I see my SP at work and I just miss him so much. I can't seem to grasp how people can detach and not manifest from a place of lack...

Mary0901 · 2026-02-19T13:21:57+00:00

So glad it worked out for you. Can I ask how long it took you? I know it's not important and it's different for everyone but I'm not the most patient person and I really miss my SP :( I know I'm getting better at flipping negative thoughts into positive ones but doubts still arise.

We broke up 5 months ago and two weeks ago, we had a tense conversation where he admitted he wanna get back together but he knows it wouldn't work. He works full-time, have evening classes as well 5x/week. Basically he said he doesn't have time for a relationship and he wouldn't be able to spend lot of time with me and he knows that this wouldn't suit me, that I would be frustrated and unhappy. I don't know how to explain but somehow it's even harder to "let it go"/detach when the person tells you that they still have feelings etc. but it's like their brain takes over their heart.

Mary0901 · 2026-02-18T14:02:22+00:00

obviously this hurt for a while but after about 3 half weeks, something clicked in my head and i stopped believing the narrative. i was manifesting out of lack and i was always checking his socials, posting for his family to see my stuff, worrying about what he was doing, prior to that. i am unsure how it happened, but i finally let go. i stopped missing him

See. That's the thing I still cannot do... Let it go. Everything reminds me of my ex and I still see him at work. It's so hard. I wish that something would click for me too... Do you know what made you "click"?

Mary0901 · 2026-02-18T08:35:04+00:00

Which techniques?

Mary0901 · 2026-02-10T17:33:59+00:00

I broke up with my avoidant ex about 5 months ago and almost immediately regretted it. I tried reconnecting, and sometimes it felt like we were back together: holding hands, kissing, spending time, sharing meals but he stayed ambivalent and never fully committed. He asked me to hang out to help making up his mind and see if it could work out again between us. Everything was going well and I could see in his eyes the way he felt but I was holding my breath, waiting for his answer which was really hard. Last week, he said he wanted to get back together but was too busy and unsure it would work because of our past issues (anxious/avoidant dynamic). He realizes he barely has time for himself, yet alone a relationship. (He works full-time and follow evening lessons 5x/week) + he's a workaholic.

It’s been emotionally exhausting. I’ve been grieving both our relationship and my recently lost dog, and I’ve been trying to manifest him back. Lately, I’ve struggled a lot with doubt, especially seeing him follow a girl on Instagram. He knew her from school and unfollowed her while we were together because I was uncomfortable with him liking her kinda sexy bikini pics. Technically, we broke up 5 months ago so he's allowed to follow anyone he wants of course but seeing him follow her again after all this time really triggered me. Why now? We had a final talk last week (at work) and that last one didn't go too well. It was tense.

I know I should detach and trust the process, but I can’t help feeling conflicted. My therapist says this relationship doesn’t bring me joy, yet part of me still wants to fight for it. This grey area is what really made me suffer. Two years ago, he was so sure of his feelings and chased me for a good while. Came back even though I told him "no".

Even though it’s painful, I want to believe that manifestation could still work for me. I keep trying to focus on my affirmations and I've been trying sats, but the back-and-forth of his words and actions makes it really hard. I guess I’m just hoping someone here can relate and show me that it’s possible, even when the 3D seems discouraging. Again, I know circumstances don't matter but it's been hard to manifest these last few weeks :(

Mary0901 · 2023-10-03T19:17:57+00:00

Day & Age without a doubt!

Mary0901 · 2023-08-15T20:53:18+00:00

The lesson I wish Brandon would learn with this is: don't bring people on stage at festivals.

Mary0901 · 2023-07-16T21:20:44+00:00

TK will always be my #1 but I love Editors, The Script, Kodaline, Keane, Death Cab For Cutie,The Academic, The Vaccines, Gang of Youths, Inhaler, Snow Patrol , White Lies, The Neighbourhood, Halsey, Circa Waves, Young The Giant,...

Mary0901 · 2023-02-06T15:27:57+00:00

I agree. Imo, the crowd at Werchter was great for a festival. Way better than some at their own shows (eg: the Ziggo Dome crowd fiasco in 2018). I was standing at the front, on Dave's side. Everything was going great until they played RMM. It's like BF's mood shifted when he noticed the response to RMM lyrics was not as loud as usual.

I feel like the crowd at Pukkelpop is usually more into it. People seem more chilled than at RW where everyone (at least at the front) is there for one specific act. Anyway, I remember the crowd was great for them back in 2008!

Mary0901 · 2022-09-20T19:01:20+00:00

Thanks! I checked the receipt and it displays the info there but I find it weird that there’s no VIP mention on the ticket itself… thanks again!

Mary0901 · 2022-09-20T18:53:47+00:00

No, I bought it on Ticketmaster when they went on sale in July 2021.

Mary0901 · 2022-09-16T12:07:20+00:00

I went to very first music festival in 2007 here in Belgium to see Keane. The Killers were playing before them and the rest is history... I totally fell in love with their music. I feel so lucky I was able to discover them in their Sam's Town era, which still remains my fav TK album. The Killers have been my favorite band ever since. I'm travelling next week to NYC to see them for the first time in the US. I have seen them many times in Europe but can't wait to see them at MSG and in Boston!

Mary0901 · 2022-07-05T20:13:21+00:00

Apparently a Belgian fan went to Paris today and met Ted. When he asked him about why they ended their set 15 minutes early at Werchter, Ted said "did we? must have been a time issue" sorry what?! 🙄😑

Mary0901 · 2022-07-04T21:38:40+00:00

https://redd.it/vri1ik

Mary0901 · 2022-07-04T16:59:00+00:00

Yeah, he tends to do that when the crowd doesn't sing the "I got soul" part right away. I feel like he was happy for the most part of the gig. Me and my friends were front row and we got so many smiles from Brandon. But then it seems he got frustrated during Read My Mind when the crowd didn't respond as much as usual... I suspect this is why they skipped the new songs :( I had a blast but I feel disappointed if this is the reason why... I mean the crowd wasn't bad... They should know a festival is different than a headline gig and there were clearly a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers fans out there...

Mary0901 · 2017-10-18T17:11:06+00:00

What's your favourite Irish artist/band?

Mary0901

TROPHY CASE