11 Powerful Signs – Walking Away When He Won’t Commit (2024)

You feel like you found “the one” but there’s one thing about him that makes you doubt everything – he simply doesn’t want to commit to you.

Being in love with someone who has commitment issues is very hard. No matter how much you try to make it work, he’s just constantly making excuses and stringing you along. Well, it’s about time to do something about it!

Today, we’re going to talk about walking away when he won’t commit. If you want to know what signs to look for, continue reading to find out.

Let’s dive in!

11 Powerful Signs It’s Time to Walk Away

1. You’ve had an open discussion about your relationship and he still won’t commit

Healthy boundaries are the most vital part of a healthy relationship. It’s important to let each other know of your personal limits. 

One example of setting boundaries is having an open discussion about your expectations. If you want to get married and have kids one day, you should discuss it with your partner, especially if you’ve been together for a long time.

Once you talk things through, you will have a much better understanding of your relationship. However, if he continues to refuse to commit after you have this honest conversation, it may be time to walk away.

2. He doesn’t respect you

Mutual respect is a must in a healthy relationship. Wanting different things in life is one thing, but disrespecting each other’s boundaries is another story. 

If you feel like he doesn’t respect your wants and needs, you should try talking to him and demanding more respect.

However, if he still doesn’t come through after this, you may want to consider walking away for your own good.

3. He’s clearly afraid to commit and won’t do anything about it

People are different, that’s a fact. And some people simply have commitment issues. 

Whether that’s because their parents neglected them as a child, or because they have past relationship trauma, there are plenty of reasons why people are afraid to commit.

However, being afraid to be in a committed relationship is not the only reason to break up with him. It’s what he does about it that matters.

4. There are too many red flags

Walking Away When He Won't Commit
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At the beginning of your relationship, it was all flowers and roses. But now, it seems like the red flags are everywhere. 

That’s because when we fall in love, we tend to be a little bit blind to our loved one’s flaws. 

And flaws are not the problem, we all have them. They become a problem when they interfere with your life and directly affect your happiness in a relationship. 

So if you feel like his personal issues are starting to get a hold of you, it may be time to figure things out and walk away.

5. You’ve already made it perfectly clear that you will walk away

Walking away when he won’t commit is a good decision when you’ve already tried giving him an ultimatum, but he simply doesn’t care. 

It may be time to accept the harsh reality that he is not worth it. If his commitment issues are getting in the way of your happiness but he still doesn’t care, you need to put your own happiness first and leave.

Related: Clear Signs A Married Man Is Using You & How To Get Over It

6. He never wants to talk about your future

Does he always change the subject when you want to talk about the future? Do you feel like you’re the only one planning the future and daydreaming about it? Well, it’s time to get to the bottom of it and find out his genuine feelings.

Ask him why he’s avoiding the talk. When you’re at the honeymoon stage of your relationship, it’s totally normal not to want to talk about the future. However, if it’s been years and you still don’t know what he wants, you may want to consider leaving.

Related: 37 BEST Ways – How To Make Him Commit Without Pressure 

7. He’s constantly criticizing you

Constantly being criticized by a loved one is never easy. And especially if it’s been going on for your entire relationship. 

It’s time to open your eyes. If he has commitment issues, but somehow always ends up putting the blame on you, he is not good for you. 

You deserve to be happy and loved in a relationship, not constantly criticized and put down.

8. He’s constantly sabotaging your relationship

Do you feel like he’s always blowing things out of proportion? If you never know what to expect from him because he tends to lash out over something trivial, it’s time to consider walking away. 

People with commitment issues are prone to self-sabotage because they don’t know how to handle being in a serious relationship. 

9. You don’t trust him

Trust is the building block of a committed relationship. When there’s no trust, it’s very hard to maintain a relationship. 

You always feel like you’re walking on eggshells around each other, and that’s not a good sign. If he’s constantly letting you down and breaking promises, he doesn’t deserve you.

10. Your relationship feels one-sided

It takes two to tango. You can’t be the only one trying in a relationship. If that’s the case, you should ask yourself if he’s really worth it. 

One-sided relationships are too much work. Of course, relationships require some work, but not only from one person. You don’t deserve that and it’s not fair.

11. You’re not happy with him

Ultimately, it all comes down to one question: Are you happy with him? 

If the answer is no, you shouldn’t spend any more energy on getting him to commit. It’s simply not worth it. 

Try to let go and focus on yourself. That’s the only way to find someone who will make you truly happy. 

Tell Him How You Feel and Walk Away

Sometimes the best thing you can do is tell him how you feel and just walk away. But even then, it won’t be easy. 

He may try to stop you and tell you he loves you. And that’s probably true. But it takes more than just love to maintain a relationship.

There are other factors involved to make a relationship work, such as honesty, loyalty, communication, integrity, and yes, commitment. 

So if he’s not willing to grow and let you grow, you won’t be able to grow together. 

Both of you need to take responsibility for your actions and stop placing the blame on each other. So if he’s constantly putting everything on you, just tell him how that makes you feel and be prepared to let go.

Related: Why Does He Keep Me Around If He Doesn’t Want A Relationship?

Walking Away From a Player

Walking away when he won’t commit puts you in control. It shows you’re completely aware of how much you’re worth and you’re not letting him lead on you any longer. 

When you walk away from a player, you take your power back. It’s not up to him anymore to control the dynamic of your relationship. You’re in charge of your own life. 

Walking away is powerful because it can make him question his actions. It can make him rethink his behavior and he’ll realize your self-worth. 

If he’s constantly playing games with you, just don’t let him. That’s not a real relationship. That’s why you should get in the driver’s seat and walk away.

Related: 21 Clear Signs He’s A Player

He Won’t Let Me Walk Away

Get Him To Commit By Walking Away
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So you’ve finally decided to walk away from him? Kudos to you! That’s a tough call. But as it turns out, it’s not that easy to walk away, because he won’t let you do it. 

Now you must be second-guessing your decision and wondering what that means? 

There are many possible reasons why he won’t let you leave him. In most cases, it’s because he is too controlling and is afraid to lose you. Unfortunately, it’s usually because he’s thinking of himself more and is scared to be alone. 

Of course, there could be other reasons for these mixed signals, but it’s up to you and only you to decide. Your feelings matter and you’re in charge of your own life. 

Give him chance to talk about your relationship, share your feelings with him, and ignite an open conversation. 

However, if he still won’t take responsibility and heal his past wounds, save your precious time! You have every reason to leave him even if he’s trying to stop you. 

Get Him to Commit by Walking Away

Sometimes you have to lose someone to realize what you had. That’s why most women decide to try this tough-love approach and get him to commit by walking away.

Since every relationship dynamic is different, this approach may not work for everyone. If you’re absolutely certain this man is the one, but he’s not committing to you, you can try to walk away just to prove your point.

However, you have to be strong and keep your ground. Walking away to get him to commit is a powerful move that can make him realize how valuable you are. 

However, it takes the right mindset to follow through with this and not just run to him at the first chance you get.

Be prepared that he might not respond to your departure in the way you had wanted to. He might never come back to you, making it all the more essential to work on your mental health and emotional strength. 

Related: Why Do Guys Pull Away Before They Commit – 17 Clear Reasons And What To Do

I Walked Away and He Came Back

Walking away from a loved one is hard, but it’s sometimes necessary. 

If your plan is to get him to commit, he will probably start reevaluating your entire relationship after you walk away. You can never be certain if he’s going to come back to you or move on with his life. 

But if your plan worked and he came back, don’t rush it and start slowly. If you want to change how things between you work moving forward, make sure you have a serious talk before getting back together

It’s all about communication and compromise, so sit down with him and talk it out. 

On another hand, if you don’t want him to come back but he still does, make sure you set the record straight with him. Tell him it’s over and move on.

FAQ: Walking Away When He Won’t Commit

How To End It With A Guy Who Won't Commit
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When a Guy Won’t Commit But Won’t Let You Go?

As I said, relationships are about compromise. If he’s not big on compromises and self-reflection, you may encounter some difficulties trying to overcome issues together. 

If one of those issues is his lack of commitment, you’re in for a rough ride.

The trick is to have an honest and open conversation. It’s very important to avoid getting into heated arguments, yelling at each other, or offending each other. 

Talk about your feelings. Tell him what you want and expect in a relationship. Be open to hearing his feedback. 

See if there’s anything else that you can do to overcome this hurdle together. If he doesn’t want to let you go, it means he loves you so try to work through this together. 

However, if you still feel like you’re not enough, be ready to walk away for good.

How Do You End It With a Guy Who Won’t Commit?

Being with someone who doesn’t want to commit to you is painful. No matter how much you try, you constantly feel like there’s no place for you in his life. 

It’s time to face the hard truth: healthy relationships shouldn’t be hard, as simple as that. 

You’re supposed to be happy and fulfilled. So if you’re with someone who doesn’t appreciate you, it may be time to leave. 

Remember your self-worth. You deserve more than this. You deserve to be in a loving relationship. If you’ve already given your best to make it work and he’s still not budging, it’s time to end it.

Spend time with friends and remember that you’re loved. Try to go out more and meet new people. It will help you heal much faster. 

If you want to cry, cry! Crying is good for you, so just let it out.

No one can change a person; try to have that in mind. If he doesn’t want to commit, it’s going to be very hard for you to get him to commit. 

As I mentioned before, walking away might help him realize your value, but it’s not a guarantee that he will come back.

So try to move on with your life and eventually you’ll find someone who will love you for who you are. 

What to Say to a Guy Who Doesn’t Want to Commit?

How To Walk Away When He Won't Commit
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If he tells you loud and clear that he doesn’t want to commit, believe him. It’s probably true. In these situations, there’s not much you can say or do. 

The most important thing you can do is accept the harsh reality and move on with your life.

You can thank him for his honesty and try to let bygones be bygones. Of course, healing will take time so be patient. For now, tell him you want more out of a relationship and walk away.

Don’t settle for anything less, because eventually, you’ll find a man who will give you what you want and need in a relationship. 

How Does a Man Feel When a Woman Walks Away

It’s totally natural to want to know how he will feel if you walk away. He won’t be indifferent, that’s for sure. After all, you’ve been a major part of his life so it won’t be easy on him. 

First, he will probably feel confused and try to understand everything. He might feel guilty for hurting you or disappointing you. 

He may feel lonely and depressed. 

After some serious thinking, he may try to win you back. But he also might accept the new reality and move on. He may feel a little bit scared too to start a new relationship and meet new people. 

But you can never know for sure how a man will feel after his girlfriend walks away. It all depends on the type of person he is.

Related: 20 Proven Strategies How To Communicate With An Avoidant Partner

Why Walking Away From Him Works

Walking away from someone who doesn’t want to commit works because it makes him realize your worth. It makes him realize what he had lost. And finally, it makes him want to do something about it. 

Also, men tend to love challenges so they might enjoy chasing you and trying to win you back. It’s one of the most common beliefs; men love to pursue women and are drawn to women who are hard to get. 

Finally, walking away might leave him adjusting his behaviors and correcting his mistakes. It might give him more time to think things through and realize his true feelings for you. 

Will Walking Away Make Him Commit?

If you’re still not sure whether to walk away to get him to commit, the truth is you will never know what will happen. Some men will commit, while others won’t. We’re all different, so you can never for certain how he will behave after you break up.

The bottom line is that whatever you decide, you need to be prepared for both scenarios. If he comes back to you, you can try to rekindle your relationship and be happy again. 

However, you need to accept the possibility that he might not come back. Keep your ground either way and don’t settle!

Final Thoughts

Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I hope you found it helpful and that the above-mentioned signs helped you understand whether it’s time to walk away from him.

Remember that a healthy relationship involves open communication, respect, and mutual compromise. It’s very important that you both feel equal, which means you need to respect each other’s feelings and needs. 

If you want to be with someone who’s completely committed to you, you have every right to want that. 

Don’t let anyone invalidate your feelings or disrespect your boundaries. Never forget your value and make sure you live your life your way

If I can help you in any way, don’t hesitate to ask. Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below; I hope I hear from you soon!

About The Author

Bijan Kholghi is a certified life coach with the Milton Erickson Institute Heidelberg (Germany). He helps clients and couples reach breakthroughs in their lives by changing subconscious patterns. His solution-oriented approach is based on Systemic- and Hypnotherapy.

Bijan