“I’m not looking for a serious relationship right now.”

These words have slashed a tiny wound into many women’s (and some men’s) hearts.

The uttering of these words usually come during a conversation about where a situation is going (hopefully not within the first 24 hours because that just seems desperate).

Once they come out, the other party must decide which direction to follow.

For those who want the more serious path, the likely path is to remove yourself from the situation. Nobody wants to be with someone who doesn’t want to achieve the same goal.

Then there’s what I consider the cruelest road. This road is where the listening party decides that the person who made the statement doesn’t know what they want. In their minds, the other person actually wants the relationship but just needs someone to tell them and show them. More than likely, this type of pressure will lead to a person’s desire for a relationship to diminish.

Then there’s what I consider the middle ground- the wait and see approach. With a great amount of patience, you stick around because obviously this person must be cool because you deemed them worth of becoming a significant other. It could blossom into a relationship, a friendship or just a season in your life.

Have you ever heard this statement and how did you react? What do you think is the appropriate way to react?