You probably share a bond with someone whom you love deeply, have a spiritual, mental, and intimate connection with, and share all your feelings and problems with them, but do not share a romantic relationship with them. If you have, it is called a platonic relationship.
The beauty of platonic relationships lies in the simplicity of a friendship—it is not a friendship where you listen to each other; it is a friendship based on mutual trust, care, love, spirituality, and a bond that requires an effortless effort.
So, how do you know which friend of yours you share a platonic relationship with? Let’s see.
What is a Platonic Relationship?
A platonic relationship is basically a close relationship you share with someone whom you love deeply but do not have any sexual relationship with. It is all things related to spirituality, divinity, love, care, affection, and respect, but there is no desire to engage in physical love with them.
This relationship can be shared between opposite genders, same-sex genders, or non-binary. However, this kind of relationship can turn into platonic love, wherein both individuals share a divine connection but without any physical love.
So while platonic relationships are simply friendships shared on the next level, they can also be a lot more than that, depending on the person.
Does the term "Platonic" imply "Just Friends"?
A platonic relationship doesn’t include having a sexual relationship with the other person but it does mean being more than just friends.
It can mean sharing a soulmate connection with them, a divine connection, a spiritual connection, or a non-romantic platonic love with whom you can share everything except physical intimacy.
Types of Platonic Relationships
There is no one way to define a platonic relationship, but it can certainly be divided into different types. So let's see what they are:
1. Bromance
A bromance is between two men who share a close, intimate relationship without any sexual benefits.
2. Womance
A womance is between two women who share a deep and affectionate relationship without any physical love.
3. Work spouse
A work spouse is basically a colleague with whom you share a deep bond and you often consider them your work wife/husband.
Platonic Relationship vs. Romantic Relationship
When we talk about platonic relationships and romantic relationships, there is a huge difference between these two. Platonic relationships have a deep level of friendship that can be divine or spiritual within boundaries, not including physical love. Whereas romantic relationships have a deep friendship, which can also be divine or spiritual, along with mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical.
While there are certain boundaries in a platonic relationship that you mustn’t cross, romantic relationships are all in and are based on a commitment to the other person.
Signs of Platonic Relationships
Here are some signs that the relationship is completely platonic:
- You enjoy spending time with them but are not attracted to them
- You have boundaries you both respect—physical and emotional
- You understand each other
- You give space to each other
A platonic relationship is a deep emotional friendship based on mutual trust, understanding, and a heartfelt bond, without any sexual or physical love.
Examples of a Platonic Relationship
Examples of a platonic relationship are bromance, womance, work wife/husband, a mentor, or a mentee.
Challenges of a Platonic Relationship
One challenge that can arise in a platonic relationship is wanting something more out of the current relationship and making it platonic love. This can cause problems if it is only one-sided and the other person doesn’t want more, because it can potentially damage the friendship in the long run.
However, talking about it with your friend and coming to an agreement is important so that it doesn’t cause any kind of tension between the two.
Can a Platonic Relationship Turn Romantic?
Yes, a platonic relationship can turn romantic; you never know. Sometimes you do not understand things and they end up happening. If you are committed, it might not happen, but if you are single and share a good relationship with a friend, it is quite possible that it can turn into something more, like platonic love.
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The Bottom Line
Platonic friendships are those connections that are based on mutual trust, understanding, and love that you share with your friend. This connection is different from romantic relationships, as there is a certain level of boundary that you maintain with your friend that is void of any physical connection. However, it can definitely turn into something more if you are single or probably looking to date someone.