You have been having a great time so far. You have been on multiple dates, he contacts you daily to check up on you, and it seems like you are forming a strong emotional bond. However, when the conversation turns to defining the relationship (DTR), he expresses his desire to "see where things go." This can be frustrating and confusing, as he may attempt to justify it by saying he is just trying to protect himself emotionally. In reality, what he means is:

1. He doesn't want to claim you as his

If a guy tells you he wants to "see where things go," it's essentially a way of saying, "I'm not ready to commit." He's probably hoping to keep things casual rather than make a firm commitment to you. This is the opposite of taking a firm stance and declaring, "I want to date you exclusively." It can be confusing, leaving you wondering about his true intentions.

2. He doesn't want to take a leap of faith

Can anyone predict the outcome of a relationship with absolute certainty? No. Often, people take a leap of faith and make things work. When a guy is genuinely interested in you, he won't hesitate to jump right in instead of testing the waters with his big toe. Being indecisive is a decision in itself, and it's not the right one when it comes to relationships.

3. He's not going to be putting in any effort

"Seeing where things go" in a relationship is comparable to living in someone else's home temporarily. You're just testing the waters and assessing how it feels to live there, but you don't own it. Consequently, you're less likely to put in the effort required to keep it in great condition since you're not invested in it. After all, it's too much work to put in if you're not committed to it.

4. It's a euphemism for "I want to date other people"

If a guy is just "seeing where things will go" with you and hasn't made the relationship exclusive, there's nothing stopping him from dating other women. He could be exploring other options with several other women, and you deserve better than waiting around to see where it all goes.

5. He doesn't want to get real

Just because he's taking his time to figure things out doesn't mean that the relationship has to become serious. This approach keeps him at a distance from the relationship, but it's not fair for you to wait around for him to make up his mind. So, should you wait around? Hell no.

6. He feels less than you do

Occasionally, people's feelings aren't in sync, and that could be what's happening in this situation. He may not be as interested in pursuing a relationship as you are, causing him to hold back. However, relationships are not relay races, and you should be running together instead of running ahead and waiting for him to catch up.

7. Something happened to make him backtrack

Maybe you were dating, and things were about to get serious when he changed his mind. Perhaps he's the type of guy who enjoys the chase but not the stability of a relationship. Regardless of the reason, the bottom line is that he's pulling out of the relationship, and that's your cue to hit the gas and get out of there (GTFO).

8. He doesn't want expectations

This one is extremely frustrating. When a guy is genuinely interested in a relationship, he'll communicate it clearly through his words and actions. He won't say things like, "Don't have any expectations of me," which is pretty much what it means when he says he wants to see where things go. He's not your boyfriend yet, so there's no reason for you to treat him as such. He doesn't want you to have expectations because he knows he won't be able to fulfill them.

9. He's not boyfriend material

If he had the qualities of a great boyfriend, he would rise to the occasion and be enthusiastic about dating you exclusively because he knows he would treat you well and make you happy. Looking at it from this perspective, this person who is holding back is doing you a favor by showing their true colors and revealing that they are not the right fit for you.

10. He's incapable of living in the moment

Occasionally, guys who say they want to see where things go may also add, "Let's concentrate on enjoying what we have now." However, don't be fooled. He's not genuinely interested in living in the moment. Instead, he's hoping you will because it satisfies his current needs without any obligations for the future.

11. He's about to ghost you

A guy who says he wants to see where the relationship is headed resembles a guy who is about to ghost you. Why? Because both men are uncertain about the relationship. If he stops dating you and says he wants to assess things or see where they go, it's because he has doubts. If he didn't, there would be no need for him to do so. You would keep dating as usual since you'd be moving forward in your relationship.

12. He's got no real plan

A guy who is serious about the woman he's seeing should have a clear idea of what he wants from the relationship. However, a guy who says he wants to see where things go is only interested in enjoying your company when it's convenient for him. That's a load of crap.