You've reached the stage where the mere thought of him no longer takes your breath away or brings tears to your eyes. You've mustered up the courage to unfollow him on social media and delete his pictures from your cloud. Perhaps, you've even begun dating again. However, to your surprise, your ex reaches out to you out of nowhere and attempts to re-enter your life. Before you determine whether to welcome him back or keep him at bay permanently, consider these potential reasons that may be motivating his return.

1. He Tried Dating Other People And Realized What A Catch You Are

He's beginning to realize that the grass may not actually be greener on the other side. He's wondering if he made the correct choice by ending things or not putting in more effort to keep you. He's finally recognizing that what he has been seeking for the past few months was already within his grasp, and he now desires to regain your affection.

2. He's Lonely And Desperate

Your ex could be sending you those "I miss you" messages because he's not enjoying the single life. He doesn't genuinely miss you; he only misses being in a relationship. He desires someone to converse with, laugh with, and confide in. He wants to feel connected and cherished by anyone, and if returning to you is the solution, he's willing to do it.

3. You're His Backup Plan

Certain men keep women as a backup plan in case things go wrong with the person they truly desire. Hence, it's plausible that after your breakup, your ex pursued a relationship with someone else, but it failed miserably. As a result, he's returned to the next viable option, which is you. He doesn't believe you're "The One," but he appreciates you enough to compromise and be with you.

4. He Wants To See If He Still Has A Hold Over You

Occasionally, men return when they sense that you've moved on to determine whether they can still entice you to come back. They relish having authority over your emotions and determining how much they can still influence your sentiments. He's not genuinely interested in being with you; he merely desires to confirm whether you'll still comply with his wishes. Refrain from providing him with that gratification.

5. Distance Has Made You More Attractive To Him

The adage "familiarity breeds contempt" and "distance makes the heart grow fonder" is applicable in this situation. When your ex observes you creating distance and completely cutting him out of your life, it can reignite his interest in you. Your post-breakup transformation and newfound self-assurance can unsettle him and prompt him to seek your affection again.

6. He's Looking For Something Familiar

It's possible that he's not receiving much attention from others at the moment and yearns to be with someone who values him. Someone who he can confide in without fear of criticism, who already understands his imperfections and embraces him nonetheless. He's aware of what to anticipate with you, unlike in the dating scene, where everything is uncharted territory, and he must familiarize himself with potential partners from the ground up.

7. He's Jealous To See You Moving On

When a guy comprehends that you're not waiting around for him and are actively living your best life, it can evoke feelings of envy within him. Witnessing you with someone else is tormenting him, not because he desires to reconcile with you, but because he can't bear the idea of relinquishing what was once his to another person. Consequently, he'll make an appearance in your life to learn about your current relationship status and create some disturbance.

8. He's Horny And You're The Only One Who Can Scratch That Itch

He still reminisces about the fantastic sex with you and yearns for that ardor more than anything else. He's attempted to be intimate with other individuals, but they just don't share the same level of sexual chemistry as you do. Consequently, he's longing to be intimate with you again and relive that amazing experience, and he's hoping that you still harbor strong feelings for him as well.

9. He's Still In Love With You And Regrets The Breakup

Perhaps he still harbors intense emotions towards you and never truly stopped loving you. It's possible that he's been suffering silently for some time, trying his best to distance himself from you, but now he can't hold it in anymore. Since the breakup, he's had the opportunity to reflect on what happened and regrets letting someone as wonderful as you slip away. He acknowledges all the things he did wrong and is now seeking another opportunity to make amends for it all.