When she doesn’t reply: Tips for introverts
Imagine this…
You’ve been texting a girl you like for series of exchanges. When she doesn’t reply anymore, you feel confused because it feels totally out of the blue. Should you send another text? Call her? Accept that you’ve been ghosted and move on?
When women stop replying to your texts or online messages, the number one question introverted men start asking themselves is:
“What did I do wrong?”
While those immediate feelings of confusion, dread, worry, and sadness are totally rational, the truth is that they aren’t all that helpful to you.
Instead of jumping to conclusions or getting stuck in those feelings, there’s a better way!
Today, we’re going to share the 3 questions you should be asking that will clarify what’s going on:
- What does it mean when she doesn’t reply?
- How should I feel when she doesn’t reply?
- What should I do when she doesn’t reply?
Today, we’re going to help you zoom out and see the bigger picture with broader context about why she may not be texting you back.
The #1 tool you need in your dating toolbox
Asking the 3 questions listed above requires a certain amount of perspective and honesty…
And the willingness to embrace the answers wholeheartedly with a preserved sense of wellbeing requires the most important trait of all:
CONFIDENCE.
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Now, let’s dive in!
1. What does it mean when she doesn’t reply?
When she doesn’t reply, it could mean a number of things.
For example, maybe she…
- isn’t as tied to her phone as you assumed,
- feels swamped with work, homework, or personal responsibilities,
- doesn’t want to hurt your feelings,
- wrote out a reply and got distracted before hitting “send,”
- lacks the maturity it takes to sustain a genuine relationship,
- started dating someone else, or
- is focusing on other priorities and wants to get back to you as soon as she can.
In short, she’s not replying because of a personal reason.
Do you keep on assuming the worst or taking it personally?
Try to think of her as a complex human being who, like you, is probably juggling many different responsibilities, feelings, desires, motivations, and priorities.
Opening up your mind will allow you to navigate the wait with grace and curiosity, making you feel more comfortable and less stressed.
If and when you do get a response, you can then reply from a place of ease and respect instead of stress and fear!
2. How should I feel when she doesn’t reply?
It’s normal to feel a wide range of emotion when you’re waiting on a response. You might feel…
- Out of control,
- Unclear or confused,
- Worried or anxious,
- Dreadful or regretful,
- Sad or disappointed,
- Embarrassed or ashamed, or
- Excluded or rejected.
All of these emotional responses are completely valid, especially as you first begin to process the fact that you haven’t received a reply (and might not ever).
However, with some time, mindfulness, introspection, and intention, you can choose different thoughts that lead you to a better, healthier, more productive place…
One where you might feel…
- Curious and open-minded,
- Gracious and forgiving,
- Hopeful and kind-hearted,
- Peaceful and accepting,
- Thankful for the time you shared and any lessons learned,
- Excited to move forward and focus your thoughts and efforts elsewhere,
- Willing to put yourself out there one more time before closing this chapter.
As difficult as it is to hold off on a follow-up response, it’s really important that you wait until you’re sure you’re acting in alignment with who you truly are and who you want to be.
If you don’t want to be a person who lashes out and spins their wheels, then resolve not to send her another text while you still feel the emotions from the first list.
If you want to be someone who extends both grace and truth with kindness without compromising their standards, and you’ve moved toward the second list of feelings, then you may be ready to take action…
(Keep reading!)
3. What should I do when she doesn’t reply?
As mentioned above, you should do NOTHING until you are in the right frame of mind.
(If you are struggling to work through those emotions, we would love to help you with personalized, 1:1 dating coaching!)
Once you feel like you have the right attitude and mindset, then it’s time to reach out strategically!
Assumptions aside, the truth is that you can’t determine the reason she has been silent without actually talking to her. So, here’s what we recommend:
Send ONE calm message with a positive tone.
Just one! Don’t text her over and over, don’t overthink what happens next.
Depending on what feels authentic to you and what feels right for the connection you’ve developed, your response could be on the bolder, more direct end of the spectrum or the more lighthearted, playful side.
Either way, keep it short and positive!
Here are some examples you could put your own personal spin on:
- “Hey [name], just checking in! I really enjoyed seeing you last time. Drinks at [name a fun bar] on Friday?”
- “Hope your week is going well! Here is a great quote from the book I’m reading that I thought you might appreciate since I know you love reading!”
- “Do you like Italian? I’m craving Olive Garden… Are you free on Saturday?”
As simple as these messages may seem, they’ll make her feel great because they convey that you enjoyed seeing her (and would like to see her again).
They also indicate that you’re
- Independently enjoying your life (with or without her!),
- Not clingy or pushy, yet
- Interested to develop your connection further.
It doesn’t pressure her into a response or call her out in a negative way. It’s simply a gentle reminder that you’re still there and still interested :)
After you hit “send,” put your phone away! Do something you love, connect with someone you care about, go for a walk, or lose yourself in a good book.
What if she still doesn’t reply after you reach back out?
If she still chooses not to respond, you can move forward with peace and confidence that you…
- did everything you could,
- affirmed your interested without sounding needy,
- didn’t play mind games,
- left the ball totally in her court,
- won’t wait around forever who someone who won’t prioritize you, and
- showed magnanimous character by not assuming the worst and giving her a gentle, non-accusatory nudge.
Even if the outcome isn’t what you’d hoped, the experience itself is very valuable, educational, and character-building!
Most importantly, it allows you to exit graciously if she doesn’t respond, or to pick back up where you left off and keep moving your connection forward!
Conclusion on what to do when she doesn’t reply
Now that you know how to think through the whole situation when she doesn’t reply, you’ll be able to choose your emotional response mindfully and pick your next step with wisdom!.
To review, we covered the 3 primary questions introverted men have when she doesn’t reply:
- What does it mean?
- How should I feel?
- What should I do?
Your Next Steps
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