Relationship Bump

Hey all,

Hoping I can hear some words of wisdom or maybe someone can share their experience with me.

My boyfriend and I are both 23, we’ve been together since we were 18 and I love him unbelievable amounts. He’s always been more of a ‘floater’ than I have and the last year I think kind of knocked him sideways a bit. I have a job and a career I’m chasing and this very clear idea of what I want my life to be, whereas my bf is a lot less clear. Thats completely fine with me, but he recently told me he’s been thinking about what he’s going to do when his tenancy ends and he has to find a new place to leave in about a years time, and he’s always wanted to travel so has thought about doing that.

He says he doesn’t have any firm plans and he’s just thinking at this point but also said that if he did go travelling he wouldn’t be able to stay in a relationship with me because he doesn’t think he can do it. He said he wants us to spend more time together so he can realise what the right decision is as he doesn’t want to look back and have regrets that we (for example) stayed together and then break up in the future and he missed his opportunity window to do some of the fun things he wanted..

Obviously I appreciate his honesty and understand where he’s coming from but I can’t help but feel really heartbroken. He says he loves me and he doesn’t want to break up he just can’t ‘bottle it up’ and has to say what he’s thinking.

I know feel riddled with guilt and anxiety and I keep crying randomly and it’s completely messed everything up for me. I also feel like now I need to PROVE I’m worth choosing? Although he’s explicitly said he doesn’t want me to change etc etc

Has anyone ever experienced this? Can you shine some light on what happened or even some advice to me so I can continue living my life / in this relationship without feeling like the whole world is ending…