I have a steady boyfriend, but now I realise that I am not ready for such a relationship. I think that it would be better for both of us just to be friends. But how can I explain this to him, after we have been together for 2 years?
You will have to explain to him your reasons — that it is better for both of you not to be exclusive but to mix with others and to develop your interests You should also make it clear that you hope to remain friends with him (if this is indeed the case), and that you can go out together 'occasionally' though you won't be seeing each other so often. Both of you will then have to discuss your future relationship. His response to you, and how well you can communicate with each other in dealing with this situation, will be a true test of how strong your relationship really is. Ideally, both of you should aim to remain good friends, but agree to give each other the chance to grow individually. However, if you can't talk to him about this, it would be a clear sign that your relationship is not as good as it should be. If you do not overcome difficulty in communication at this stage, you are likely to face serious problems in future if your relationship leads to marriage.