Break ups suck. We all know that but there are some things to remember after a break up which make it easier to handle it.
1. You broke up for a reason.
Either you changed or they changed. There is always a reason for a break up. Moving away from or out of a unhappy situation is the logical thing to do. Just remember that breaking up with them is for the better. Think long term here. Don’t just tolerate anyone in your life if you don’t have to. Set up personal boundaries. Surround yourself with people who add value to your life and treat them with respect so they will stay around. This will contribute a lot to both your overall levels of happiness and success.
2. With time, you will adapt to change.
You can always recover from loss. Your brain will eventually get used to it and reset itself back at the same levels of happiness that it was at before. Even someone who ends up in a horrible life changing accident will eventually get used to it, move on, and return to their normal state. So let go. A lot of people have a hard time accepting change. The reality is you shouldn’t be surprised by it. Everything has a beginning and an end, including relationships.
3. It’s OK to experience negative emotions.
Don’t try to resist your emotions. Experience them. Notice them. Let them pass. However, don’t let them dictate your actions or control you. You might miss the person for who they were, or the good times you had with them, and that is OK. But those are just memories of what once was. Be grateful for the good times in the past and move on. Be present in the moment. Breathe deeply. Meditate. This is scientifically proven to immediately start reducing stress levels. Science has also proven that viewing stress as a bad thing actually makes it more harmful for your health, so view stress as good for your health’s sake.
4. You are still you. Be self-sufficient.
Just because that person isn’t in your life anymore doesn’t mean you aren’t the same person. You can still do life fulfilling things without them. You don’t need any one person in your life to start living the way you want to live and moving towards better things. Become self-reliant and self-sufficient. Figure out what motivates you. Develop a good work ethic. Move towards goals that are meaningful to you. Stay busy living the life that you really want to live with or without any one particular person.
5. Focus on what you’ve learned and take responsibility.
We are all constantly evolving, changing, and learning. The people who are around you evolve with you, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. Someone may develop some negative habits or personality traits. They also might succeed in doing just the opposite and making a great success of themselves. Whatever it is, take the lessons you got from the relationship and move on. By doing this you become a stronger person and you are less likely to be surprised or hurt in the future.
Don’t try to play the blame game either. We all make mistakes, no one is perfect. You are responsible for letting that person in your life in the first place. Analyze yourself and see where you may have gone wrong in the relationship, even if you never really liked the person anyway. You will find there was probably a better way you could’ve handled certain situations. Forgive yourself and forgive the other person for whatever offenses they may have committed against you. Hanging on to regret or resentment won’t help anybody. Let it all go. Again, take the lessons, learn from it, and move on.
6. Let go of outcomes.
Appreciate any good times you may have had with that person. But let go of the outcome. This may sound really negative, but it’s not. The reason break ups are so painful for people in the first place is because they are attached to an outcome or a result. They may not even be enjoying the relationship moment by moment for what it is. You should be doing just the opposite. Enjoy the time you spend with people and socializing with them. Stop focusing so much on an end result that is never really guaranteed anyway.
Featured photo credit: Alessandra di Nunno via flickr.com
