Is your relationship on life support: 6 steps to letting go and moving on
The catastrophe of 2020 made all of us pray for a better 2021. From dealing with continued political power struggles to COVID-19 destroying lives, love was the last thing you needed to add to the list of disappointments. Yet here you are, praying for relief from a relationship that no longer makes you happy. You’ve realized that exerting your energy in this situation is a slow and deliberate death.
Failure is that word that makes you cringe. It’s even worse when that disappointment is your relationship. One of the hardest occurrences in life is acknowledging when it’s time to move on. Typically, words like perseverance and determination scream out for you to hang in there and wait for it to improve. But what if it doesn’t?
The word failure usually signifies a lack or absence of success. It’s especially a hard pill to swallow regarding our relationships. Once upon a time, you two made vows to love until death do you part. Now, you find it hard to communicate with one another and can’t recall any of the reasons that initially brought you together.
Even when you know something is wrong, making the decision to quit isn’t easy. You’re scared of being single, not wanting to hurt feelings, or worried about making the wrong decision. Ending a relationship can be difficult, no matter how toxic it might be. What do you do when your relationship is on life support, and you fear pulling the plug?
If you find yourself trapped in a relationship that you know isn’t healthy, it’s time for you to clean house. Consider these steps for letting go for good.
6 steps to letting go and moving on:
Recognize there’s a problem. Awareness is the first step. Does this relationship zap you of all your energy?
Discover the lesson. So what you invested ten years to this commitment. Rather than looking at the failed relationship as a waste of time, determine what you should have learned from it. What did this person teach you? In life, lessons will repeat themselves until you choose to learn from them.
Don’t double-dip. Yes, I know he/she gave you mind-blowing sex in the bedroom, but you can’t move on from the relationship by maintaining a sexual liaison with your ex.
Let go of the reminders. It’s tempting to hang on to old pictures and text messages. In doing so, it prevents you from moving on with your life. If you must keep them, put them out of sight.
Get yourself together. It’s time to shift the focus to you. You’re past due for cultivating self-love and respect. Remember, you’re worthy of love and deserve a healthy connection.
Forgive. Release any feelings of guilt that encompassed the commitment. Let the past be the past. Also, forgive your former partner as well. You know, resentment will hold you back and prevent you from being your best you.
Ending a relationship doesn’t mean you’ve failed. In reality, breakups provide the opportunity for a new and improved life.