DATING 101: Seven (7) Tips to help you heal after a relationship break up.

  Author: S. Gordon-Jeffery

For most of us falling in love and being in love is a profound experience. It's almost impossible to describe how deeply we feel for the one we love, so when the relationship goes sour it's very hard to accept that it's over and work through the pain of the break up without resentment.


Here are 7 tips to help you heal and recover from a bad break up.


1. Acknowledge that you are hurting.

The end of a relationship will affect us. It hits hard but there is a way to soften the blow: acknowledge that you are hurting because of the loss of the relationship. The pain you feel is not dissimilar to the death of a dear family member. Give yourself the space to cry, to even be depressed. That is normal. Only by acknowledging what's going on with you can you be able to identify any mistakes you've made to learn from them. 

2. Let them go.

If you love someone you want the best for them. Holding on to them when they wish to leave will create deeper emotional scars for yourself and the person. Let them go and wish them well.

3. Take care of your mind.

Block out as much as possible negative thoughts not just from yourself but also from others around you. We know that friends and family mean us well but the way they show it sometimes is not good for us. Do not engage in conversation that tears down or assassinates your former significant other's character. That will only lead to bitterness.

4. Change your routine.

If there was something you used to do together that now evokes painful memories change up your routine. Go for walks, read a new book or join a gym. Do something new that will help to take your mind off the things before and help you to keep focused on new positive memories.

5. Prayer

People take the power of prayer for granted but crying out to God for help acknowledges that you recognize that He can help heal your broken heart. And He does.

6. Take a break from dating

The best thing you can do for yourself is take the time to heal, jumping into another relationship soon after a break up is never a good thing. Jumping from one relationship to another is called rebounding. All that does is add more wounds to an already bruised heart. Take the time to put things into perspective. Reflect on what may have gone wrong in the relationship. Learn from it so you can be wiser entering into a new hopefully long term relationship.

7. Change your dating habits.

Meaning is there a type of guy or girl you always go for? Your so-called type may not be good for you. Maybe there is a particular group or circle of people you associate with that influence your dating life negatively. It might be time to rethink what you're looking for in a partner. Think about it.