From one-sided infatuations to steamy flings that ended too soon, we’ve all been subjected to the sting of rejection once or twice. It feels like you’ll never feel this way about anyone ever again, never find someone as perfect – but the feeling always goes away eventually. Here are just a couple of tips to help ease the process along.
1. Understand that they’re not thinking about you as much as you are thinking about them. Really, it’s actually kinda lame how much mental energy you’re spending on someone who doesn’t deserve it. Why waste your time pining and lamenting when you could be doing something useful like plotting your glow up for the ultimate revenge.
2. As hard as it is, revisit the things that make you feel happy. Rekindle the beloved hobbies you dropped when you got too caught up in that person, or even take up a new one – crafty hobbies like junk journalling or physical hobbies like social sport will help you to move on. You might feel nothing but crushing loneliness at first, but the happy feelings will return eventually.
3. Do something silly and stupid to distract yourself — dance like no one is watching while watching live music, get that bold haircut/tattoo/piercing you’ve been curious about, or take a group of friends to go swimming with turtles off the Gold Coast (the last one I did myself — the crashing wave of seasickness felt far worse than my heartbroken feelings, which weirdly helped to put my pain into perspective).
4. It’s a cliche, but a true one — if it was meant to be, it would. This person has been removed from your life for a reason, you just can’t see why right now.5. Get your feelings out somehow. Journal, talk to your friends, record yourself talking about it — just also allow yourself to express your true feelings about the situation in a non- judgemental space.
6. Accept that it’s over and they’re not coming back. Another cliche adage but there really are other fish in the sea. Get back out there and meet someone new. When it comes to getting over any kind of loss, it’s not about trying to shrink the pain, but instead making your life surrounding it bigger, thus making the pain smaller in comparison.
7. Whether it’s heartbreak or just hurt feelings, you have to let yourself feel the pain. I’m not saying let yourself wallow in your feeling for the rest of time – just don’t bury or ignore them because the feelings will expand to demand attention if they feel like they are being stifled. If you need to cry, then let yourself cry, or at least go alone to a movie theatre and watch the saddest movie playing. Accept your pain, feel it, ride it like a wave. With these things, the best remedy is simply time.
8. When all else fails, take their phone number and sign them up for as many spam ads as you possibly can — just don’t do what I did and accidentally call them when you’re copying their number from your contacts. That was super embarrassing.