Heartbreaks hurt and, even if you’ve been there before, it doesn’t get easier the second, third, fourth times. To love is to surrender your soul to someone else, to become vulnerable, so it hurts all the more when it doesn’t work out. As a wise man once said ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.’

Time heals all wounds

Yes, it’s a cliché, but like any scar, a broken heart needs time to heal and mend. Face the music, confront the pain, work through the anger, accept blame, and ultimately learn from the loss. Cry or scream it out if you have to, there’s no shame in it. Rebound dating and denial are not a solution, merely a distraction and can be a ticking time bomb. So take some ‘me’ time. Focus on yourself and don’t worry about being a little selfish. Take care of yourself first and foremost.

Get by with a little help from your friends

Support networks are important and so are distractions. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Talking things through with someone can help you gain insight and an outside perspective on things. When you are not dealing with the break-up, you need to keep yourself busy. Keep your friends and family around. Accept their help and let them take care of you. This is not a sign of weakness.

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel

Be positive, and move on. Dwelling on the past won’t get you anywhere. You might not always know why it happened or what exactly went wrong, but people change and grow, circumstances affect outcomes. There’s comes a time to just let go and rebuild yourself better and stronger than before. Meet new people, make plans, get out there, focus on the future, and leave the past in the past.