Breaking up with someone is never easy, especially if it was a serious relationship. No amount of comfort food or Netflix binge watching seems to heal the immense pain that you feel. Even if it is hard to believe, your friends and family were right when they said you will eventually start to move on and feel better.
Despite all the hardships that you are struggling with now, there are some benefits that will come out of this experience. Read on to see what major breakups can teach you in the long-term.
1. They will spare you the bigger heartbreak in the future.
It may seem like a mistake at the moment, but breaking up with the love of your life happened for a reason. It is better to have come to this conclusion that you are not a good fit now before you make a bigger commitment to each other and are married with children. Believe me that it is infinitely harder to go your separate ways when things are not working out when you are legally bound to one another and share huge life responsibilities like kids between the two of you.
2. They will give you time to reevaluate your life.
One of the benefits of breaking up is having more alone time to reflect on yourself. Moments of hardship within your life tend to provide an opportunity to grow if you are willing to embrace them. At first, it may be difficult to think about positive self-growth since you are dealing with the sadness and array of other difficult emotions that come along with a serious breakup.
After a while though, you will start to see the benefit of being single and being able to redirect the energy that you used to focus on your relationship to your own needs.
3. They will allow you to be more independent.
Being in a relationship, you always had a built-in companion by your side. Now that you are single, you will have to learn how to navigate life on your own.
Learning how to be self-reliant is invaluable in all areas of life, whether in work or in your personal daily routine. Learning to be independent will also give you the courage to step out of your comfort zone and try things that you never thought of exploring before. Traveling solo to a new country? Why not. Trying your hand at a cooking class? Bring it on.
4. They will encourage you to be more social.
After the initial pain of the breakup wears off and you feel ready to brave the world that does not include your living room and sweats, going out and being social is crucial to moving on. It may seem awkward and strange at first — going out as a party of one with your friends. But this just means you are more receptive to social invitations. Instead of wanting to stay home with your significant other and watch Homeland on Saturday night, you have more time to hang out with friends and hit the town.
5. They help you put things in perspective.
After going through a difficult breakup, you realize that you are a lot stronger than you think. You also realize that situations that once seem insurmountable are actually not that big of a deal. Having this new perspective in life can help you gain the courage to confront people in your life that you have been avoiding, or take a leap of faith by attending a writing workshop that you always wanted to try.
Soon, you will come to realize that there is a life after your relationship and that the only way to know this is by enduring the momentary pain of the break-up.
