Coming to the end of any relationship is hard – and that includes friendships. We all have our own ways of getting over romantic break-ups, but we rarely dedicate time and energy to getting over friendships ending.
Friends are often just as important to us as romantic partners and having a friendship end can be a painful process. To make sure you get closure and can move on from the friendship as easily as possible, here are a few tips to get over your ex-best friend, for your own sake and theirs.
Close The Chapter
One of the hardest things to do when a friendship ends is to really accept that it’s completely over. It’s easy to give yourself the hope that one day the friendship could be rebuilt, especially if it’s someone who you’ve been particularly close with.
If you’re going to have any hope of moving on fully, you need to close this chapter of your life. There’s a reason this friendship is coming to an end and, whatever it is, you need to stand by those reasons. Leaving the doorway back into the friendship ajar will only lead to confusion for everyone involved.
Lean On Other Friends
Losing a friend can feel so lonely, but it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. Look for other friends who can be around to support you so you don’t feel isolated. Having one friendship end doesn’t mean your social life should end, so try to plan to meet up with other people regularly.
It’s not about replacing the friend you’ve lost, but rather finding other people to connect and spend time with. Everyone needs people to talk to and have fun with, so don’t feel like you need to cut yourself off from all your friends as one relationship comes to an end.
Have A Digital Purge
Nowadays, we’re not just connected with one another when we meet up in person. There are so many different digital strings connecting us to one another, from social media to email, group chats to online groups.
To give yourself a clean break, remove the temptation of reconnecting with them before you’re ready by deleting their phone number and blocking on social media if you need to. You might feel like blocking is extreme, but you don’t owe anyone your time or attention online. If it’s easier for you to make a fresh start without reminders of them hanging around, then you need to do what’s right for you, not them.
Focus On The Positives
A friendship coming to an end is obviously sad, no matter what the reason is, but there are also positives to find in the situation. Think about what bonuses could be lying around the corner for you. Perhaps you’ll have more time to spend with other friends now, or have the freedom to explore new hobbies.
Whatever the situation is, there’s always a positive to be found. Write them down in a list and put it somewhere safe, so you can come back to it if you’re ever feeling down or missing them. Having a visual reminder of why you made the decision is always helpful for if your resolve ever slips later on.
Back Yourself
Don’t let the loss of this friend knock your ego. One person leaving your life doesn’t change the kind of person you are and you still have so many amazing qualities to offer your other friends. Just as one door is closing here, so many other opportunities are opening up. Be kind to yourself and keep your self-esteem high, so you’re ready to meet new people and make new memories.
Be As Kind As Possible
No matter how toxic a friendship might have been or what angry words might have been said, try your best to remain kind. Anger can make us say things that we don’t always mean and you might regret it down the line. Deciding to end a friendship doesn’t mean it has to end painfully. Try to forgive your ex-friend for whatever it is they’ve done, so you can move on to a new start.
