Ways to Stop Having Feelings for Someone and Begin the Process of Moving Forward
Ifiokobong Ene
Freelance Medical Researcher & Content Writer - Dedicated to making health and wellness information available, actionable, and understandable so that readers can make the best decisions about their health.
The complete acceptance of the conclusion of a romantic relationship might require a significant amount of time. Therefore, essential measures in facilitating your progress involve determining your desires for future relationships and recognizing the significance of your previous ones.
Many individuals would generally concur that you usually have no control over whom you develop romantic feelings for. However, there may be situations where you might desire it to be different.
Perhaps you have strong feelings for someone who doesn't reciprocate those feelings.
The desire that comes with unrequited love can impact emotional health and lead to significant discomfort.
Alternatively, you may have affection for someone who consistently shows that they don't prioritize your well-being. Finally, you and your partner may share deep love but possess numerous differences that make it challenging to maintain a long-term relationship.
Irrespective of the circumstances, love is a complex emotion. Even when it becomes evident that a relationship is not beneficial for you, it can feel challenging to switch off your emotions completely.
The following suggestions can assist you in initiating the process of moving forward.
Recognize and accept the reality of the situation.
Being optimistic is not a negative characteristic. On the contrary, having the ability to maintain hope during challenging or painful circumstances is generally seen as a testament to one's resilience and strength.
When it comes to troubled relationships, it is often more beneficial to focus on the present reality rather than the future you envision.
The person you have feelings for may not reciprocate those feelings. Alternatively, you may experience intense love during intimate moments but find yourselves constantly disagreeing on various matters during the rest of your time together.
Simply understanding that your relationship is not progressing may not make your feelings vanish overnight, but it is indeed a significant step forward.
Recognize your relationship needs and identify any deal breakers that are important to you.
Carefully examining your desires and expectations in a relationship and understanding what you absolutely do not want can assist you in recognizing areas where a love interest may not be the most suitable match for you.
Suppose you and your friend with benefits (FWB) have a wonderful dynamic. As you spend more time together, you develop a stronger emotional bond. Gradually, you realize that you have fallen in love with them.
However, a significant problem arises: sometimes you don't hear from them for days or even weeks. For example, you reach out to them through Facebook messages and notice that they have been active online, yet you still don't receive a response.
Suppose open and timely communication is important to you in relationships. In that case, their consistent inability to respond promptly can indicate that they may not be a good match for you.
Becoming aware of how someone you love falls short of meeting your needs can make it easier for you to move on from your feelings.
Embrace and acknowledge the significance of the love you experienced.
Certain loves may continue to leave a lasting impression on your heart. But mainly, relationships that play a vital role in your personal growth during crucial moments in your life can weave through the fabric of your being, shaping who you ultimately become.
Suppressing your emotions or disregarding their significance can hinder your progress. Instead, acknowledging and honoring your experience, allowing those intense feelings to become a part of your past, can assist you in finding peace and initiating the process of moving forward.
Moreover, recognizing the past significance of your love can enable you to realize that it is no longer beneficial or serving you in your present circumstances.
Shift your focus toward the future.
Holding onto love for an ex-partner or someone who doesn't reciprocate your feelings can restrict your personal growth. If you remain fixated on someone with whom you cannot have a relationship, it may impede your ability to find happiness with someone else.
Even if you don't feel prepared for a serious commitment, casual dating can help you recognize numerous extraordinary individuals to explore connections with.
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When you are ready to pursue more serious dating, finding the right partner can still be challenging and requires time and patience. It is common to feel frustrated with the dating experience, which may make it tempting to dwell on the person you already love. However, it is essential to remain open to new possibilities and not let those frustrations hinder your chances of finding a compatible and fulfilling relationship.
Commit to focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the past, even if it feels challenging initially. It is essential to prioritize moving forward and embracing new opportunities rather than getting caught up in the memories and emotions of the past.
Prioritize other relationships
Individuals experiencing heartbreak often tend to overlook the significance of other crucial connections in their lives.
Your friends and family can provide valuable support while you navigate the healing process. They can offer emotional support and share valuable insights and wisdom gained from their personal experiences.
When recovering from the impact of a toxic relationship, your loved ones can serve as a source of strength and guidance. It's essential, however, to be mindful of how your interactions with them make you feel. Being attentive to your emotional responses can help gauge whether these interactions benefit your healing process.
In situations where you perceive someone is being judgmental towards you, criticizing your choices, or causing you to feel emotionally distressed, it can be prudent to restrict the amount of time you spend with that individual. Prioritizing your well-being and surrounding yourself with supportive and uplifting people can contribute to a healthier healing process.
Spend quality time with yourself.
When deeply infatuated with someone, it's common to undergo subtle or significant alterations to your appearance or personality to align with what you believe they desire in a partner.
It is essential to acknowledge the aspects of yourself that you may have denied, suppressed, or modified during infatuation. For instance, you might have dressed in a style that wasn't true to your preference, developed an interest in a sport you previously had no interest in, or abandoned a beloved hobby.
Additionally, you may have suppressed your emotions and neglected to communicate your needs effectively. This could involve holding back on expressing your true feelings or refraining from asking for what you genuinely require in the relationship.
Are you satisfied with these alterations? Reflecting on the aspects of your identity that could have been quickly compromised in the relationship might aid in reducing affection for an individual who didn't genuinely appreciate you for who you are.
Give yourself some space.
Although it may appear evident, taking this step is crucial.
Once you are prepared to progress, creating distance can become your greatest ally. Even sporadic communication via text calls or social media platforms like Snapchat has the potential to reignite emotions that you believe you have already moved past.
Minimizing contact with the individual unless necessary, such as when you share custody of children or work together, is advisable.
If you were previously close friends who spent significant time together, it might be prudent to prioritize spending time with other friends for the time being.
It can be a reasonable goal if you desire to preserve your friendship, mainly if the relationship is healthy. However, waiting until the intensity of your romantic feelings has subsided is advisable. Acting prematurely might result in unnecessary pain for yourself.
Takeaway
Human beings are intricate individuals with complex emotions. Therefore, it isn't easy to abruptly switch off your feelings regardless of your strong desire to cease loving someone.
You may always carry some remnants of those feelings within you. Love does not always dissipate merely because we wish it to.
Nevertheless, even if you cannot wholly halt your love for someone who does not reciprocate or has caused you to harm, you can learn to navigate those emotions in constructive and healthy ways so they do not persistently inflict pain upon you.
Ifiokobong Ene is a Medical Physiologist, and a freelance medical writer. Ifiok brings his years of medical research experience to help consistently create high-quality, and engaging articles and products that uphold the highest medical standards. He is dedicated to making health and wellness information available, actionable, and understandable so that readers can make the best decisions about their health. Catch him on?Fiverr ?and?Upwork .