How To Let Someone Go

Letting someone go is one of the hardest challenges in life. We all think that our relationships should last forever but when they don’t, it feels like a dreadful loss. We want life to carry on happily as normal, but it doesn’t. 

In this post, we take a look at some of the ways to let people go. Here’s what you need to know. 

Change Your Narrative

Many people feel entitled to life remaining the same as it always was, indefinitely into the future. But this expectation is unrealistic. Life changes considerably from one year to the next. That’s just the nature of the beast. 

Try to avoid the temptation to believe in permanence. Instead, see life events as transitory and celebrate them for what they are. Always remind yourself that relationships with people and circumstances are unlikely to repeat. 

Don’t Blame Anyone

When letting someone go, it can be tempting to place blame on people or God. Try to avoid this temptation if you can. Changes occur for all sorts of reasons, and they aren’t always entirely obvious at the time.

Part of human nature is pointing the finger at other people. But even if something terrible happened to you, don’t give into blame. Once you start blaming, you’re no longer accepting life as it is. You’re holding onto what should have happened, not what did. And that can cause thoughts to circle through your head for years on end. 

Do Something Meaningful

When someone exits your life, either because they are moving on or they have passed away, do something memorable. Mark the event and try to make it final. For instance, invest in funeral flower arrangements or hold a moving on party, celebrating the next chapter of your life. 

Don’t Use Social Media

Going on social media and watching exactly what is going on in other people’s lives is a bad idea in general. But it is particularly bad if you’re trying to let someone go. Avoid the temptation to update yourself on what’s going on in other people’s lives. Stay focused on your day-to-day activities. 

Stay Busy

Be as busy as you can when letting go of someone. Do all the work and chores you’ve been putting off since they left or passed away.

Try not to indulge in pure escapism though. Do things like meditation, yoga and journaling that really improve your mental state. Then join volunteer groups who are making real changes in the world. 

Give Yourself Some Time To Heal

Take some time off from your usual circumstances to heal. Don’t continue in the same manner as before. Be kind to yourself. 

With that said, make sure you keep moving forward and creating a new story for yourself. It’s okay to have new experiences and, critically, for you to enjoy your life. 
Grieving is a normal part of living. It’s baked into our existence. It is impossible to go through life without losing something or someone. Rest in the knowledge that many other people have had the same experience.

Why not head over to How To Be There For Someone Who Is Grieving and How To Cope With Grieving For Someone Twice