How to forget someone you love, but can’t have for life

Love is the most magical and healing emotion. To love and being loved to bring forth an abundance of good feelings and emotions within you that even go ahead to promote good health, joy, and happiness. However, it is a very hard feeling to let go of someone you love. Whether it’s a breakup or the end of a friendship, any unfavourable change in desirable circumstances evokes unfathomable pain. Letting go of someone you love can be an incredibly challenging and painful process. The circumstance might seem beyond your control, but you can choose to move forward in life towards healing. While there is no magical solution to forgetting someone overnight, there are steps you can take to ease the pain and gradually move forward.

Health Shots got in touch with senior psychiatrist Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Founder-Director, Manasthali, to understand how to forget someone you love.

Learn how to let go of someone you love

Healing is a slow process that takes time, but every bit of it helps us outgrow older versions of ourselves that were no longer serving us for our highest good. Follow these tips by an expert to heal your broken heart.

1. Allow yourself to acknowledge your emotions

“Don’t step away from acknowledging your emotions by giving yourself permission to go through the experience of heartbreak and acknowledge your emotions. Don’t suppress or deny your feelings. Instead, permit yourself to grieve the loss. Allow yourself to feel sadness, anger and pain. Cry if you need to. By acknowledging your emotions, you are giving yourself the space to heal,” shares the expert.

2. Distance yourself physically and emotionally from the person

Whenever there is an end of a relationship, it can feel daunting to bear the loss. Even if the person is not around you physically, you feel the absence in the most painful ways. You might even feel like texting that person or talking it all out, but your cries will fall on deaf ears. You must value yourself by creating physical and emotional distance from the person you are trying to forget.

The expert suggests that, If possible, limit your contact with them. Unfollow or unfriend them on social media platforms to reduce reminders. Clear out items that remind you of them from your living space. This distance will help create a new space for personal growth and healing.

Also read: Forgiveness can heal you, so practice these 3 ways to forgive and forget

3. Prioritise self-care and invest in activities that bring joy

“Re-inevent yourself in this alone time by making your self-care a priority and performing activities that bring joy and fulfilment. Engage in hobbies, exercise regularly, eat nutritious meals, and get enough sleep. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being will help you rebuild your strength and resilience,” shares the expert.

4. Reach out to your loved ones for help

Get in touch with your family, friends or join any support group for that emotional support. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with trusted individuals can provide comfort and guidance. Professional counselling or therapy may also be beneficial, as therapists can offer valuable tools and coping strategies to help you heal.

5. Focus on reinventing yourself by setting new goals

The expert says, “Set new goals and aspirations to learn and unlearn to reinvent yourself. Channelise your energy into your personal growth while learning ways to improve yourself. Whether it’s pursuing a new career path, learning a new skill, or travelling, setting goals will help shift your focus and create a sense of purpose.”