Getting over an ex you still love is challenging but possible through deliberate steps focused on healing and self-care. Here are key strategies to help you move on:

Cut Contact Completely

Stop all communication with your ex, including texting, calling, social media stalking, and asking mutual friends about them. This is crucial to avoid reopening emotional wounds and to give yourself space to heal

Allow Yourself to Grieve

Give yourself permission to feel your emotions fully without rushing the process. Healing takes time, and there is no set timeline for when you should “feel better.” Being patient and gentle with yourself reduces shame and helps you process the breakup healthily

Reflect and Learn

Objectively examine what went wrong in the relationship and what you can learn from it. This reflection can foster personal growth, help you understand your needs better, and prepare you for healthier future relationships

Practice Self-Love and Care

Focus on yourself by doing things you enjoy and treating yourself with kindness. Activities like journaling your feelings, taking yourself out, or writing a love letter to yourself can reinforce your self-worth and independence

Build a Support Network

Lean on friends, family, or professionals like therapists who can provide emotional support and guidance. Therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can be particularly effective in processing your feelings and moving forward

Forgive and Let Go of Regret

Forgiving yourself and your ex for past mistakes helps break the cycle of regret and anger. Accept that some things cannot be changed and focus on releasing these painful emotions to find peace

Avoid Romanticizing the Past

Try not to get stuck in fantasies of what could have been. Accept the reality of the relationship and its end, which helps you move beyond the loss of the idea of the relationship to focus on your own growth

Set Healthy Boundaries

If you must interact with your ex (e.g., at work or school), establish clear boundaries to protect your emotional well-being. This includes limiting contact and clarifying the nature of your interactions to avoid confusion or mixed signals

Replace Fearful Thoughts with Positive Ones

Recognize when fear drives you to cling to the past and consciously replace those thoughts with affirmations of your strength and the temporary nature of pain. This mindset shift supports emotional resilience and openness to new possibilities

. By combining these approaches—cutting contact, allowing grief, self-care, reflection, support, forgiveness, and mindset work—you can gradually heal from loving an ex and move toward a healthier, happier future