5 unexpected benefits of a break-up
If there is one thing I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy, it would be the heart-wrenching emotional pain that comes with a break-up. The times I cried until I had no tears left were always triggered by an unexpected end to a relationship. It's not easy: you still see a future with someone who no longer sees it that way, and that hurts. My last break-up hurt so much that I literally felt the sadness stabbing in my heart. Fortunately, time heals all wounds, and besides being a bit slimmer, I have also become a lot wiser. I learned that there are also many unexpected benefits to going through a break-up. Has someone just let you go and are you (rightly) struggling with it? Let me take you through all my findings, and you'll see that your situation might be a lot less hopeless than you think.
1. You no longer need a diet
I just mentioned it: I've never been so slim as after the worst break-up of my life. What is it about a broken heart and not being able to get a bite down? I remember my mother trying to feed me all sorts of treats during that period, but it didn't help. The weeks after my break-up, I mainly lived on crackers, tea, cheap wine, and used my crying fits as cardio. Don't get me wrong: I would never recommend this lifestyle, but the drop in the number on the scale provided a meager comfort and even led to a brief pause in tears.
2. You have time to invest in yourself
Before you start to protest: it's always important to invest time in yourself, even when you're in a relationship. But let's be honest: within your relationship, a portion of attention always goes to everything that occupies your partner. When that falls away, you suddenly have a whole load of time and attention left over that you can spend on yourself. How nice is that? No one thinks you're spending too long on your self-care rituals, you have all the time to focus on your interests, and perhaps most importantly: you learn that, although there will always be people who come and go, you can also have a good time with yourself. Now that's a relationship worth investing in.
3. Your other relationships get a boost
You probably spent an enormous amount of time with your partner in the months (or maybe even years) leading up to your break-up. Now that you're living life as a fresh single, you have plenty of time to spend with your friends or family. Do that, because even if you don't want to admit it: we tend to take our friendships for granted when a nice partner comes along. And let's be honest, how nice is it to verbally tear your ex apart on the terrace with a few girlfriends? Truly healing for the soul.
4. Your life can completely change
If there is a perfect moment to create the life of your dreams, it is after surviving a break-up. You can take all the time you need to wallow in self-pity, but there comes a moment when you feel the need to pick your life back up. Grab that feeling of newfound strength with both hands and think about which areas of your life could use a boost. Maybe it's time for a new job, or you've always wanted to try a certain hobby. In the words of the oh-so-wise Spice Girls: this is the moment to spice up your life.
5. You learn to bloom after difficult times
Cliché but true: time really does heal all wounds. And while I have sat crying on the bathroom floor multiple times (yes, I can be that much of a drama queen) feeling that this heart-wrenching sadness would never go away: it always did. Ultimately, it taught me that I can blossom into a strong, fulfilled, and self-aware person despite loss and sadness, and it has brought a new kind of appreciation for the rich life I get to lead and all the lovely people that come with it. A break-up makes you strong in a way that other things cannot. So, besides being heartbroken, be grateful for the fact that someone left your life who probably didn't fit in well anyway, and look forward with a curious eye. Healing from a break-up can be a long road, but you will undoubtedly encounter nothing but good along the way.
