Getting Good At Saying Goodbye

Young woman with pink hair standing against window saying goodbye

Saying Goodbye Hurts

Nobody likes saying goodbye to a close friend or relative; it brings upon feelings of detachment and sadness. But all good things must come to an end, at least momentarily. Rather than going through the same cycle of pain after every goodbye, you have to learn how to effectively give goodbyes and protect yourself in the process.

If you find yourself experiencing pain and detachment upon saying goodbye, then that means that you had a great time! This is the goal with every meaningful interaction. So why do we punish ourselves afterwards by feeling gloomy? The reason is because our mind has found comfort in the interaction and does not want to lose its grip on it.

Humans are very social creatures. When we become comfortable with other people, we have a tendency to want to hold on to an interaction for as long as possible. Positive relationships bring us comfort, safety and a sense of wellbeing. With the world being so competitive and cruel at times, being around people who are nice to us is like a breath of fresh air.

But rather than going through an intense session of missing someone after their departure, you have to learn how to control your emotions in a healthy way. Ignoring your feelings is not the right way and intensely missing their presence for 24-48 hours afterwards is not effective either.

It is best if you come to acceptance with their departure right before a goodbye happens. If you know that they will be leaving from your life in a day or two, mentally prepare yourself for the goodbye. Remind yourself how good of a time it has been and that everything happens for a reason; have faith in the process.

Life has a way of bringing people back together who once shared a loving relationship. Whether that is a family member, a close friend or a significant other, it doesn’t matter; trust the process. Don’t torment yourself because life has pulled them aside for a while. Say your goodbyes, treasure the memories with all your heart and mind and go back to living a healthy and positive life.

This is how you get good at saying goodbye.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

Lonely Feeling Deep Inside

Silhouette of lonely person standing on railing

What To Do When Feeling Lonely

The best thing to do when feeling lonely is take a minute and remind yourself of everything that you have. Even though the feeling of loneliness hurts and is quite a stinger, being grateful for everything that you have will help you maintain the right attitude in life and get you through this journey at a smoother pace.

Some people are lonely and are married, have plenty of friends and are close to their family. Loneliness does not always stem from too little interaction with others; sometimes the quality of the relationships is what matters more!

Whenever you are feeling lonely, do whatever it takes to avoid putting yourself down. Do not become your own worst enemy! You need every bit of energy and love from deep inside yourself to get through this chapter of your life. Loneliness does not last forever; it resolves over time after an honest and sincere conversation with yourself!

The best thing to do when feeling lonely is to remain preoccupied with an activity. Distract your mind from the painful feeling deep inside by finding something productive to do: watch a movie, listen to music, read a novel, educate yourself about a certain topic, go for a jog, meet a friend for a cheeseburger and coca-cola, etc.

Some of you might say, “I do all of that and I still feel lonely!” Again, loneliness does not disappear overnight. Sometimes life wants you to experience loneliness so you can come out stronger in the long run! After all, life does work in mysterious ways, so don’t be so hard on yourself!

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)