Sometimes it feels like you are the only one who feels this way or the only one that has lost a friend so easily, but the truth is that most friendships end. It does not mean that you were not close enough or that there was something wrong with your relationship, you or your friend.
In any case, it is important to recognize when a friendship has ended and take steps to move on from it before it causes too much damage or disrupts other parts of your life.
How to accept that a friendship has ended:
1-Figure out what happened:
We all have friends that we need to let go of. They are either toxic, negative, or unsupportive, and sometimes it’s just time for them to go. But how do you know when it’s time to say goodbye? And if you’re the one to decide to cut off someone toxic, then make sure you do it smoothly and in a smart way!
The first step is figuring out why the friendship ended. It could be because of the distance, lack of communication, or a disagreement that you had with your friend. Once you figure out the reason for the end of your friendship, it will be easier to move on and accept what has happened.
It can be hard to accept that such a long or strong friendship is over. It can feel like you are losing someone close to you, and you may have a lot of questions about what happened. But if the friendship has been toxic for a while, it will be better for both of you in the long run.
2- Allow yourself to be sad about it, at first:
It is okay to be sad and even angry when a friendship ends. It is not easy to accept that a relationship that was once important has come to an end.
But it is important to know that the anger and sadness will not last forever. Eventually, you will find someone else who can fill the void left by your old friend.
It can be difficult to accept that a friendship is over. You may have had a great time together, shared many memories, and even supported each other through tough times. It can feel like losing a close family member or loved one.
However, friendships are not permanent and it’s important to understand when it’s time to move on from this relationship. So wipe your tears and have a couple of days, at most, of sadness and disappointment, put on a big large smile, and move on with life!
3- Understand that you may find more compatible friends:
There are many reasons why friendships can end, and each person may have different needs and expectations from their friends. When a friendship ends, it is important to remember that there are other people out there who will make great friends for you.
It is not easy to accept that a friendship is over. But, it can be necessary to learn, grow, move on and maybe find more compatible people.
In the process of finding suitable friends, if you have met someone who doesn’t seem interested, then you may need to accept that the friendship will never work out. It’s hard, but it’s necessary in order to find people who are more compatible with you.
The best way to meet compatible friends is to meet new people in a place where you spend most of your time. For instance, if you’re into exercise then the best option is to find a gym buddy that can be turned into a closer friend for life. And, if you spend most of your time at the mall shopping for baby stuff then it is best to find another new mom that is going through the same as you.
4- People change, circumstances change & life happens:
It’s never easy to accept that a friendship has come to an end, but it’s important to understand that sometimes it’s not your fault. The person may have changed or circumstances may have changed, but that doesn’t change the fact that the friendship has ended.
Life happens. You have to understand that there’s no point in holding onto someone thinking that you can preserve what was once. People change, they grow older, their opinions change and even their tastes may develop to become very different.
So the person you once had a blast with, when you were younger might be someone that you will clash with over every word you say, today. That’s simply because at the time when you were the best buddies on earth you both were at the peak of your compatibility.
However, you grew into someone different and so did they, especially if you stopped meeting as often as before. You both got influenced by other factors and became completely different people so even if you were to make an extra effort to rebuild the friendship, it may never work.
5- Learn that letting go is sometimes better than what could unfold:
It is important, to be honest with yourself about your friendships. It is not good for you to hold onto a friendship that has run its course.
The hardest part about ending friendships is knowing when it’s time to let go and move on. It’s easy for people who have been friends for years or decades to stay in touch because they feel like they owe each other something, but sometimes this is not what’s best for everyone involved.
Ending a friendship amicably can be difficult with no bitter aftertaste can be a difficult task. Indeed friendships end for many reasons such as moving away, growing apart, or simply just not being compatible anymore.
Whatever the case is, it is for the best as sometimes people that don’t take the initiative to end a bad friendship end up in worse altercations, disagreements, or just witnessing how things can quickly turn very sour and in an irreparable way.
The bottom line:
It is never easy to realize that a friendship has come to an end. But it is important to understand that friendships are supposed to bring joy, happiness, support, and love into your life.
If they don’t then it might be time to talk about it to your friend and see if they want to fix the relationship, or if they’re ready to move on too. In any case, once the decision has been made by both parties, then it’s time to take action and make sure the friendship ends on a positive note.