You’re sick of him, and he’s sick of you. End of discussion. Unfortunately, break-ups don’t always have that carefree scenario. Often, a partner may not be as ready as the other to part ways.

Being able to tell an irreconcilable difference from a petty quarrel is hard for most people. The very reason why some people stay in relationships that are starting to enter the doomed stages is because they refuse to see the severity of the problem. There are those who give up at the slightest signs of problems. But regardless of the issue, knowing when to pack our bags and leave can be very hard to figure out.

Sometimes, the end of a relationship can happen in a snap of the fingers. However, there are partners who throw subtle hints to make you realize that they have one foot outside the door.

Basically everyone has a general idea when to call it quits. Frequent fights, communication gap, unhealthy criticisms, and lack of time for each other are some of the telltale signs that your partner may already be unhappy with the relationship and is merely sticking around for you to see the hints. If you think your partner is doing you a favor, think again. He is just putting you in additional emotional turmoil by letting you play the guessing game. No matter how hard it may sound, it is best to confront your partner and talk things out with him. Chances are, you wouldn’t like what you hear, but then, would you rather go on with a relationship that you were being made a fool of?

Accepting your defeat

All wars are bound to end. And most often, the biggest concern does not lie on who won, but on what was lost in the process.

When relationships end, both or either one of the persons involved is bound to blame himself for the cause of the break-up. But to point fingers at each other does not solve anything, nor does it help them deal with the aftermath of the split.

Accepting that your relationship has reached a painful conclusion is like being told that you won’t live long enough to see Christmas. For some, it could be worse. And if you think that there could be nothing more scary and painful than death, you probably haven’t lost a relationship yet.

Acceptance does not happen within the same day that your partner walked out the door. Sometimes, the realization that love has decided to leave takes a long time before it finally sinks in. And when it does, acceptance may not be within our grasps. People often need to mourn over the loss before they can finally acknowledge the fact that the relationship has ended.

If crying means being able to accept, then go ahead and cry your heart out. But acceptance does not mean self-pity, desperation, and spending all your waking hours wallowing in pain. One tip that would most likely work is to love yourself. Think happy thoughts. Fact is, the only way that some people get to see the light is when they are in the dark.

Ask and welcome help

Even if you have been ignoring your family and friends from the day you got into that relationship, you’d be surprised to find them all ready to give you a hug when the same relationship made its final bow.

Not all people are born as strong as others are. That is why, it is essential for these people to be in the company of loved ones during one of the hardest parts of their lives. Otherwise, they would be spending all eternity holding on to a relationship that has long gone.

The love of the people around us will make us realize that we are not as bad as we perceive ourselves to be, after our failed relationship. Their affection will help lift our self-esteem that has most likely gone through serious bruising. And finally, by accepting us, we will be able to recognize our personal worth once again.