How To Break Up With Somebody In 7 Steps

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How To Break Up

Everybody knows that it‘s a devastating experience to be left by someone you really love, be it a break up or divorce. We all have gone through this at least one time in our life. But the fact that it is also very difficult to be the one who actually leaves is something you only know if you have experienced it.

So, the question arises: how to break up with someone?

Relationships come to an end possibly, the reasons are numerous.

They all have in common that one member of the relationship is dissatisfied and pulls back. Maybe he has tried for some time to adjust the relationship according to his wishes. If this fails, he usually quits emotionally long before the actual break up. That is often the reason why the “dumpee” has the impression that the “dumper” is cold hearted—he left mentally months ago.

How to decide if the relationship should be ended or not?

They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know, I know that it’s true
—NEIL SEDACA

Here are some guidelines you can consider when taking into account to end a relationship:

  • Does the relationship allow you to evolve according to your wishes?
  • Does the relationship fulfill your needs?
  • Is it possible to have goals together and achieve them?
  • Does your partner accept you as you are?
  • Can you resolve conflicts together?
  • Are you feeling good in your relationship?
  • Is the communication with your partner good?

If your answer to these question is in the majority “no” then it is probably time to move on.

So, you want to break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend and you don’t know how to do this? You’ve never done it before or wrong in the past and you could use a helping hand?

The first thing you have to realize is that there is no painless way.

It simply doesn’t exist. No magical words which take the pain away. It will hurt them and it may also hurt you. There is nothing you can do about this. You can only avoid some common mistakes and make it a little easier for them.

As you continue reading, you are about to learn the steps on how to break up with someone the best way. If you have made your decision, just use the following steps as a guideline.

How to break up with someone in 7 steps:

1. Keep a few days distance

It is very advisable to maintain some distance to your partner before you actually break up. This has many advantages. On one side you will gain some emotional distance, which is important to be able to go through the steps listed below.

On the other side, your partner will sense that something is about to happen and will hopefully emotionally prepare himself.

Just cut off contact for a week before. Do not give too much information, just say you’re busy.

2. Try to be sure about your decision

I know, that’s a tough one, especially when you love the person in question, or are very close to him/her.

Chances are that you were thinking about breaking up for a long time. You have come to the conclusion that you don’t fit together, have different expectations about life or were unable to resolve or get to the bottom of your conflicts. Maybe you have simply realized that you do not love your partner.

Either way, try to be sure that there is no chance of getting things right again. I wrote “try”, because I know that these things are not always easy to realize. You can be relatively positive on your decision, if you have tried for several times to work on your relationship by talking about your problems with your partner.

To help you with making the decision I suggest that you make a list with all the reasons why you want to break up and write a possible solution beside it. Then go through your list and reflect if you have done everything to solve the problems you’ve had.

By knowing the reasons for the upcoming break up you will on one hand be prepared for questions your partner might ask, on the other hand they will help you to cope with the break up yourself.

So, are you absolutely sure?

Next step.

continue reading next page »

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My Recommendation For Further Reading:

About The Author:

is a breakup-coach, relationship-advisor and founder of LovesAGame. He suffered from a devastating break up in 1998. Since then, he dedicated his life to helping others getting the best of this existential experience. The overcoming of a break up is an important step to autonomy and independency. Eddie Corbano developed some new coaching programs, which focus on evolving inner strength and the power to set and reach any personal goal. (Article written on September 10th, 2007)
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Category: Breaking Up
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  • lonely

    i too was in a same situation some day my friend..and 4 years have passed today..m still in a relationship with “my man” but just for a namesake..and thus none of us are happy.i still love him but he is tired and bored of me. i would advise you to break up soon and continue to be friends only,because its not too late and none of you will be sad with this decision of yours and i promise u wont lose your friend. i regret my decision which i too had taken in haste, i too was afraid to lose a sweet friend of mine. and so as to rectify my mistake i was going through this website.i never knew my bf would change so much and he is even cheating on me.you better break up as soon as possible n m sure u wont be another victim as i am but you know what.he is happy and doesn’t care a hoot about me, and i still cant live without him.hope you understand and take the best decision.
    GOD BLESS YOU.

  • lonely

    i too had attempted suicide but not to keep him in my life but just bcoz i was frustrated with my life…i couldn’t tolerate him bcoz i loved him n he always cheated on me..i am alive today n still with the same guy.he hasn’t changed at all and is still cheating on me.its high time now and this time i just want to get rid of the guy and not of my life but don’t know how to do it bcoz he doesn’t let me do this nor does he change for the better.lets hope for the best.

  • Sébastien

    Hello there, i’ve been with my girlfriend for 6 years now. First i must say that when i decided to get with her i had to take another additional decision because she got 2 kids. I’ve seen them grown over the past 6 years and i really love them from the bottom of my heart. 3 years ago our couple had to face a crisis and even tough we’ve been able to get out of it, it’s never been the same. We have no trust in each other anymore. I’ve tried my best to fix it up in the past 3 years but we got ourselves trap in a infernal routine. 1 month we are  ”OK” and the next 3 month we keep fighting for stupid stuff. After trying to do everything i could to save this relation, i just gave up after realizing i was falling into a deep depression and my health was in Danger. now i want to end it all for me, for her and for the kids who doesn’t deserve to live stuck in the middle of this hurricane. so i started your 7 step guide (it’s my first break-up) and while i was away for a week to give me time to think over our relationship, she announced me that she is now pregnant… i’m devastated… i’m just not ready for that and i don’t know if she is really telling me the truth. i don’t know what to do my mind was made about this but now i fear that i’m not going to be strong enough to break-up and i’ll end up staying in a relation i don’t want… what should i do? plz help me out

    • Bestfriend_always

      Dear Sebastian,
      Its really better to tell her how u feel, if ur relationship was down because of trust, u would like 2 make sure she is a hundred percent pregnant, life goes on, make sure you take care of the child, love the child, and be there always 4 the child.

    • Kecia

      Sebastien,
      I have been in a relationship for 10 years and I knew from the 2 year that I should have left. If you are not happy, you should leave. If she does not make you happen by all means walk away, for your happiness and hers. If she is pregnant, let her know you will be there for the baby. It sounds like they relationship is over and she is trying everything to trap you. Take it from a person that is trapped in a relationship that should have never been. I wish you nothing but happiness!

  • Ronak

    This proves that there are true lovers like you too! 

  • evanna lynch

    my boyfriend and i have been together for a few weeks and he is one of my best guy-friends and i want to break up with because my friends dont like him,he gets jealous when his friend talks to me,and he has gotten kinda annoying. how do i break up with him

  • Kecia

    I have been in this relationship for 10 years. I have never had tobreak up with anyone in my life, something always happen. They move out of town, we lose contact, or they break up with me. I have been trying to break up with this man for a year now. I don”t want to be in a relationship right now. We don’t have the same goals in life, hell he don’t have any. I’ve been with him since I was 23 years old, so we are comfortable together. We live together, he wants to get married and I don’t. He annoys the hell out of me. We sleep in seperate rooms. I have told him on several occasions I didnt want ot be in this relationship anymore. I use to think he wound change but that never happen. I thought he would grow up, but he is the same person I met 10 years ago. I don’t regret our relationship, because this relationship shows me what I want in a man and what I will not tolerate.

    Please help, I’m running out of options!

  • http://lovesagame.com/ Eddie Corbano

    I this case it is advisable to let some time pass with no contact… a few days.

    Then write a short letter/email: make your intentions clear, state your reasons and offer a meeting to answer questions.

    Eddie

  • Emma

    I have been wanting to break up with my boyfriend for some time now. He just isn’t my type. He is clingy, I want my space, and I miss being single. I am dreading breaking up with him, especially because we have to sit in the same class every other day, and he is very sensitive.
    I know in my heart, though, that while it is going to suck for a while, there is a girl out there that will appreciate his emotional attachment much more than I do. He will be happier with someone else, even if he doesn’t see it now.
    I am so happy I found this article. I got sick to my stomach every time I thought of making the first move, but I’ve already done the first 2 steps, and I am building up the courage to continue. I wish the best of luck to everyone else out there going through a breakup. We aren’t alone, and we’ll get through it. Life moves on, and we must, too.