Mindful Healing: 5 Ways to Mend Your Broken Heart

“I am beginning to feel like the only way to truly get over someone that you cared a lot about is to start a new chapter.”

— The Mindy Project

5 techniques to help heal your broken heart

If you are a human being, you’ve probably experienced heartbreak, a broken heart, heartsickness, despair, disappointment. Personally, I’ve experienced infidelity, adultery, and betrayal – that’s a story for another day, but the point is I eventually overcame, started a new chapter in my life and found my true love. You can too!

Heartbreak happens for many reasons: your best friend moved away, your beloved pet crossed the Rainbow Bridge, you lost your job, you and your love/life partner broke apart.

You’re allowed to feel heartbroken. But remember, you have the power to heal and start over. Listed here are some techniques that can help you:

• Be mindful.
  • Practice being mindful in the moment you’re in right now without judgment. Say to yourself, “Everything is alright right now.” Nothing in your past or future is happening to you right now. You’re just here, living in this moment. Whatever happened before is not happening now. Whatever you think will happen in the future is not happening now. Everything is alright right now. Enjoy being in the now because it’s the best time you have.
• Just say no to overindulgence.
  • Be mindful not to deaden your heartfelt pain with overindulgence of alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, sleeping, isolation from friends and family. It’s OK to feel all the feelings and work through them. Just keep yourself in the moment and remind yourself that everything is alright right now.
• Create something.
  • The act of creating something will give you something else to think about and a sense of accomplishment. Creating something helps build self-esteem and reduce anxiety. Have you always wanted to paint? Try paint-by-number or take a painting class. Love flowers? Learn how to create beautiful flower arrangements. Like to cook? Or would you like to learn to cook? Try new recipes. Write your story. Walk through a park and take photos. Learn a new skill or re-start a forgotten one. Keep moving ahead toward the new chapter of your life.
• Make small changes.
  • The urge to “run away” from everything that reminds you of the “heartbreaker” can be tempting. Instead of moving to Alaska, start with smaller but meaningful changes. Begin in your bedroom by getting new sheets. Add new pillows, blankets, and comforters. Open the curtains, blinds, and windows. Burn a pure beeswax candle. Sage the bedroom and the whole house if you’re so inclined. Move the furniture around. Get rid of the heartbreaker’s stuff in your bathroom, kitchen, living room, and the rest of the house. Give yourself time to work through your pain before you make any life-changing decisions – like bangs!
• Compliment yourself
  • Every. Single. Day. Tell yourself, “I did good today,” “I’m really brave!” “I’m proud of myself,” “I’m feeling better today,” “I can do hard things,” “Everything is alright right now.”

Be kind to yourself. Make an appointment with a licensed therapist or psychologist. Known as “talk therapy,” personal therapy can help reduce anxiety, strengthen coping mechanisms, and improve social and community functioning. One-on-one therapy was the most valuable thing I did for myself while going through my divorce. You’re welcome to ask me details if you want to know more about my experience with talk therapy.

Keep writing your True Love List.

You deserve true love and you can have it!

With love, Tricia