Unrequited love sucks big time. The feeling of being in love with someone who doesn’t return your feelings isn’t fun. It’s like being automatically rejected before you can even put yourself out there. Unrequited love is complicated too. We often feel it for someone close to us, like a friend or coworker, who we have to see often. It hurts to be around them knowing we can’t be with them.
But unrequited love is nothing to feel embarrassed or alone about; everybody experiences it at some point or another. In fact, research shows that 98% of people have felt it at some point or another. Experiencing it doesn’t mean you failed at romance and relationships. It does mean you’re a human, just like everybody else.
Learning How to Move On From Unrequited Love
Getting over unrequited love can feel getting over a breakup. It’s okay to be sad about it. Even though you weren’t in a relationship with this person, you’re still saying goodbye to your love for them. So, what can be done about it? If you’re wondering how to move on, we can help. It is painful, but it is possible. Here’s where to start.
Assess what kind of unrequited love you have
When you know what kind of love you have, moving on gets easier. So what kind are you feeling? Could it ever become requited love, or is it strictly off-limits? Sometimes, people let an unrequited love torture them before they confess their feelings. If there’s a chance this person could return your feelings, you still have a chance. You just need to tell them how you feel.
But if you’ve already confessed your feelings and they didn’t reciprocate them, or if you’re in love with someone who is off-limits, then yes, you’re experiencing the pain of true unrequited love. If that’s the case, then it’s time to…
Acknowledge that it’s not going to happen
Even if it’s hard to hear, here’s some tough love. If you told someone you love them and they didn’t return your feelings, or if you’re secretly in love with someone you can’t pursue, then now is not the time to act on your feelings.
Things may change in the future, but right now, it’s important to be realistic and accept that this unrequited love can’t be achieved. It’s not easy, but acknowledging that truth may help you come to terms with it and move on.
Take your time
When you think about how to move on from an unrequited love, you might automatically start thinking in terms of timelines like “how long should I feel sad?”, “when should I be over them?”, and “how soon is too soon to start dating?”.
There’s no need to rush. You don’t need to commit to a time frame for getting over an unrequited love. Instead of giving yourself a time limit, be patient and kind to yourself. Feel sad for as long as you need to, listen to your heart, and follow your gut.
Put yourself back out there
When you think about how to move on from an unrequited love, putting yourself back out there might sound counterintuitive. But meeting new people can be a nice distraction when you’re trying to get over someone.
You don’t need to jump into a serious relationship right away. Instead, keep things casual, test the waters, and reflect on your romantic needs and what you’re looking for. Who knows? Seeing who else is out there could help you realize that your unrequited love wasn’t who and/or what you were looking for after all.
Unrequited love is painful, but if you can, try to see the good in it. Experiencing this kind of love means you have a lot to offer someone! And that’s a beautiful thing. Even though you’re not able to be with the person you want to be with right now, some day, you’ll meet someone who will gladly accept your love and give it back to you in return.
And when you do, everything will fall into the place. The immediate pain will fade away into a distant memory. For more tips on how to move on from unrequited love, this list is an excellent resource. It’s time to set yourself free.