Breakups are tough. You invest time, your feelings, your emotions, and parts of your life into a partner with the goal of creating a life together.

When a relationship comes to an end, it can leave you with heartbreak and require a period of time for recovery. For each person, this rebound time will be different. Depending on the intensity of the relationship and time spent together, healing could take a matter of days or a matter of years.

Dating again before you’re completely healed from the previous relationship can complicate matters, so it’s important to know when you're really ready to jump back into the dating pool.

You’ve Accepted Your Breakup

Reaching the acceptance stage of a breakup is a good sign that you’ve healed from your past relationship. Hopefully, at this point, you have learned the key takeaways and let go of the negative parts.

Acknowledging mistakes that were made and learning lessons from the experience will only lead to personal growth. You stepped away from the broken relationship and became a better person who won’t carry that weight into the next one. If similar situations arise, you will have a better understanding of how to handle them.

You Don’t Think About Your Ex

After a breakup, your mind will be flooded with thoughts of your ex. It can be hard to dodge memories for a while when certain songs come on the radio, or you pass by a favorite restaurant. As time goes by, those memories will start to fade, and you will make space for new memories in your mind.

Once that time comes that they rarely cross your mind, it’s a good sign that you’re ready to move on. When you have found your closure or forgiven them for any wrongdoing, you can focus on yourself and any new potential partner.

You Have a Good Relationship with You

Spending time in a relationship can change you and your habits. A breakup can also take its toll. You may have felt self-doubt or some level of insecurity. A lot of emotions come with the territory, and they are often negative.

You shouldn’t jump into a new relationship solely to feel loved during that initial rebound time. After a breakup, you should spend time getting to know the new version of yourself. Fall in love with yourself again before trying to do so with a new partner.

When you can lean into your own independence, it’s a good sign that you’re ready. Plus, your attitude and energy will attract a partner that serves you.

You Feel Excited Again

It’s not uncommon to think, “I’m never going to date again” after a split, especially if it was under not-so-great circumstances. Eventually, you’ll reach a point when you feel that excitement again.

Dating someone new and the possibilities that it brings will start to make you feel giddy with anticipation. That giddiness is a sign that you’re ready to start dating again. When your mind is ready, your body will follow.

You Find Someone Else Attractive

Once you find yourself attracted to others, it’s a move in the right direction. Be cautious with this, though. Just because you find someone else attractive doesn’t mean you’re ready.

The key part here is to do so without comparing them to your ex. You find yourself enjoying their company, engaging in conversation, and appreciating them for what they bring to the table without any reference to your ex.

At the end of the day, you will hopefully just know when you’re ready to start dating again. It’ll be a feeling that you know is right. If you’re still carrying baggage from your last relationship or are hesitant to re-enter the dating world, we can help you work through it. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of relationship counseling and how it can help you.

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