Part of growing up is learning how to handle rejection, betrayal, heartbreak, and using it to become a better person. We’ve probably all toyed with pettiness and bitterness, but break ups can also shape our character growth. The sooner we learn to take heartbreak and fuel it into self-love, the closer we get to becoming the best version of ourselves.
Music is a powerful way of expressing difficult life experiences. Here’s 18 songs about moving on and the important lessons they teach us about healing and letting go of resentment.
1. Pray for You—Jhene Aiko
Letting go of a long-term relationship doesn’t have to be messy.
Best lyric: I’m ready to let this go / but never will I ever not wish you well / though we’re not together, God bless you still / it’s gonna get better I know it will
2. Space Cowboy—Kacey Musgraves
Trapping people in relationships is not real love and sometimes people fade apart.
Best lyric: I know my place and it ain’t with you / sunsets fade and love does too
3. Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying—Sabrina Carpenter
Sometimes you make mistakes and that’s okay because you’re still learning.
Best lyric: I’m young and I’m dumb / I do stupid things when it comes to love / and even if I always end up crying / you can’t blame a girl for trying
4. Against Me—H.E.R.
You cannot enter a relationship expecting someone to change for you – it is unfair to both of you.
Best lyric: To my women with the utmost respect, intellect / we often forget and neglect / intuition can see through elusive intent / listen to it
5. Love Galore—SZA
All you need is love, but it’s not always so serious.
Best lyric: I said farewell / you took it well / promise I won’t cry over spilled milk
6. Lose You To Love Me—Selena Gomez
You cannot ignore red flags because you are scared of losing someone.
Best lyric: We’d always go into it blindly / I needed to lose you to find me
7. No More Suckers—MARINA
Don’t surround yourself with people who treat you poorly. You have to recognize behaviour patterns and learn to avoid them.
Best lyric: Took whatever they could get / now I see a pattern / I’m getting rid of it / I know I need a change / Cause I’m tired of feeling drained
8. thank u, next—Ariana Grande
Every relationship has a lesson to teach us and every heartbreak makes you one heartbreak closer to the right person.
Best lyric: She taught me love / she taught me patience / and she handles pain / that shit’s amazing
9. I Won’t Remember You Tomorrow—Alli Simpson
One day, you’ll be ready to leave the hurt behind and start new again.
Best lyric: You think I’m pretty but baby I’m strong / you think I’m listening but I’m moving on
10. Better Man—Little Big Town
Sometimes they’re just not the right fit and there’s nothing you can do to fix it.
Best lyric: Saying to myself you know you had to do it / I know the bravest thing I ever did was run
11. Breathe In, Breathe Out—Hilary Duff
Self love grows day by day, breath by breath.
Best lyric: And when I’m cold at night I know that I’ll survive / until I feel alright I’m gonna fake it / breathe in breathe out
12. Loyal to Me—Nina Nesbitt
If they don’t treat you well, it’s time to leave.
Best lyric: Tell him I got somewhere else to be / I don’t lose my head for nobody
13. Begin Again—Taylor Swift
Every loss feels like the world is ending, but it will hurt less every day.
Best lyric: I’ve been spending the last eight months / thinking all love ever does is break, burn and end / but on a Wednesday in a café / I watched it begin again
14. Million Reasons—Lady Gaga
You must see people for who they really are because if you romanticize them in your head, you will break your own heart.
Best lyric: I bow down to pray / I try to make the worst seem better / lord show me the way / to cut through all this worn out leather
15. Speak Up—Jhene Aiko
Being single means you have more time to do what you love and more time to grow as an individual.
Best lyric: Love shouldn’t be for our keeping / I’ll celebrate my freedom / I’m gon’ speak up / speak from my heart baby