The love duo (Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth) in Nicholas Sparks novel turned movie, The Last Song, will forever be in our hearts. Although the shocking news of Miley and Liam’s breakup had spread some controversy, moving on from a past relationship when it’s no longer meant to continue can be quite difficult and we could all relate to this at some point in our lives. Miley wrote in a tweet regarding her reasons to break up their relationship was, “At this point I had to make a healthy decision for myself to leave a previous life behind. I am the healthiest and happiest I have been in a long time.”
We hear you, Miley. Relationships can be complicated, nerve racking, and exciting as you learn and grow with your thoughts and feelings with and without your S.O. They can consume you with heartache and beautiful euphoria; they can teach you selflessness, but can also teach you to prioritize yourself, your dreams and passions.
In her new song about her breakup with Liam, “Slide Away”, lyrically speaks about moving on and letting go of a relationship that’s had its impending struggles and blissful moments. With these notes in mind, here are the ways to “Slide Away” from past relationships and embrace a new one with yourself:
“I’m afraid of being alone again…”
Feeling like you’re alone can be scary, if not a dreadful, part of ending a relationship. At this point, you’ll realize you’ve spent a lot of energy on your relationship and now you have all this free time to occupy. Occupy this time by doing things that make YOU happy. Maybe your hobbies had to take a backseat while you were in a relationship, or you didn’t have enough pull to start building yourself up from a relationship that was holding you back. Now is the time to ditch being afraid to be alone and embrace the changes of navigating a new relationship with yourself. It takes time to know what YOU desire and that starts with figuring out and understanding your desires with the company of yourself.
“We’ve been together for a long time and I feel so comfortable. It would be difficult to find someone again…”
Feeling comfortable in a relationship is not necessarily a bad thing. It can mean you have established some set of norms or boundaries in your relationship. However, comfort will not always last and if anything, growing and changing together is part of a healthy relationship balance. Stepping out of your comfort zone to improve yourself will lead you to opportunities that will further enhance your life. A relationship will follow if it is meant to.
“The commitment isn’t there yet, but I know it’s going to happen…”
Commitment can come in different forms and stages. It may take people some time to feel like they can be completely committed in a relationship. However, it can be difficult in a relationship if you and your S.O. want different things out of life and your relationship and at different times. If you want more of a commitment and your S.O. does not, it is a sign to move on.
“It’s difficult to let go and be vulnerable again with someone else…”
A genuine relationship will be difficult to let go of and this is a fact of life. Breakups are painful, confusing, and most of all, a vulnerable time in your life. Taking it day by day and focusing on yourself will make the heartache worth the fight. To show your deep feelings and the person you are within in a new relationship is just another step in life that shouldn’t stop you from finding who are meant to be with.
Hopefully, with these notes, moving on from a relationship that isn’t meant to be anymore will be an easier process. As Miley wrote “I am proud to say, I am simply in a different place from where I was.” We must take care of ourselves first, during, and last with or without a relationship.