10 MANTRAMAGAZINE.COM
YOU JUST BROKE UP
Breakups are hard; what’s even
harder, though, is imagining the day
you’ll be okay. But what if we turned
that narrative around and processed
breakups through cathartic staging
areas where positivity reigns and your
body, mind and soul blossom.What if you focused on you, on what
makes you stronger. Here are some
ideas on how to make that happen.FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES YOU STRONGER
CATERINA SALVATORI
INSTAGRAM: @snowcappedcatVOICE YOUR EMOTIONS
It’ ll help you own them and alleviate
self-blame. The worst breakup I had
was with Mr. String-along. I thought we
were on the same path, but it turns out
we weren’t. I was embarrassed, to say
the least—how did I let it go on for
so long? When a friend asked me to
say the first thing that came to mind,
I cried, “I feel ashamed.” Almost
instantly, I felt less shame. When I
shared my supposed embarrassment,
the sting of humiliation lifted.INDULGE IN SELF-CARE
Book a series of massages. The right
massage therapist can help you
release the buildup of tension and
anxiety, and improve your overall
mental health. The mind-body
connection is strong. To keep good
feelings going, Allison recommends
completing a body scan of all your
senses: “Soak in the moment
and reconnect to it later during
harder times.”BELIEVE
YOU’RE THE
CREATOR
OF YOUR
HAPPINESS
There’s a lot of beauty in
being in a relationship,
but there’s also a lot of
compromise, so take this
time to reconnect with
what gives you joy and
create a positive, healing
movement that’s always
there when you need it.GO OUTSIDE
Nature is the soul’s elixir; it’s
a great way to reduce stress
and curtail negative thinking.
Don’t rush your healing.
Gretchen Reynolds offers,
“Time needs to pass to allow
the healing process to unfold
naturally; don’t force it. Trust
that with time, you’ll heal.”
Basically, when you’re many
iterations deep into finding
yourself rather than fighting
yourself, you’ll remember
your value is not wrapped
up in your relationship, nor
in the other person, but with
yourself.BUILD A COMMUNITY
Build a healing community of cheerleaders who’ll help
you unpack your thoughts and feelings. Registered
psychotherapist Allison Villa suggests, “You’re at your
most vulnerable as you move through the different
stages of grief; now is the time to rally your support
system.” Be discerning; pick people who heed different
aspects of your life and who will be available when
you send that inevitable 2 a.m. text, especially that
one lovingly blunt confidant who keeps it real.How To Help Yourself
After A Breakup
Caterina Salvatori, a freelance writer and storyteller, recently logged over a thousand miles hiking around Paris and the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.10 MANTRAMAGAZINE.COM