The Good in Goodbye: Embracing the Art of Letting Go

Someone once said, "Sometimes you have to cut off the dead branches in order to let the healthy ones flourish."

Have you ever been in a situation where the other person brought out your worst qualities? Or someone who exhausts your emotional energy, manipulates you, undermines your worth, deceives you, or causes you to doubt your value and dignity? Maybe this is the moment you've been waiting to cut ties with unworthy individuals or, at the very least, prioritize your self-worth.

For what reason have these individuals persisted in your life up to this point? It could be because of the special bond you share, the meaningful moments you've experienced together, the cherished memories you've created, the familial ties you have, or perhaps your love for them is so strong that it clouded your judgment.

Handling a toxic person can be an incredibly challenging situation to deal with. Things will get trickier when that person has been a part of your life for a long time—whether as a partner, a close friend, or someone you have trusted. Now, the critical question is: how do you know when to stop connecting with that individual?

There’s a good in goodbye

In a personal experience, disrespect becomes evident, and it signifies an unhealthy dynamic in our relationship. It can be incredibly frustrating when you've established boundaries only to have them completely ignored. Despite your efforts to empathize with their perspective, they don't seem to consider your feelings. It's upsetting to constantly feel down by their actions. You can end this unfavorable behavior and situation, and it's never too late to turn things around.

Choosing to cut ties with loved ones is never a picnic. There's the trauma bond and the continual questioning of whether you're making the right decision. Considering the benefits of cutting off people—the unparalleled comfort and priceless sensation—you will quickly realize that these negative emotions are transitory.

Importantly, just because you break off contact with someone doesn't mean you're the bad guy. It simply implies that you genuinely hope for happiness, growth, and fulfillment for both of you. However, there are also other implications—for a person to fully understand the potential consequences of their actions and take the opportunity to self-reflect and make positive changes.

Letting go is self-care

Cutting off individuals is never easy, especially when you see them again.

"I didn't pay much attention to them. After four years, the annoyance and disappointment remained, but I was taken aback because I wondered if I was wrong because of what I did or if it was just right so they knew that this time, I would not forget what they did so quickly,” Breanna Enriquez explained after seeing her two cousins again.

Furthermore, she felt the warring anger and guilt of missing them, especially the happy moments she made with those people. However, she is unsure if she can forgive them, since they are no longer in contact.

Meanwhile, for Rachel Buyco, cutting off people will naturally make her feel happy and sad — happy because her heart is relieved that she doesn't need to think about pleasing that person, but at the same time, it is something that also made her sad since she will miss the memories.

Being in a toxic relationship may adversely affect your mental health. Being subjected to it can make a person feel constantly on edge, causing them to overanalyze the situation and potentially lose themselves. If they stay, they will struggle to develop healthy relationships in the future as they become trapped in their familiar situations.

“In my experience, I learned to get to know the individual first and not to be overly trustworthy because cutting off someone is difficult, especially if you have grown close. I learned that they will not always be a part of your life, which is fine because they may only be there to help you become who you are today," Rachel expressed.

So, despite your current challenges, it's important to maintain faith in the worthiness of a fulfilling and nurturing relationship. If cutting off ties with people in your life is necessary for your well-being, then take that step. Always remember that you are capable of building and experiencing a healthy relationship.