Relationships have aspirations all their own. We hope to fulfill goals with our partners as well as ourselves, but after a relationship breakup, some of those goals fall by the wayside.
Therefore, we’ve dubbed the “The Relationship Bucket List.” While not everyone saw the bomb that was The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, the idea of plotting the goals and dreams you always hoped to accomplish before you “kick the bucket” stirred up a minor craze. The same concept should apply to the post-relationship-breakup phase ... so if you’re trying to bounce back, take out a pen and paper and get started.
If you planned to take up jogging, sample delectables at a nouveau restaurant, or travel to Myanmar with your significant other, there is no reason you can’t after the relationship has dried up. The list could unearth difficult memories, but also speed up the catharsis and eventually help one bounce back.
A newfound sense of accomplishment and confidence is also a byproduct. After a difficult relationship breakup we have so much extra time on our hands, it’s almost as if we forgot how to live outside of the box on our own. By breaking down all the little and big things we wished we’d seen and done with our ex we can surge on and perhaps rediscover ourselves.
Follow these simple steps to create your own “Relationship Bucket List”:
- Map out a timeline of your past relationship: This can help you plot what events or activities you might’ve missed while you were nurturing your relationship.
- Make a point by point list: List each goal you want to accomplish, and plot them within reason. Take your time fulfilling each one as this should be an adventure, but don’t dawdle as idle time can lead to wandering thoughts about your ex.
- Give yourself credit: After you’ve conquered your fear of heights with a brisk mountain climb, chronicle the thoughts and emotions that ran around your mind before and after your accomplishment. This can bring about a deeper understanding of yourself and maybe your relationship with your ex.
Even before we began our past relationships, we had lofty goals, and those should be addressed as well. The whole point of the list is to remember how capable we are as people and the resiliency of our power to adapt.
Originally published on BounceBack.com
