Let's face it: breakups are often painful, no matter how a relationship ends. But the best way to part is to do it respectfully, so that there are no loose ends, unresolved conflicts, or feelings. Without proper closure, a sudden end can take an extreme toll on either party, which can then negatively influence the way they perceive themselves as they enter subsequent relationships.
As you'll see, breakups are never easy, but using the methods listed here will only hurt someone even more. Instead of choosing the path of least resistance, try putting yourself in the other person's shoes before cutting off a relationship abruptly.
Through Text
Unfortunately, most people choose to break up over text. That's no surprise—without needing to face the person directly, you won't need to deal with the emotions you might experience when seeing their reaction, and that can allow you to be more honest and blunt.
But text breakups are incredibly cowardly, especially if you're ending a serious, long-term relationship. It shows that you don't care enough about the other person to be honest and open with them face-to-face, and you'd rather hide behind a screen to get your true emotions across. If you're planning or you've made up your decision to part, make sure to do it in person; this will give you and your partner a chance to have a real conversation before things end for good.
"Ghosting" Them
Ghosting someone means you're abruptly cutting off all communication without explaining why. This is worse than breaking up over text; with ghosting, you never even give the other person a reason for why you've suddenly vanished. One day you're there, and the next you're gone.
It goes without saying that ghosting can cause severe emotional distress. Because you're denying the other person a clean, clear explanation, they have to forever live on wondering what happened and what went wrong. Not getting closure can ruin their self-esteem and the way they form relationships with others in the long run.
Blame Game
Face-to-face breakups are better because they give both parties a chance to have an honest conversation, but it's one thing to have a mature chat and another thing to play the blame game. In the latter, you pin everything on the other person, painting them responsible for all the arguments, conflicts, and mishaps in the relationship.
But this is unfair. No one is completely blameless and innocent in a relationship; a relationship is a two-way street, after all, and both sides share responsibility. A better approach would be to encourage healthy reflection so that either person can understand what went wrong and how they might need to change their habits, so they can grow from their mistakes. Otherwise, placing unnecessary blame or nitpicking flaws can be cruel and unconstructive.
The next time you need to break up with someone, make sure to let them go respectfully. Breakups are painful and uncomfortable by nature, but that doesn't mean you should make things worse by doing any of the above. Remember: kindness, honesty, and empathy go a long way, and you'll be much more glad you handled things maturely in the long run.
