How to Let Go: Learning to Deal with Loss

• Sadness occurs when something feels bad. 
• Depression occurs when something feels meaningless. 

When something feels bad, at least it has meaning. In depression, everything becomes a big blank void. 

• The healthy response to loss is to slowly construct new relationships and bring new meaning into one’s life.
• The unhealthy response to loss is to refuse to accept it. It’s to cling to the past and desperately try to recover it or relive it in some way. 

• A toxic relationship: people are emotionally dependent on each other -  they use drama and use each other for the approval and respect they are unable to give themselves.
• A healthy relationship: people are emotionally interdependent with each other -  they approve of and respect each other because they approve of and respect themselves.

• Understand that our memories lie to us and convince us that everything was awesome in the past.
• Surround yourself with people who love and appreciate you for who you are.
• Invest in your relationship with yourself and do whatever you want.