4 Ways to Deal with a Broken Engagement

Ending an engagement is different from a regular breakup. You and your ex-partner had planned to spend the rest of your lives together. Maybe you had started planning the wedding, finding a home, and thinking about children or pets. Whether it was you or your ex that called the engagement off, there is no doubt that this is a challenging time.

However, there are practical steps that you can take to heal your emotional wounds and start working to put this behind you. Keep reading to learn our top 4 ways to cope with a broken engagement and navigate your new life:

1. Let go of the past
2. Build a support system
3. Focus on building your best self
4. Be financially prepared

 

1. Let Go of the Past

Ending an engagement can have you shift between emotions like sadness, anger, disbelief, embarrassment or guilt. It is important to first give yourself time to recover from the initial shock and grief about the relationship. Then you need to free yourself from the past and move on. One of the most important steps is to begin to accept what has happened. Accept that for whatever reasons, your relationship did not work out and that that chapter of your life has ended. Divorce lawyer Karen R. Guthrie wrote that broken relationships “only hurt for a little while and you have complete control over how much someone can hurt you.”

The first few months will be the most difficult, and the earlier you let go of the past, the easier the healing process will be. Start by getting rid of anything that reminds you of the failed relationship and immediately cut off contact with your ex-partner. Other than to sort out practical decisions (financial, accommodation, wedding related etc.), maintaining unnecessary contact will not be doing you any favors. Even if your ex is sending you nasty messages, be the bigger person and ignore them. Delete their phone number to get rid of any possible temptations in the future. Clean up your social media by unfollowing your ex and delete any posts that relate to them.

No matter how many scenarios you think of, you can’t go back and change the past. Avoid yourself this pain and frustration by moving on.

 

2. Build a Support System

Build a support system to help you best navigate this stressful time. Ending an engagement can leave you feeling isolated and depressed. Surround yourself with people who love you, not those who just want to pester you for details and gossip. Now you can make time for friends you were too busy to be with before and to reconnect with old friends.

If you know someone who has been through a broken engagement or a divorce, ask them what resources helped them the most. There are many support groups and online communities that you can join to be with others in your situation. You can also meet with a licensed therapist who can unbiasedly listen to your issues, offer advice, and provide you with tailored resources.

 

3. Focus on Building Your Best Self

Use your newfound freedom to develop yourself. Now you can do what you want, when you want, without having to worry about accommodating to a partner.  Think about your short term and long term goals and how you can achieve them. These goals can be as little as learning new recipes to as big finishing higher education. Why not consider:

• Self-Care

This is the best time to practice self-care. Take long guilt free baths, get a manicure at your favorite salon, indulge in a massage and binge a TV show you’ve been meaning to watch.

• Take a Class

By keeping yourself busy, you will be helping yourself live a fuller life and get to meet new people. There are so many classes you can take in person or online such as French lessons, sewing, pottery or building a website.

• Exercise

Join a gym and enjoy natural boosts of serotonin, endorphins and confidence. If gyms are not for you, there are tons of unique fitness classes you can take like cycling, vinyasa yoga and extreme jump rope.

• Be Creative

Creative activities such as painting, poetry and music are powerful healing tools. Writing can also be a very cathartic exercise.

• Volunteer

Give your free time to noble causes like animal rescues, mentoring children, running food drives and seeing how else you can give back to your community.

Do not be afraid to do something out of your comfort zone. Your future holds endless possibilities and now you can achieve what you could not from your previous marriage.

 

 

4. Be Financially Prepared

No one wants to be concerned with finances during such a difficult time, however they are important to take into consideration. You will need to reassess your finances, especially if you shared them with your ex. Consider where you expenses are going such as debt, rent, and any money that might have been put towards the wedding.

If you are still in possession of the engagement ring, jewelry or watches from your ex-partner, considering selling them. If you and your ex cannot agree on who gets to keep the engagement ring, contact a divorce or family lawyer in your state. The laws for who is entitled to the ring vary state by state, so meeting with a lawyer when unsure is your best option.

 

How to sell the engagement ring for the best price

At WP Diamonds, we provide honest and competitive prices for engagement rings, jewelry, and luxury watches. Our GIA certified experts will guide you through a quick, safe, and easy process where you can get funds in as little as 24 hours. Sell the engagement ring online or via appointment with WP Diamonds in as little as 24 hours.

You can trust our A+ rating from the BBB and reviews from hundreds of satisfied customers. If you want to learn how much your engagement ring and other valuables are worth simply fill out our online form and get a free price quote. You can also call or text our GIA certified experts at 646-758-0270 to get a quote today.