How to Break Up with a Friend

Your mind has been made up and no one can change it. You are ready to soar pass the past and leave a friend behind. No one said it will be easy, and you are grown up enough to know that life is full of hardships. So the best thing to do is break up with your friend and move on with your life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Mentally prepare yourself for the day and time. Whether breaking up over the phone, email, in person or third party, take a moment to mentally prepare yourself for the official deadline. Gather your thoughts and your emotions.
2. Accept the fact that you are about to break up a friendship. No one said this will be a joyous occasion. Your reasons may be simple or much more complex than even you understand. This is why you should accept this break up and move forward from there.
3. Ask your friend if they have any grievances before expressing yours. This is a good way of resolving your innermost issues, if you believe your friend has a problem with you. Many times we tend to neglect the other person’s feelings and want to break up on a whim. Instead of being cold and mean, ask them if they have any thing they want to get off their chest.
4. Use examples to prove your point. Take a deep breath and tell your friend the exact reason for the breakup. If your friend is unbearable, a liar, a cheat or a manipulative person, now is the time to tell them. Give them examples of the behavior or attitudes they possess that lead you to want to end the friendship.
5. Give yourself time to grieve. Making a decision to break up is hard. Take a few days to reminisce about the person and the reasons that lead to the breakup, once it is official. You may realize that no matter how sad you are at the moment, it was necessary for your personal development.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your listening ears tuned in. Believe it or not, you may not be the only person who wants to end the friendship. Listen closely to what your friend has to say. They may express the same thoughts as yourself.
• It is alright to cry.
• Practice breathing techniques when communicating.
• Never do anything self-destructive (i.e. getting drunk, speeding, etc.).
• Be prepared for a screaming match to ensue. This is not uncommon when breaking up with a lover or a close friend.
• Please note that there may be backlash with mutual friends.