Unfortunately, love is not all it takes to make a relationship work. Many other factors have to be aligned so the relationship can flourish. So what do you do when it just doesn’t work? When the love is still there, but a relationship is simply not the answer.

It makes sense that, when you come to a bump in the road in your relationship, you would go to Google or a blog to seek out the correct answer. But everything you need to know lies inside your own body. It’s what I call your inner compass.

It can be really hard to see your ex move on first, especially if you’re still heartbroken from the breakup and you’re holding on to hope of getting back together or having a friendship.

After talking to countless people about their breakups, I’ve created a list of tools you can use so you don’t have to suffer in silence like I did. As a rule of thumb with all my advice, take what you want and leave the rest. Some of these tips will resonate with you, others won’t. You are the author of your post-breakup journey. Take the pen and create a future that works for you.

One of my favorite assignments to give to my recently heartbroken friends (aka YOU) is: take yourself on a date. Because you are a whole lot of freakin’ fun, sister. So why would you hoard all that magic for other people and deprive yourself of it?

You have a friend going through a breakup, and you’re searching the internet high and low for a way to help her through this painful time. Here’s how you can be a powerful support system for her.