You have a great relationship. You love your significant other and although you’ve said this many times before, you’re sure that he or she is the absolute one for you. Then, the inevitable happens, and you break up. What do you do now? Whether you’ve invested 6 months or 6 years into a relationship, dealing with a break up isn’t easy.

Another important step after a break up is to make the best of it. I know that seems hard to do when you’re hurting, but try to see the bright side. You’re single. You now have all the time in the world to focus on yourself and sometimes, that is much needed. Take this time to reevaluate yourself, your goals, dreams, etc. Have you lost sight of those things in while you were in a relationship? Now’s the time to bounce back and become a better you.

This next step may be the most difficult of all, but it’s also important. Rebound. Granted, you may not be open to the concept of dating after a week or even months after your breakup, but don’t shut out the idea completely. Allow your heart to heal, but don’t put a time limit on when you’ll be ready to love again. There’s no golden rule that says you have to wait X amount of days before you can date someone new. Just keep your heart open and know that you can and will find love eventually.

If you’re going through a break up, remember that it’s not the end of the world. It takes time and baby steps to get through it, especially if it was a bad separation. Keep these steps in mind and don’t give up hope.