I Don’t Think I Can Move On

Will you find something better?

Will you be alone?

Will you ever feel that kind of happiness again?

These questions swirl in your head like a tornado, leaving you disoriented and unsure of how to take the first step forward.

The mind is a powerful thing, and when you’re hurt, it loves to torture you with the “what ifs.”

What if I had done things differently?

What if I had tried harder?

What if I had been enough?

The problem with “what if” is that it keeps you anchored to a past that can’t be changed.

It’s like trying to rewrite a story that’s already been written.

The only way to move forward is to accept that some stories don’t have a happy ending, but that doesn’t mean your overall journey has to be defined by that one chapter.

How Can I Start to Move On?

If you’re reading this, it means you’re already taking the first step.

Acknowledging that you’re stuck is brave, and that’s something to be proud of.

The first mistake most of us make is trying to suppress our emotions.

We tell ourselves to “get over it” or “toughen up,” thinking that ignoring the pain will make it go away.

The only way out of grief, anger, or sadness is through it.

You have to feel it, sit with it, and let it wash over you.

I remember trying to “stay strong” after a breakup, thinking that crying would make me weak.

But one day, I finally let myself sob—really sob—for hours.

And you know what? I survived.

In fact, I felt lighter afterward.

It wasn’t the end of the world, and it didn’t mean I wasn’t healing.

It just meant I was human.

Cry, scream, write in a journal, or talk to a friend.

Whatever you need to do, do it.

Grief isn’t just for death.

It’s for the end of anything that mattered to you.

Grief has to have an endpoint.

You can’t stay in the mourning phase forever.

I’m not saying set a timer or give yourself a deadline.

Everyone grieves differently, and there’s no “right” amount of time.

What I am saying is this: at some point, you have to start asking yourself if the grief is serving you or holding you back.

When you’re ready, gently push yourself to start envisioning a future that doesn’t center around the pain.

Focus on What You Can Control

One of the hardest parts of moving on is feeling powerless.

You can’t change the past, and you can’t control how others behave.

What you can control is how you respond to it and how you take care of yourself.

Start small.

Take care of your body—eat, sleep, move, and hydrate.

I know it sounds basic, but when you’re in a dark place, these small acts of self-care can feel like winning the first prize.

But trust me, they matter.

When you take care of your physical health, you’re sending your mind a message: I am worth it, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

A new environment, a new hobby, or even a new playlist can help you break free from the pattern of sadness.

For me, it was picking up a paintbrush after years of not creating art.

At first, it felt forced, but slowly, it became a way to express emotions I couldn’t put into words.

It wasn’t about creating a masterpiece; it was about creating something new, something that had nothing to do with the pain I was trying to escape.

Find your thing—whether it’s cooking, hiking, reading, or dancing—and let it become your escape.

When you’re hurting, it’s easy to isolate yourself.

You might feel like no one understands or that you’re a burden.

But the truth is, the people who love you want to help, even if they don’t know how.

Don’t be afraid to reach out.

And if you’re not ready to talk, that’s okay too.

Just knowing that you’re not alone can make a difference.

What If I’m Still Not Ready?

If you’re reading this and still feel stuck, that’s okay.

Healing isn’t linear, and it’s not a race.

Some days, you’ll feel like you’re moving forward, and others, you’ll feel like you’re taking two steps back.

That’s normal.

The important thing is to be patient with yourself.

You wouldn’t expect a broken bone to heal overnight, so why expect your heart to?

Give yourself time, and remind yourself that every small step counts.

Final Thoughts: You Are Stronger Than You Think

If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing when I was stuck, it would be this: You are stronger than you think.

You’ve survived every difficult moment in your life so far, and you can keep doing it.

Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting, and it doesn’t mean the pain will disappear completely.

But it does mean that you’ll learn to live with it in a way that doesn’t control you.

So, take a deep breath.

Let yourself feel the weight of what’s holding you back, and then, when you’re ready, take the first step forward.

It might be shaky, and it might be scary, but I promise you this: the view from the other side is worth it.