Uh oh. You did it again. Someone is on your mind as we speak, and it is definitely someone you shouldn’t be thinking about in the way that you are definitely thinking about them. You know exactly what we’re talking about—you’ve caught feelings.
You are not supposed to have romantic feelings for this person and you know it. They don’t feel the same way, and your heart is going to get broken if this continues. You know better.
And yet, here we are.
We understand. We are here to help you. The following are some tips to getting over the “Caught Feelings Blues.”
1. Have you made a playlist yet? We all know music is almost always the answer to everything and that rule of thumb still applies here. You need a playlist of your favorite songs that make you want to dance. These should be anthems that take you to a completely different world, preferably a world where you haven’t caught feelings for someone you shouldn’t have.
2. Distractions, distractions, distractions. Stop thinking about them! This person might be on the forefront of your mind all day and night, but you can put a stop to it. You have to make your brain so busy that it doesn’t have any time to get lost in memories you never got to make. If you love doing something, pick that hobby back up and let yourself become reacquainted with what makes you happy. Surround yourself with friends who love you. Read a new book or watch your favorite film. Rescue some cats from a really tall tree.
3. Remind yourself of the consequences. Sometimes we get so caught up in our feelings, we forget that acting upon them might be detrimental. Reminding yourself that telling your best friend you have feelings for them might ruin your friendship is a good way to keep those thoughts at bay the next time they come up. If you know you’re going to get hurt in the end, give yourself the advantage of not letting it get that far. You owe it to yourself.
4. Take a look in the mirror. Remember that your worth is not defined by those who can or cannot love you. What you see in the mirror is a reflection of who you are both inside and out… If you know you’re smart, embrace that. You’re good at cooking? Make a buffet! You have a dimple in your left cheek? Stick a finger in it and remember that you’re fucking awesome.
5. Tend to your heart and body. If the thought of not being able to be with this person is making you sad, it’s okay to let those feelings out, but do not under any circumstance let it fester. Drink water. Eat your favorite foods. Put on a face mask and listen to that playlist you made in step one.
6. Kick ass. You’re not done being the best version of you, with or without this person. You’re going to be unstoppable, and whoever tries to take that joy away from you is about to meet the end of your self love fist.
7. Repeat. If it takes you a while to get through all of these steps, that’s okay. The heart wants what it wants, but that doesn’t mean it can always have it. Healing takes time. You are more than enough and you will make it out of these “Caught Feelings Blues.”