6. “The breakup taught him a lesson, so he’ll change!”

6. “The breakup taught him a lesson, so he’ll change!”

The grieving period after a breakup is often prolonged by periods of self-doubt. It’s a lot harder to move on when you keep second-guessing your decision – did I not give him enough of a chance? Will the breakup “teach him a lesson” so that it’ll work the second time around? If he’s shown a change in character or lifestyle independent of your relationship – for example, if he had an alcohol problem before but has since got to rehab and maintained sobriety for years – maybe it could work. But if he’s desperately trying to win you back, without actually working on himself as a person, then forget it.