The Psychology of your 20s

128. When it's time to walk away from a relationship

Sep 22, 2023

Navigating the tough decision to end a relationship can be a heart-wrenching process, especially in your 20s. Discover the five key signs it's time to walk away, including the impact of emotional intuition and the Reciprocity Principle. The conversation dives into the biological factors influencing these decisions, like the roles of dopamine and serotonin. Listeners reflect on self-worth, the fear of loneliness, and the importance of prioritizing personal happiness over obligation. Ultimately, it’s about being true to yourself and recognizing when a relationship isn’t adding to your life.

38:55

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Quick takeaways

Recognizing valid reasons for ending a relationship, such as lack of love or connection, growing apart, and constant fighting.

Overcoming psychological barriers like the fear of the unknown, fear of change, and fear of loneliness to prioritize personal happiness in relationships.

Deep dives

Significance of the Hyundai Ionic lineup as a sponsor at the IHeart Radio Music Festival

Hyundai features their all-electric Hyundai Ionic lineup as a proud sponsor of the IHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas, with two high-tech models. The Ionic 5 can take you an EPA-estimated 303 miles on a single charge, and has available two-way charging for electronic equipment inside and outside the car. The Ionic 6 boasts a mind-blowing range of up to 360 miles, and can deliver up to an 80% charge in just 18 minutes with its 800-volt DC ultra-fast charger.

Understanding the Fatal Attraction Theory in Relationships

02:02

The Importance of Intuition

03:10

Intro

2min

Navigating the Difficult Decision to End a Relationship

7min

Navigating Relationships: Trusting Your Instincts

5min

Understanding When to Let Go of a Relationship

5min

Recognizing When to Walk Away from a Relationship

15min

Navigating the Difficulties of Ending a Relationship

10min

Recognizing When to Leave a Relationship

2min

One of the hardest dilemmas we have to face is when it's time to walk away from someone you still love because you know the relationship isn’t right for you. We can often find ourselves stuck in a constant battle between knowing what is right, and what our heart wants us to do. In this episode we break down the five key signs its time to walk away, particularly for those of us in our 20s, and why these reasons matter the most, exploring ideas of:

Fatal Attraction Theory
The biology behind our 'gut instinct'
The Reciprocity Principle
Equity Theory
Sunk costs
Expectant thinking
Fear of being lonely or of the unknown

We also explore why we find it so difficult, the reasons that hold us back, including as the stigma around being the one to initiate the breakup and feeling like a failure for your relationship not working out.

You should not be with someone who is not adding to your life in your 20s. This is your time to be your own person, to prioritise exactly what is going to make YOU happy, not stay out of obligation or because of fear, family pressure or expectations. Is this the life you want, with this person? Are they making you the best version of yourself? Are they making you happy? Why don’t you deserve someone who does, even if it takes a while and is a bit scary.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThePsychologyofyour20s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/

Resources:

https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/helplines/

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm

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