Running into an Ex Who Broke You

Florence Williamson
3 min readApr 3, 2023

--

man looks at a woman at a speakeasy
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels

You’re out and about, going about your business. All of a sudden, you bump into someone you’d never thought you’d encounter again: your ex who dumped you out of the blue.

Running into an ex that broke up with you is an awkward experience, to say the least.

The experience is a pretty uncomfortable one, especially given the nature of your breakup. The fact that we can’t predict such encounters doesn’t help either. However, it doesn’t have to be an embarrassing one.

You don’t have to look like the loser in this situation. So how do you handle this unsavory situation with poise and dignity?

Take a deep breath by following these fail-proof tips:

#1: Don’t flee the scene

It’s just your ex, not the police!

Running into an ex who dumped you can make anyone want to run for the nearest exit. Why would you want to see someone that broke your heart?

While that feeling is understandable, hiding and fleeing isn’t the best way to face them. Keep your dignity by fighting that urge. You can’t tell when your encounters will happen anyway, so you might as well brace yourself for them.

#2: Don’t act like they’re a stranger

It’s tempting to snub an ex in public. Many of us have been there — in fact, some of us have done just that!

However, it isn’t a bright idea. It’s a petty move and it just gives you a bad look. It’s as if you haven’t gotten over them in the first place. That’s not the vibe you want to give off, yes? You don’t want to come across as a childish person.

#3: Maintain politeness

At this point, you’ve (ideally) moved on from your breakup. It’s in the past for a reason! Your ex’s present actions shouldn’t affect you anymore because they’re no longer in your life.

So be the bigger person and be kind. Don’t bring up your history because that is just asking for trouble. But it won’t hurt anyone to exchange pleasantries.

If you’re up for it, you can even ask your ex how they are. This shows them that they no longer have power over you.

#4: Don’t get physical

Running into an ex who hurt you leaves a person off-guard. If you can sense their desire for physical contact, skirt that. Try to keep some distance between you to firmly establish boundaries. This will save you from landing in compromising situations.

#5: Keep things short

Bumping into an ex isn’t an opportunity to catch up with them. Keep the small talk brief and dodge every opening at irrelevant conversations. A simple “hello” is enough, so just stick to that and move on with the rest of your day.

#6: Up your confidence

Running into an ex who broke off your relationship can make you relive your breakup. However, don’t use them as an excuse for throwing a pity party for yourself. The fact that they dumped you is their loss, and you deserve someone much better than them. Don’t let your ex break your confidence.

Running into an ex who ended things with you shouldn’t be an experience from hell. Just relax and remain calm. This entry should help you prepare for that.

--

--