blueTeacup

Thank you so much. Something clicked: so I can still love, even in a romantic way And yes, I had become involved in the story: me dropping the illusion, oh isn't that advanced It seems so funny now.

Thank you Nham. I am not sure I understood what you mean. I do not think this relationship in particular is important. It would have happened anyway.

Thank you Echoes. Any idea on why the pain is being felt, then ( by me :)?

I read something in a book by Byron Katie ( her inquiry is worth trying): "Every thought is already over. This is grace" Feel the emotion. Find the thought behind it. See it for what it is ( just a thought). Accept its existence, don' believe it, let it go. The emotion will subside.

Hi everybody, Has anyone here given up the illusion of romantic love as a source of nourishment in daily life? (not as a source of happiness, that much is clear). Being exposed to images of couples, love songs etc. activates a well of pain – my own and the one that I project for the people in question. The sight of my partner is painful - all is well between us but it triggers memories of all the disappointments, of the painful letting go of all the self induced illusions. And in general – what do you put in place of an abandoned illusion when its absence hurts?