What's The Idea Behind “If You Love Something, Set it Free?”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why Does Please Say Love Someone Set Them Free?

Often, this phrase is one of the ways to cope when a romantic love wants to leave the relationship. If you are not ready for the relationship to end, you can develop an anxious attachment that becomes an insecure attachment disorder. Some people try to replace a person with other things, like food, and you can end up with an eating disorder. Use caution when you start to use unhealthy measures as a coping mechanism.  If you are struggling to let someone go and move on, you should find a therapist who can help you. Many tests therapy studies have conducted that time is the best cure for getting over a relationship.

Is It True If You Love Something Let It Go?

Letting someone you love go if they want to leave is a way to provide freedom to choose to your partner while you work on your own mental health. It is never healthy to hang onto someone who wants to leave the relationship. Anxious attachment or insecure attachment is a common occurrence when a relationship has ended. One way to cope is to find a therapist who can help you understand why the relationship ended and what you can do to begin moving on.

Will True Love Find Its Way Back?

Sometimes, someone would want to leave the relationship, even if there is still love between the two.

While anxious attachment to an ex is common, sometimes people need to separate and make sure that they are ready for a committed relationship.

While the phrase “If you let someone let them go” does occasionally ring true, more often than not, a separation will result in ending the relationship.

It is in your best interest to find a therapist to manage a separation. Just because you feel that there was true love in the relationship and the person will eventually find their way back, you should be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Find a therapist to discuss how you can cope with the realization that your relationship is, in fact, over.

Is Love Letting Go or Holding On?

Relationship attachment styles suggest that anxious attachment keeps people hanging onto something that is over.

If you are not sure if you should let go or hold on, you should find a therapist to discuss what has happened and manage the outcome best.

What Does It Mean If You Love Them Let Them Go?

There is an old saying that “if you love someone, set them free; if they come back to you, it was meant to be.” This phrase means that you should not make or guilt someone into staying in a relationship with you. If love and you are truly meant to be together, you shouldn’t have to force it.

It is often helpful to find a therapist and work through your emotions.

How Do You Say Goodbye to Someone You Love Forever?

While it is hard, you need to let the person who wants to leave the relationship go. Relationships end for a reason and hanging onto something or someone who is not equally vested in the partnership is unhealthy.

Anxious attachment is not a valid reason to stay in a relationship that has run its course.

You can often find a therapist that will help you manage your feelings and come to terms with saying goodbye to a loved one.

Why Is It So Hard to Let Go of Someone You Love?

When you fall in love, you give the relationship everything you have; however, it can be hard to let go of the other person if it falls apart. It is very easy to become dependent on your partner, and when they leave, it can be challenging to cope. If you find a therapist specializing in couples counseling, they can help you find a healthy path to moving on apart.

Should I Let Her Go or Fight for Her?

If your relationship has ended because she is battling an eating disorder, it is best to let her go and find a therapist who will help her through her needs.

People with eating disorders often have anxious attachment disorders where they supplement one addiction for another.

Where did if you love something let it go come from?

In 1969, an educator named Jess Lair published a book titled "I Ain't Much Baby - But I'm All I've Got," which included the sentence "If you want something very, very badly, let it go free. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours, to begin with." This is often cited as the origin of the saying, "If you love something, let it go." Another common phrase about love is, "Love is patient, love is kind," which originates from Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres."

Who said if you love something, let it go?

There are many variations of the phrase, "If you love something, let it go." In addition to the version published by Jess Lair, Douglas Horton is often credited for the saying "if you love something, let it go," with Horton's version of the quote reading: "If you love something, let it go free. If it doesn't come back, you never had it. If it comes back, love it forever."

Can someone leave you if they love you?

Yes, someone can leave you if they love you. Though it's a painful situation to be in, many reasons why a person might have to leave someone they feel is their true love. Even if it's mutual love, the relationship could be unhealthy, or in situations where it's not mutual love, that could be the reason for someone leaving.

Does letting go mean giving up?

In a sense, it can, but not necessarily in a way that's indicative of bitterness. Letting go typically means relinquishing control. When it comes to the saying, "if you love something, let it go" specifically, or when one relates the saying to romantic love, true love marriage, etc., it typically means that someone will no longer force, pleads for, or attach themselves to that romantic love true love marriage, etc. Instead, they'll let things happen, even if the outcome is initially painful and takes some processing. If that true love connection does stick around, that's great, but if it doesn't, they will let it go. This is a healthy mindset, as there are times when a relationship isn't meant to be or when the other person will need space. You can't control the actions of another person, and it won't help to try. In fact, that is likely to push them away further. You can respect their needs and meet yourself with care and compassion as you work to adjust to the situation.

Why is it so hard to let go of someone you love?

There are many reasons why it is so hard to let go of someone you love. If you feel that someone is your true love, you likely have strong feelings for them and see the connection as one that's special, unique, and potentially irreplaceable. That doesn't mean that you can't experience true love again, and possibly, you may experience true love that's far happier or healthier in the future. Instead, it means that you see the connection as special and are currently experiencing fear that you may not find it again. This isn't the only reason it can be hard to let go of a person or relationship. When you love someone, you often share many memories with them, making it hard to let go. You may also be connected to them legally through marriage, but even if this is the case, it's possible to be completely independent of the person. Seeing a counselor or therapist can be incredibly beneficial if you're finding it difficult to let go. Feelings of difficulty are extremely normal and common, but healing is possible.

How do I stop loving someone?

As hard as it may be, it is possible to heal from a relationship where you loved someone deeply, even if that someone was a person you considered to be your true love. The most important first step for many people is to get the person out of their peripheral. Block them on social media and do not continue speaking with them. It's tempting to try to jump into a friendship, but some people need space. With time and space away from them, focus on yourself and think about what you want in your own life, including outside relationships. Some people find it helpful to think about what they want in future relationships or what their non-negotiables will be moving forward in love, love, true love, or otherwise serious connections.

What to do when you love someone but can't be with them?

Even for those with a deep understanding of the sentence, "if you love something, let it go," letting go isn't always easy, especially if you feel that they are your true love. There are a couple of important things to do if you feel that someone is your true love and you're struggling to let go. The first thing is to distance yourself from the person. Block or mute their social media profiles, and do not reach out to the person, no matter how tempting it is. Take some time to give yourself space, and make sure that you are using self-care. Nurture your social relationships, such as those with friends and family, and nurture other areas of your life as well, such as your passions, hobbies, and overall happiness and wellbeing. Consider seeing a therapist or counselor that you can talk to as well. This is advantageous for many people overcoming a situation where you love someone but can't be with them.