Albert Schweitzer famously said: “If you love something so much let it go. If it comes back it was meant to be; if it doesn't. it never was.” 

I believe he meant by that: don’t strangle what you love by trying to control it.  And that is

absolutely true.  Let go, breathe, and give it time.  Don’t hang on with a death grip. You don’t

need to be with anyone who doesn’t want you. Find others who do want you, or focus on

valuing yourself.

In a new relationship, letting go and allowing whatever will happen gives you a chance to see

how interested the other person is.  You can figure out your timing with each other, if you know

how often the other person wants to make contact, or wants to get together. Letting go a little

stops you from being the one to make all the moves. Wait for a phone call or invitation from

your date or partner, then make a similar offer. Over a short period of time, you will be able to

see how interested they are.

This is not ghosting. Don’t just drop contact and refuse to answer them; just give them a little

space to put their two cents (their offer of energy) in, then respond with yours. Be friendly, be

gracious, accept invitations gladly, but don’t let it all be one-sided.

When you let a relationship go, can you really let go of someone you truly love?

It’s not always easy to let go of someone you care deeply about, but if you want to be sure they

care equally about you, letting go is essential. Whenever anyone asks you for space, give them

more than they asked for, without a struggle. They will come back sooner if you don’t make

them fight to get space from you.

When you let go, do they ever come back?

Oh, yes. People come back. Even people you don’t want to see again come back.  Exes come

back, estranged family members come back; old friends come back.  One of the 12 steps of

Alcoholics Anonymous is to go back and make amends with people you hurt.  People need

closure, they need to be forgiven, they need to forgive.  They will come back sooner, or never

leave, if you give them room to be and do whatever works for them. If they feel you are

demanding something, they will retreat. If they feel you are graciously waiting for an invitation,

they will be more likely to respond. They will come back unless you slam doors or are too

needy. Maintain respect, and you’ll get the most you can from each person in your life.

Adapted from: How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free 4th Edition