“How do I get over a breakup or old crush?”

The sting of rejection that comes with a breakup is painful indeed.  It leaves an empty void in our hearts that’s difficult to fill.  On the one hand, you could try to fill that void with food (not recommended, see “My 600-lb Life”).  On the other hand, you could try to fill that void with true tranquility.

Take some time off from the dating scene.  You’re not a female protagonist in a young adult literature book—your life isn’t defined by your relationships.  Spend time with your friends, brush up on old hobbies, make some spicy memes.

In doing so, not only will you be effectively recovering from heartbreak, but you’ll also be opening yourself up to potential relationships, too!

“How do I get the courage to talk to my crush?”

This is a very ambiguous question, my friend, because “talk” can refer to a lot of things.  For simplicity’s sake, however, let’s approach this question on the premise that “talk” equates to mere conversation.

Granted, the fear of being awkward is daunting indeed.  But if you can’t even talk to your crush on a basic level, how on earth are you going to potentially maintain a relationship with them?

The very first step in your path to (potential) romance should be to interact with your crush and develop a meaningful friendship.  The key word here is “meaningful.”  I’m not talking about impromptu Snap streaks, I’m talking about knowing their meme preferences.  Important stuff, you know?

Just as passion flowers from interest, so too should love flower from friendship.  Go get ‘em, tiger.

“Can you ever escape the friendzone?”

Have you ever watched “The Matrix?” If not, I highly recommend it—not just for its groundbreaking visual effects but also for a particular scene that I think is very relevant to your question.

The scene I’m referring to is none other than that of the “Spoon Boy.”

If you’re unfamiliar, the Spoon Boy is a character who has the ability to miraculously bend spoons with what appears to be telekinesis. Upon the main character, Neo, asking the Spoon Boy how he does so, the child sagely replies, “Do not try and bend the spoon, that’s impossible.  Instead, only try to realize the truth: There is no spoon.  Then you’ll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.”

If you haven’t quite caught on yet, I’ll put it bluntly for you.  Just as there is no spoon, there is no friendzone.

One’s imagination is a powerful force, capable of both bending spoons and fabricating possibilities for love that don’t exist.  Chances are, if you find yourself in the friendzone, there never was (or is) any possibility for something “more.”  But rather than chase that “more” in the form of love, why not just develop your friendship even further?

After all, wouldn’t you rather be close, dependable friends than jilted, not-even lovers?