#397: How to Know When It’s Time to Leave a Job or a Relationship

Sacred Pause

Mark Groves introduces the concept of a 'sacred pause' in relationships, emphasizing the importance of intentional time apart for individual growth. He explains that a true sacred pause requires clear agreements on the terms of the separation, such as whether to see other people or focus solely on personal development 1. Without these agreements, the pause may simply perpetuate existing patterns of hope and attachment, especially for those with anxious tendencies 2.

This is the most important aspect of ending a relationship. If someone leaves you or you leave them, you must end it. It must be over.

--- Mark Groves

Mark stresses that living as if the relationship is truly over is crucial for breaking free from these patterns and fostering genuine personal growth.

   

Toxic Patterns

Ending toxic patterns in relationships often requires a conscious decision to redefine or end the relationship. Mark discusses the difficulty of leaving toxic cycles, especially when influenced by inherited relational patterns from family 3. He highlights the importance of recognizing when a relationship has reached its tipping point, where the accumulated tension and conflict may necessitate dissolution 4.

When we finally get tired of a pattern, that's when things change sometimes.

--- Mark Groves

Mark encourages listeners to consider the concept of "divorcing the old way of being" to create space for healthier dynamics, whether that means staying together with new boundaries or parting ways.