1. Identify the situation: It’s always easier to chart it out when you are counseling a friend. You tend to see matters in black and white. However, when it comes to your own life, you are surprised with the amount of grey areas that are present. One of the first things to do is to sit down, analyze, and identify the whole situation.2. Who do you like better? The question is simple but the answer may not necessarily be that way. It’s tough. Come on, we understand. But you have to ask yourself this question. Not once, not twice but as many times as possible until your heart agrees that the answer is indeed right and truthful. 3. Consider your options:Plan A isn’t working out, plan B failed miserably, so what are your other options? It’s very important to play out the possible different scenarios in your mind. Having a good imagination always helps while doing something like this. But even if you don’t have one, you should be able to think about your options in an unbiased way.4. Is there a real connection Often, our eyes see what we want to see, ears hear what we think is right. Don’t get carried away by what your heart desires. Do a reality check. Find out for sure if there is any connection at all between you two, a real connection. There will be clues to figure this out, so go find them. That takes me to the next point – to ask your friends. 5. Ask your friends Sometimes we overlook certain facts because we are ‘blinded’ by love and other feelings which are hard to ascertain. That’s when good friends pitch in. A third person who isn’t biased and isn’t involved in the triangle can help you figure out if they see any real connection between you two, or if you must really continue forward or simply drop the matter. Talking to your friends would help in this instance. 6. Understand the other person’s feelings:Whatever the other person’s decision is, you must learn to accept and respect it. Try to understand why they are doing that. What the reasons are, how they feel or think about it, how they might have taken that decision, so on and so forth. Think about their rationale and give them the space to make their decision.7. Be true to yourself and the other person Sometimes, you feel obligated or you simply feel bad to say NO. By simply committing to something you don’t support 100 percent or feel strongly about, you’d be cheating yourself and the other person. So, be truthful about your feelings; say it as it is. Often, people have turned their lives into a miserable hell only because they couldn’t express their true feelings. You need to speak up and speak out. 8. Talk about it Don’t bottle up your feelings until a point that someone has to crack you open to find out what’s really inside. Talk about how you feel, talk to the person involved. Talking is one of the best ways on how to deal with a love triangle, and one of the mature ways too! Often, people hesitate to talk about things and simply hold onto their real emotions. 9. Think of the repercussions:It’s hard to think of how a decision can impact things or lives. But you need to mentally prepare yourself for every scenario, good or bad. Think of the after effects of your decision. Does it, in fact, benefit anyone? Does someone have to sacrifice their happiness? Is it at the cost of you being unhappy? Think thoroughly of the repercussions a decision can have on people around you, and on you, obviously! 10. Acceptance No matter who you choose or who wins the jackpot, accept it gracefully. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Don’t be a baby and sulk over it. When you begin to accept the truth, life becomes easier to live. Start with yourself, accept yourself and then move onto others. 11. Take care of yourself Don’t forget to live life as you go. Chasing something that is unattainable can be fascinating in the beginning. It could also become an obsession and could take a toll on your mental health. Don’t let anything affect you too much. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/keon-jaskolski/support