What Helped Woman Get Back With Ex After She'd 'Fully Moved On' From Split

A woman has gone viral after revealing the difficult journey she took from breaking up with her partner to getting back together six months later. Now, she's told Newsweek about her tips for a healthy reconciliation.

Embodiment coach Natalie Annandale, 32, regularly shares relationship advice on social media (@iamnatalieanna on TikTok) to help guide other women through the highs and lows of love. She certainly isn't afraid to make it personal as she recently discussed how she and her partner Warren split up in June 2023.

The couple was separated for six months, and she thought she'd "fully moved on" before they eventually decided to reconcile, which took plenty of work and communication.

Annandale, from Cape Town, South Africa, told Newsweek that she "felt closed off" when they reunited, but there was still an underlying sense of safety, and it felt right to "trust [her] body's wisdom."

Now that they're happily together again, Annandale has shared her advice to help others know if reconciliation is right for them and how to navigate the difficult period.

She said: "What I needed to consider before getting back together was, am I choosing this person because it's familiar or is this someone whose values align with mine and I can see myself building a life with? Are we in a place now to meet each other's needs fully, and are we both willing to put in the effort to do the work necessary to rebuild?

"There are so many difficulties that may arise, especially old patterns of behavior, fear from the past, or mismanaged expectations. But any couple can overcome these if they are willing to do the work to heal old wounds."

Annandale says this won't work for everyone, as her advice is predominantly aimed at people in "a reasonable place of stability." In situations where there's been infidelity, mental illness, or trauma, it can be much harder to rebuild and gain confidence again.

"Every dynamic is unique and will have its own nuances," she said. "Sometimes love is not enough, and sometimes it's not healthy either. It's important to understand why you want to be with this person again, other than still loving them."

Reconciliation worked well for Annandale, but that was only possible because she took time to focus on herself outside of her love life. She insists that first and foremost, people must build a relationship with themselves before they can expect to form one with someone else.

"Deepening one's self-awareness is crucial, and you can get outside support if you feel it's needed. Work with a therapist or coach, read books, listen to podcasts, and educate yourself in whatever way necessary to grow as an individual and as a couple," she said.

By following her advice and taking a "leap of faith," the couple built a strong connection and worked hard at their relationship, which they will never take for granted.

Since Annandale posted about her personal experience on TikTok in March, the post has gone viral with more than 1 million views and over 126,000 likes.

"The post went completely bananas, which I did not expect. I was overwhelmed by all the comments and messages from people sharing their hearts," Annandale told Newsweek.

"Your relationships will be your greatest spiritual teacher as they often reflect the parts of yourself which need growth. This can be incredibly confronting, but if you find someone who is willing to go into the depths with you, then that is something worth holding onto."

With over 1,200 comments on the TikTok video so far, many social media users thanked Annandale for sharing her wise words.

One comment reads: "This! We didn't meet the right person at the wrong time. We didn't have the tools to do it right the first time. Get the tools to do it right."

Another person wrote: "Manifest this happen to us asap."

A TikToker commented: "But this only works if both parties are actually willing to communicate and try to fix things."

Correction 05/14/24, 6:17 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct the timeline of events.

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