“The spark behind glow ups are usually broken hearts,” a Tumblr post once said.

It’s true, isn’t it?

Being dumped may shatter one’s self-esteem, but the heightened insecurity begets the positive: green smoothies, a well-documented #Fitspo journey on Instagram, and a brand new bangin’ body that renders an ex into a salivating sucker and the “next” into the luckiest man in the world.

Molding your body into a fitness goddess, though, isn’t the only way to make your ex rue the day he left you. Here are some other ways you can have your past begging to be a part of your future:

1. Be Ubiquitous in Your Accomplishments

Be ubiquitously successful to a point where your ex can’t escape your presence. Here’s an example – become the newest cast member on his favorite Netflix series. Not only does your ex have to deal your familiar face being splashed all over TV and magazines as a rising star, he can’t even find solace in his own sitcom sanctuary because, damnit, you’re there, too! You’re everywhere.

Muhahaha.

2. Motivation, Movement, and Momentum!

All that precious time you were wasting smoochin’ up on your ex can now be put towards more fruitful endeavors. Whip out those business plans that were collecting dust on the shelf, crack open a book and learn a new language, go on a trip to all the countries your ex didn’t want to visit. Do all the stuff that you’ve always wanted to do – go, go, go!

Show ‘em he was a hindrance to your success and you’ve finally broken free of his clutches. Maybe your ex will hear about your new entrepreneurial, French-speaking, solo-backpacking self – or maybe he won’t. But the point is that this break up paved the way for a better you.

3. Never Stop Slaying

When you step outside, you never know who you’ll run into. You do not want to be walking around town looking like a frumpy potato. What if you bump into you-know-who? You’d want him to say, “Damn she fine! What the hell was I thinking?” not “Welp, seems like I dodged a bullet.” Even if it’s highly unlikely you’d run into he-who-should-not-be-named, you should still slay every day – look smolderingly hot and magnetically confident to attract new blessings in your life.

4. Become an Ice Queen and Freeze Him Out

Don’t answer it! Issa trap!

Every reply you send his way is just a little notch of approval for his ego so he can say, “Ha! I still got it.” Let him know that he can’t straddle the fence. Either he’s in or he’s out, and as far as you’re concerned, he’s out! Many people don’t want their exes back, but they do crave their attention – do not indulge in any ego stroking. Leave him feeling parched for your affections as he low-key expects you to beg for him back.

5. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

It’s true what they say: perception is reality.

Fortunately for you, many people are imperceptive enough to fall for the social media theatrics that pervade the internet – fake smiles, showy vacations, and fabricated social lives all to create the illusion of happiness. Whether you’re truly in high spirits or not, it doesn’t matter because with a few snapshots of you having the time of your life on Instagram – girls’ night outs, road trips, and a “Boomerang” of you in front of the Eiffel Tower – no one will think you’re weeping in the corner over an expired relationship, especially your nosy ex.

While these tips are meant to have your ex simmering in regret, the ultimate takeaway here is that a break up can fuel your growth and prosperity, and have you flourishing out here in these streets. Now here’s a big ol’ middle finger to our past lovers and let’s usher in the future, shall we?

Kimberly Gedeon, founder of The Melody of Melanin, is a content creator and illustrator with nearly 2,000 professional articles published online. You can say hello to her on Instagram or Twitter – she doesn’t bite!