One of the key teachings of the Buddha was that suffering stems from attachment. Those who can let go of attachments in this world, are those who are likely to become liberated. As we read in the Dhammapada:

“He who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and holds on to nothing—him do I call a holy man.”

Interestingly, I came across something similar in The Way of Mastery, Lesson 27, page 319:

“The changing can never be the source of peace…whether dollars in a bank, houses, cars, people, friends, lovers, pets, plants…When the mind becomes identified with the form, that mind suffers. When the mind is liberated from attachment to form, it is free. For it is identified only with content or simply the reality of Love.”

It is difficult for us to not become attached to the things just listed, but it is a matter of having them, but not clinging to them. Obviously, we need certain basic things in life, such as a house, car, etc. but the key is not to become too attached to them. Have them, enjoy them, and when it is time to move on, we move on without losing our peace of mind.

When it comes to relationships, most people have moved on from one relationship to another or to no relationship at all and have adjusted eventually. So, the two teachings above are not asking the impossible of us. It is just a matter of changing our perspective towards the things we have in our lives.