It's all too easy in this day and age to give little to no thought to the people and things we connect with. Many of us have just been burned one too many times and are scared that the moment we show the smallest sign of empathy, the other party involved will cut the line and leave us to fend for ourselves.

What is it that causes this? Why do some people find it so easy to destroy the life they had built up for themselves in order to restart from scratch when the life they left behind offered them so much more? I and many others have been pressed to uncover the explanation for this behavior, and the search has yet to prove successful.

When faced with a challenge, some find it easier to drop the whole situation.

It's reality, it's tough, and you have to chart your own path through it. That doesn't mean you have to go through it alone, but some people see it that way and will not listen to reason from anyone else, regardless of what kind of connection has been established with them.

I've seen it happen all around me and have experienced it myself within dating relationships: one day, your partner decides things aren't perfect and, rather than working to fix the issues that have developed to a point that is stronger than ever, they decide they are happier just dropping you completely and taking your entire history down with you. Sure, you may have had something great, but to them, it just seems easier to give up and try again with someone else, not realizing that nobody they date will be the perfect candidate they've imagined. In fact, it could be that the closest thing to true connection they may have ever had is the very thing they just ran away from.

Of course, like all of the ugly mistakes we as people make, this problem isn't exclusive to dating.

It can even be applied to much simpler things: that big homework assignment got you down? Are you feeling too pressured to get everything done? Well, why not consider just giving up on it and calling it a day? Your grades, and by extension, you yourself, may suffer in the long run - but in that moment, it feels right to give in and take the comfortable route.

If you feel like running away, it's actually time to put in more effort than ever.

As hard as it may sound to push through a complicated predicament, burning down those bridges should be the last thing you think of doing. Always remember that there are others involved in whatever rough patch you're going through. These are real people, who you find value in and who in some way offer you a side of life that gives you a new outlook on everything.

Even if times get tough, consider the feelings of the other people involved, and work through it. Talk with them, learn from them, and give genuine attempts to sort out your differences and rebuild the broken pieces. If it sounds difficult, that's because it is - but nothing great comes without sacrifice. No relationship worth keeping should be so easy to destroy.

It's about time all of us took accountability for our own actions and used any means necessary to rescue the relationships we've dedicated so much time to. If you can't see the significance of preserving something you've devoted so much time to building...why bother ever building anything at all?