Studies have proven that your brain doesn't differentiate well between physical pain and emotional pain. When you go through a tough breakup, it can feel like your heart's been cut out of your body-- and to your mind, there's not a whole lot of difference.

This can make life seem like too much to handle, and that can lead you into taking all kinds of steps to get him back that are actually counterproductive to re-winning your ex's love. Instead, follow these steps to rekindle his interest, and get him back into the right mindset to make him like you again:

1) Take your time -

A breakup hurts deeply, and it's virtually a guarantee that all you'll want is for your pain to end, as soon as possible. As a result, it's also pretty much a guarantee that you'll do something rash and silly out of desperation, and end up driving him further away from you.

If you don't follow any other steps to get him back, at least follow this one-- don't contact your ex until you've managed to power through the initial heartbreak.

2) Look at you from his perspective -

Chances are, you have some inkling of why the breakup happened. This doesn't mean you should call your ex with this information and promise that everything is going to be different this time. Instead, you should know what went wrong and take steps to fix it. This is a very crucial step to get him back.

3) Look at the you you used to be -

People change in relationships. You might have given up on things you used to like doing, or gotten a little lazy about taking care of yourself. One of the best ways to get him to like you again is to get back into the things that made the old you “You.”

Your old hobbies and interests will remind him of the you he first met and was originally attracted to, and you'll have something to divert your time and energy to.

4) Stay positive -

Right now, you're probably tempted to try to get your ex back by showing him how much you care, and how much the breakup has devastated you. The trouble is, guilt and sadness aren't a good foundation for a lasting relationship, and nobody really wants to be around someone who is in deep emotional pain.

Once your ex is ready to talk to you again, keep the split out of your conversation. Stay light-hearted and upbeat. He'll wonder how you were able to bounce back so well, especially since he's probably still going to be reeling from the breakup, himself.

There is no magic silver bullet that can make a breakup less painful for you or your ex, but following these steps to get him back will help you rekindle his interest in a lasting, genuine fashion.

Once you have his attention again, you'll be able to move on to restarting your relationship, and be even happier and more in love with each other than you ever were before. It could be difficult but not impossible.