For every breakup or single person out there the phrase, “There are other fish in the sea” is said time and time again as a means of comfort. While that particular phrase may seem cliché, it has some truth to it. The problem? You’re in a puddle. You’re not even in the river on your way to the sea; you’re simply stuck in a stagnant puddle.

If you find yourself swimming in a puddle, don’t give up on finding your fish. Sure, there might only be minnows available—maybe a tadpole here and there—but there’s nothing wrong with looking around. This doesn’t mean that you should settle, but what’s the harm in exploring your current options? You might be a minnow yourself right now, but don’t worry; you’ll grow into your gills with time.

Potentially worse than a puddle, is the pond. At least with the puddle, almost everyone knew each other. You knew all of your options personally and knew what others thought of you. After all, there are no secrets in places like puddles. With a pond, it’s just big enough that finding your fish can be difficult, but small enough that once you’ve met everyone that’s it. There’s nowhere else to go and you’re caught in a loop of the same fish over and over again.

Some of the luckier fish have jumped ship and are riding down the river. By now, they have met bigger fish, turtles, and unfortunately snakes. While they have many more options than those in the puddle, this means there are many more chances of getting hurt. But, as Dory would say, “Just keep swimming.” Keep pushing your way through the mud and muck, and avoid getting bitten by the water moccasins. You’ve got better things coming, so the ride down the river is worth it.

Now you might think you’ve made it to the sea when the river finally pours into a big body of water but don’t fool yourself. This is merely a lake. At this point, it’s highly probable that you’ll have found your fish or will find your fish soon. It’s perfectly fine to find your fish in any of these places, but there is a bit more variety as the bodies of water grow and your scenery changes.

From the lake you’ll finally flow to, you guessed it, the ocean. We know more about space than we do about this cosmic body of water, so be sure to carefully navigate your way through this unknown territory. The wildlife of the sea is a whole different level of fishing. A shark could take your fish before you’re able to reel it in, other fishermen could trap yours in their net, or you could be surfing the wrong wave at the wrong time and miss one another. With a little luck, you’ll find your scaly soul mate in no time, and all will be well. If not, you’ve got about 97% of the world's water to explore. Happy fishing, and good luck on your journey to the sea where the “other” fish are.