LIFE LESSONS
Overcoming Betrayal and Giving Love a Second Chance
Betrayal is one of the emotional wounds that is hard to heal. It can bring trauma and considerable distress.
I’m sure no person is ready when betrayal happens to them. How do you heal from betrayal if it happens to you?
Are you capable of forgiving someone who betrays you?
Overcoming betrayal is a long and rough journey, but it’s within your power to accomplish. Here are some tips to help you:
Know Your Facts
Betrayal comes in many forms, but among the most common is infidelity. When this happens, the betrayal is so personal that your first instinct might be to deny it.
You can’t keep denying it, however, and you’re better served knowing your facts instead of jumping to conclusions. You can observe your partner’s behavior or even gather physical evidence of cheating.
How does this help you? Firstly, it confirms the reality of the betrayal. You won’t have to go crazy wondering if it’s only in your head.
The truth can also be a solid foundation. It will help you know what you want to do next.
Prioritize Your Well-Being
The thing about betrayal, particularly infidelity, is that it’s so bad it can undermine your self-worth. You might lose interest in looking after yourself.
But you need to take care of yourself, no matter how badly your heart may be broken. Now, more than ever, you need to be on your side.
Stay hydrated and eat healthy. Sleep is your friend, so get enough of it. If you notice symptoms of sleep abnormalities, consult a doctor before you suffer harmful and lasting effects.
If you need to, approach a therapist or counselor. Getting professional guidance can be very helpful.
Additionally, do things that make you happy, or at least provide pleasant and harmless distractions. You can even choose those that have positive benefits on your body, such as exercise or meditation. They restore your sense of well-being by helping to reduce stress and balance hormones.
Overcoming betrayal is tough work, and you need your body and mind to work with you during this time.
Feel Your Feelings
When you’re dealing with betrayal, processing your emotions can be so difficult that you might even shut them off instead. Your feelings may be all negative and some even hostile. Who wants to go through that?
But you need to. There’s no shame in crying. You can also write your feelings down in a journal. It helps you to get them off your chest. To feel them without letting them control you. You can understand them better this way.
When you’re ready, reach out to your support system of trusted friends and family. Let those you trust support you. You don’t have to go through it all alone.
Trust the Process of Forgiveness
Overcoming betrayal is tough and it’s long-term. One important act that can help you achieve it is forgiveness.
Forgiveness facilitates healing and moving on. This is why it’s so encouraged.
But you don’t have to
- forgive at once
- condone the wrong that was done, or
- take back the person who wronged you.
Forgiveness is releasing yourself from the burden of resentment and anger and acting on such negative feelings. You’d still feel the feelings, sadly. But you know you don’t have to act on them. That’s the power of forgiveness.
It’s not easy, but it’s a process and not a one-time act. So don’t rush yourself. Take your time.
What about giving love a second chance? Yes, you can certainly do that better with forgiveness. And, no, this doesn’t mean that you have to get back together with someone who betrayed you.
Giving love a second chance can mean meeting someone new who will treat you better. Or it could mean reconnecting with people who truly love you and embrace all the happiness life has to offer you.
Also published on Medellin Singles
