Love is one of life’s greatest joys. To invest trust and to receive it in return is a cherished gift. But all of that can be lost when trust is suddenly betrayed. What do you do when the object of your love and admiration reveals an unexpected side? How do you even begin to move on?
At first, you might wonder where it all went wrong. Many are tempted to come up with elaborate explanations, but the truth might not be as complex as one imagines. Life has its ups and downs, and no one is perfect – not even those we love. It’s important to keep this in mind – the ultimate betrayal happens when trust is lost in the wake of a damaging action.
It’s normal to feel anger and hurt over an incident involving a betrayal of your trust. But, if you want to eventually make peace with the situation, there may be various paths you can take. One option is to forgive the person who let you down. You don't have to accept the breach of trust, or necessarily continue the relationship. But forgiveness allows you to unhitch these feelings from your heart and move beyond the hurt.
Seeking closure after a betrayal can also help the healing process. Talk it through, if you can, and ask the person who let you down to understand the pain they caused you. Although it might not undo what’s already happened, it gives you the opportunity to express your emotions and make peace with the incident.
Remember too, you won’t be able to just will away the hurt. Grief is a normal emotion and should never be underestimated. Allowing yourself to go through the grieving process can help you come to terms with how you feel in a natural way. In other words, recognizing your different emotions can help heal the wound and give you the strength to move forward without bitterness.
When everything feels overwhelming and it's hard to trust again, finding understanding and support can be key. Reach out to friends and family and allow them to be with you – even if it’s only to listen. Draw close to them during the difficult days ahead and don’t forget to trust yourself. Having faith in yourself is the only real way to restore any trust you've lost in another. Eventually, it will help you make sense of even the most confusing of situations.
Caring for yourself during times of crisis is also key. Don’t neglect day-to-day needs like nutrition, sleep, and exercise as they play an important role in your overall well-being. Look after yourself and make sure your needs are met, whatever that might mean. It’s especially important to remind yourself of your self-worth. Difficult experiences can leave us doubting our value, but remembering how unique and special we are can help boost our confidence and make us more resilient in the face of painful situations.
Trusting someone who’s let us down remains a personal decision. But, if we want to successfully bring about healing, blindly trusting people who’ve hurt us isn't necessary. Once trust is lost, the focus should be on learning to trust yourself, and gaining strength to regain your sense of security. Doing this allows us to accept, learn, and eventually move beyond our experiences and all the sadness that might come with them.
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