There’s no way to prepare for when a friend, family member or loved one betrays your trust, but there is a way to move on from the pain associated. While some betrayals take longer than others to get over, follow these steps to nurture yourself and lead a powerful, fulfilling life beyond betrayal.
Remove toxic people from your life
The first step is to separate yourself from that toxic person (or persons) who has betrayed you. Regardless of who they are, you are under no obligation to foster unhealthy relationships in your life. It will speed up the healing process considerably to remove them from your social media accounts, chats and associations as much as you’re able. If this is a co-worker or family member you deal with regularly, don’t engage in superficial conversation. You are allowed to choose who you interact with.
Take some “me” time
When you are betrayed by someone you trust, it can often feel like your whole world has shifted – if not come crumbling entirely. It’s important to take time for yourself and get reacquainted with your beliefs and values. Go on walks, exercise, read books … do whatever it takes to give yourself time to process what happened and to prepare yourself to let it go.
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness is a huge part of mending the effects of broken trust. Some things are easier to forgive than others, but ultimately forgiveness paves the path for your personal healing and rarely does it have to do with the person who hurt you. When you are ready to forgive you are ready to detach yourself from the pain and move that episode of your life into the past.
Let yourself be vulnerable
If you face betrayal from someone close to you, it might be hard for you to trust others around you. As scary as it may be, allow yourself to open your heart to others. Yes, you might get hurt again. But it’s more likely that you will meet others who will enhance and enrich your life. And even if you don’t become best friends with everyone you meet, you will learn that most people aren’t out to get you. When you realize that, the world becomes a much nicer place to be in.
Create a vision for yourself
To avoid falling into the pit of self-pity and anguish over a past event you can’t control, construct a vision of yourself and your future. Create a mantra that you repeat to yourself each morning in the mirror. Find a hobby or work towards a goal. Write down qualities that you admire about yourself and things that you want to improve on. Understand that you are greater than whatever circumstance you find yourself in and work to build up your sense of worth and purpose by owning your own narrative.