Success is the best revenge

Published on September 28, 2021

Dylan had just found out that his wife, Anna, had been cheating on him with one of her colleagues.  Anna had now asked for a divorce so that she could be with this other man.  Dylan was crushed and felt incredibly betrayed.  He felt the rage well up inside his body and considered calling her boss to have her fired. Dylan also had half a mind to tell everyone so that he could turn everyone against her.  The hurt he felt was worse than any physical pain he could imagine.  He wanted her to hurt the way that she hurt him.

Dylan decided that he could use his energy and time in one of two ways.  He could seek revenge and take her to the cleaners financially, shame her publicly and spy on her to make the man she cheated with suffer as well.  His other choice was to take the energy he had and focus it on his healing, keep his children safe during the divorce, and work towards his success professionally and privately.

If he chose the revenge route, it would take time and energy away from his ability to thrive and cope.  Revenge would also hurt the children. So, he decided the best thing for his mental health was to heal, help the children heal and co-parent despite the pain.  Dylan would spend his energy rebuilding his life instead of spending energy trying to destroy hers.

Dylan made a list of how he would rebuild. Here is what his list looked like:

1) Stay out of court: Anna was more than happy to negotiate and mediate outside of court.  She understood that the court process could be financially and emotionally draining.  Dylan knew that going to court would make Anna suffer, but he also knew that she was right.  They could use that time, energy and money to plan for the children’s future.

2) Find the right legal team: Finding a lawyer would help Dylan to set boundaries and understand his legal rights.  He was too hurt to understand what would work best for his family.

3) Understand what he needs and wants from life:  Dylan had worked overtime to support his family.  His main priority was making sure that they had enough money to eat well and go on holiday.  He began to realise that he had put his needs to the side to take care of his family.  What was it that he wanted from a career? What did he need to be happy?  Was he interested in learning something new?

4) Find a mental health professional: Dylan was feeling anxious and could not sleep.  He kept wondering what he could have done differently.  He felt worthless and unlovable, which led him to feel depressed.  He tried speaking to his family and friends, but they were too angry at Anna to be helpful.  He would also be open to finding a professional for the children if they needed it.

5) Speak to the children together: Dylan decided that Anna should be there when he spoke to the children about the divorce.  Dylan was concerned that his anger would make the children scared or that they would turn against Anna.  Dylan had a hard time being in the same room as Anna because it would trigger his heartbreak.  However, he decided that he could stay calm for the children’s sake.  He knew that the children should not be involved in the conflict and that this was a positive step forward towards co-parenting.

When Dylan stuck with his plan and met his goals, his self-worth improved immensely.  He felt a lot lighter knowing that he was staying with his core values: commitment and loyalty to family.  He also knew that sitting in anger and resentment would hurt him more than hurt Anna.

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If you feel like you need to talk to someone, then please do contact me to set up an online session via email info@doctormonicaborschel.com.


Category(s):Anger Management, Divorce / Divorce Adjustment, Grief, Loss, Bereavement, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Trauma / Complex PTSD

Written by:

Dr Monica Borschel

Welcome! My passion is to help you find inner peace and emotional comfort within yourself and your relationships.

As social creatures, our relationships significantly shape our happiness, well-being, and sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, many of us have experienced relationship-related traumas, which can leave us with emotional scars that require recovery.

Attachment traumas, such as divorce, break-ups, infidelity, neglect, and abuse, can be challenging. As an expert in attachment, loss, and trauma, I have spent many years studying how attachment styles can shift with loss and trauma.

I have seen how healthy relationships can lead to secure attachment and how insecure attachment can create turmoil in our lives. I aim to guide you toward cultivating healthy relationships with yourself, your children, your co-parent, and your romantic partner.

I can help you develop new attachment strategies that will allow you to form deeper connections and bonds with those around you. And, if you have children, I can also assist you in establishing secure attachments with both parents, which can be especially helpful in cases of separation or divorce.

I am originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, where I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at The University of Utah. From there, I moved to New York City, earning my Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. I then pursued my Doctorate in Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong. I lived and worked in Hong Kong as a practicing Clinical Psychologist from 2010-2020. I reside in California and am pursuing my Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) at California Southern University. My training and qualifications include certifications in Brainspotting and High Conflict Coaching.

These tools, combined with my extensive knowledge and experience in the field, enable me to offer you the guidance and support you need to recover from past traumas and build healthy relationships.

My approach to therapy is empathetic, supportive, and tailored to your unique needs. Every person can grow, and thrive. I am committed to helping you achieve your goals. So, whether you are struggling with relationship issues, divorce, abuse, attachment traumas, or other challenges, I am here to help you find the peace and comfort you deserve.

Email me at info@doctormonicaborschel.com or call the MindnLife Clinic at 852 2521 4668