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When is Divorce an Option?

And How to Decide

 

One of the questions I'm most frequently asked is, "How do you know when it's time to quit?"

In terms of when to give up on your marriage, here's what I recommend.

If divorcing is a consideration for you from a moral perspective, then before you go that route, try first for at least one year.

Did you hear that?

Try for at least one year!

And I mean REALLY try. You can always call it quits. You always have that option. But once you pull that trigger, it's over. No more chances. Your life will never be the same. Do you have kids? If you do, their life will never be the same.

If you end your marriage, you don't want there to be a shred of doubt in your mind. You don't ever want to look back and wonder if things could have been different. You don't want to ask yourself, "What if this...and what if that...what if I tried this...what if I did that?"

If you have to end your marriage, you want to know DEEP IN YOUR HEART that you did everything you could to make it work.

If you have to end it, you want to be able to move on with your life and into another relationship with a clear head. You want to come to a place of healthy "completion." THIS IS CRUCIAL! And to accomplish this, in my experience, it takes at least one year. I know it probably seems like a long time, but it's an investment in the rest of your life.

Here's the key point. Listen carefully. It's a good investment for the rest of your life WHETHER YOUR MARRIAGE SUCCEEDS OR NOT. Obviously, it's a good investment if you turn your marriage around. But if you don't, it will NOT have been a wasted year. It will have been the most important thing you could have done with that year because of how your effort will impact the rest of your life AND (if it comes to this) YOUR NEXT RELATIONSHIP.

I have seen too many cases of spouses ending their marriage prematurely, and as result of not reaching "completion" in one relationship, they find themselves in the same situation a few years later with someone else.

In private sessions with people, sometimes the progress I help them make turns out to be more beneficial for them in their next relationship than in their current one.

I remember once when the marriage of someone who registered for the Lone Ranger Track of the Marriage Fitness Tele-Boot Camp ended in the middle of the program. This man asked me if he should continue with the final 3 weeks of the program. I said, "Absolutely."

He responded, "Why? What's the point? My marriage is over."

"You're not doing it for this marriage," I explained. "You're doing it for the benefit of your next one."

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that your intention while you're working on your marriage should be for the benefit of your life after your marriage. Your intention needs to be to restore your CURRENT relationship. But if you fail, your effort will NOT have been for naught.

Bottom line is this. If you're asking, "When is it time to call it quits?" The answer is: one year after you think you're done. If after one year of trying everything in your power to make your marriage work you're still miserable, then you should consider moving on. Until then, hang in there and don't give up.

This topic reminds me of my situation many years ago. I remember learning late one night that my wife had an appointment with a divorce attorney the next morning. We were hours from "done." Who would have ever thought that we could turn things around at that point?

It's NEVER too late! In fact (and here's real food for thought), very often the turning point in a marriage is when a couple hits rock bottom. Sometimes it's not until things couldn't get worse that they can get better.

{!firstname_fix}, I wish you and your spouse the best. If I can help you, let me know. If you’re ready to revamp your relationship, I suggest you register for the next Marriage Fitness Tele-Boot Camp. It’s a 7-week transformational experience. You can pick either the Lone Ranger Track or the Duo Track depending on your situation. And it couldn’t be more convenient. You don’t have to go anywhere. All you need to participate is a telephone. For information and or to register, click here.

If you can’t wait until the next boot camp begins or if you don’t have 7 weeks to turn things around, then order... MARRIAGE FITNESS HOME-FLEX A 9-Phase interactive multi-sensory relationship-changing self-guided system that gives you everything you need to transform your marriage. And the best news is . . . you get it all tomorrow! For more information or to order, click here.

If you want my undivided attention and if you’d like me to work with you 1-on-1 to help you fix your marriage, you can make an appointment for a phone session or arrange for me to do a "house call." For more information about these options as well as fees, click here.

At the very least, get yourself the MARRIAGE FITNESS AUDIO LEARNING PROGRAM. It’s a 5 CD starter program that you’ll find to be an invaluable guide to renewing your marriage. For more info or to order, click here.

 

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Topics include:

  • I love you but I'm not "in love" with you
  • How to rebuild trust
  • How to forgive and be forgiven
  • How to get your spouse to change
  • How to say "I'm sorry."
  • How to increase your marriage IQ
  • How to talk so your spouse will listen

 

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When To Divorce?

Marriage Counseling > Marriage Counseling Articles > When To Divorce

 

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