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All too often, breakups cause a world of negativity and spite. The whole experience can leave you feeling bitter, scared to enter into another union out of fear of the same thing happening again. Is this how love is supposed to be?
While not all relationships last, maybe there is a different way to break up? What if we could end a union in a happier and more respectful way? “Conscious Uncoupling” teaches you how to do exactly that. The end of a relationship doesn’t have to mark a huge failure in your life, it can be seen as a new start instead.
Katherine Woodward Thomas is a New York Times bestselling author and marriage therapist. Her work as a relationship expert has helped her to show couples the way through the mess of a breakup, edging towards a more positive future, full of growth and deep caring.
Key points
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We expect true love to last forever, but it doesn’t always work that way
Perhaps we watch too many romantic comedies or we read too many fairy tales as a child, but as a society, we believe that true love is supposed to last forever.
We don’t enter into any relationship or marriage and expect that it’s going to come to an abrupt or long foreseen end. We go into any relationship with an open heart and an expectation that it’s going to last for a long time.
We don’t enter into any relationship or marriage and expect that it’s going to come to an abrupt or long foreseen end. We go into any relationship with an open heart and an expectation that it’s going to last for a long time.
We believe that love should last forever. When it doesn’t, we feel like we’ve somehow failed ourselves, and each other.
Katherine Woodward Thomas split from her husband of a decade and she never expected it to happen. Who would? It’s not something we think about. However, in the middle of all the pain and confusion, she wanted to be sure that the breakup would be an amicable and loving end, and not cause any undue distress or upset to their daughter.
When a relationship ends, most people feel a sense of deep shock and loss. There are countless emotions coursing through you at the time, but perhaps one of the most painful thoughts is that you somehow failed. What was meant to be never came your way. We also worry about what other people are going to say, and the stress of making the split public is enough to push you over the edge. The bottom line is that sometimes love just doesn’t last, no matter how much love you have for one another, and no matter how long you’ve been together.
When a relationship ends, most people feel a sense of deep shock and loss. There are countless emotions coursing through you at the time, but perhaps one of the most painful thoughts is that you somehow failed. What was meant to be never came your way. We also worry about what other people are going to say, and the stress of making the split public is enough to push you over the edge. The bottom line is that sometimes love just doesn’t last, no matter how much love you have for one another, and no matter how long you’ve been together.
It’s time to consider that the myth of living happily ever after may have outstayed its welcome and should now be up for review and revision. ~ Katherine Woodward Thomas
2
Conscious Uncoupling makes way for ongoing love and respect
Back in 2014, one of the world’s most adored showbiz couples split up. Rather than putting out a statement to say that they were no longer, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin instead stated that they were “consciously uncoupling.” But what does this mean?
Other chapters are waiting for you in the app
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Explore difficult emotions to find freedom
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It’s time to stop being the victim
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Explore how you’re potentially sabotaging your own happiness
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Start to create the life and love you’ve always wanted
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Take action and make decisions that change your life
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