Divorce is an intensely personal decision, one that’s often made with a lot of mixed emotions. After all, getting married is supposed to be forever. When the time comes to divorce, though, that means your marriage is not working out as you’d hoped—and it’s not fair for you to stay in an unhappy relationship simply because you’ve invested so much time and energy into it. If you’re thinking about getting divorced but aren’t sure when it makes sense, here are some signs that may indicate when divorce might be the best option:
You feel like your marriage has become a pressure cooker.
Marriage is supposed to be a safe place, where we can be our authentic selves and grow as individuals. It’s supposed to be happy, with two people who love each other and want only the best for their spouse. And it’s supposed to be healthy—a place where you can work through problems together, not let them fester until they get worse (and then blow up). But if you’re feeling like there’s no way out of this situation but divorce, that may be exactly what you need—especially if:
- Your marriage feels like less of a sanctuary than an escape hatch.
- You don’t feel safe sharing your thoughts and feelings with your spouse anymore; instead of listening or offering support or advice, he or she makes everything about themselves (or just shuts down).
- Your partner isn’t taking care of him/herself physically or mentally in ways that make sense for both parties involved (e.g., not eating well for health reasons but insisting on having the couple go out to eat every night).
Hey, check out my 14 Fun First Anniversary Ideas That Will Leave Your Partner Speechless
Your partner is physically or emotionally abusive.
If your partner is physically or emotionally abusive, divorce may be the best option.
Physical abuse is a criminal offense and should always be reported to the police. If you’re a victim of physical abuse, it’s important that you know about your legal rights and options for protection. It’s also important to recognise the signs of emotional abuse so that you can take steps to protect yourself and your children from further harm.
You have different values.
If your values are different from your spouse’s, divorce may be the best option for you. To understand why this is true, let’s take a look at some examples of couples who have different values:
- A couple who wants to stay home with their children and care for them will probably have a very different set of values than a couple wanting to put their children in daycare or send them away to school.
- Couples whose political beliefs differ greatly are another example. If one spouse is liberal and the other conservative, they’re going to have differing opinions on issues such as healthcare and the environment—and possibly even how much money should go toward military spending versus social programs. Both sets of opinions could lead to some serious conflicts between spouses over time if they remain together without compromise or discussion between them (which would likely leave both parties unsatisfied).
Also read: 8 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make with Kids 1-3 Years Old (and How to Fix Them)
You have strongly differing ideas about money.
While money isn’t the only reason couples have for ending their marriages, it often plays a role. If you and your spouse have strongly differing ideas about how to manage household finances and plan for your future together, it can be hard to work through these differences enough to maintain a healthy partnership.
The first step to avoiding serious financial disagreements is communicating openly about your financial goals. Talk with each other about what you want from life: Do you want to own a home? Take exotic vacations? Have children? Buy a new car? Invest in stocks or real estate? Whatever the answer may be, discuss in detail how much time and money each one will require—and make sure everyone agrees on how these plans line up with his or her own priorities.
Your partner doesn’t share your dreams.
You need to be able to share your dreams. If you want to be a doctor, but your partner wants to be a painter, then it’s going to be difficult for the two of you to work together on those goals. You will probably have different values and priorities, too. Maybe one of you wants children and the other doesn’t — or one person is willing and ready for kids right now while the other isn’t even sure about wanting them someday down the line.
There are some things that can’t be compromised: what kind of work do we want? Where do we see ourselves living? Do we both want kids? But when it comes down to more precise ideas like careers, hobbies and interests there should always be an opportunity for discussion—and sometimes compromise—in order for both people involved in a relationship are happy with their life choices.
Your partner takes you for granted.
When you feel like your partner takes you for granted, it can be hard to stay committed to that person. You need to take a step back from the situation and decide if it’s worth staying in the relationship. If there are other issues at play, such as abuse or infidelity, then it will be necessary for both of you to seek counseling before deciding on divorce.
If your partner isn’t abusive but is instead indifferent to the relationship or unwilling to make any effort (such as not communicating with you), then there may still be hope for repairing things. It’s possible that they simply need some time away from each other before things can get better; try meeting them half-way by going out of town together or taking on a new hobby together so that they’re forced into spending more quality time with each other.
You don’t trust your partner anymore.
Trust is the foundation of any relationship. If you don’t trust your partner anymore, it’s time to talk about what to do next. There are many ways for couples to rebuild trust after a betrayal—and some people are more able than others at doing this successfully. It usually takes time, patience and commitment from both partners as well as outside counseling if needed. If you’re unable but not willing to rebuild this crucial component of your marriage or relationship then it’s best that you go your separate ways instead of continuing on a path that only leads to more heartache and disappointment in the future.
The most important thing about relationships? Well, let’s face it: love isn’t enough by itself; there needs to be some kind of security too—a sense that what we’ve built together will last through any trials or tribulations life throws at us
You’re just not happy with your partner.
If you’re not happy with your partner, there are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have the same goals in life?
- Can you talk about anything with them?
- Do they support and encourage you, or do they undermine your self-confidence and happiness?
If the answer is no, then consider that it might be time to end things if none of these things seem likely to change.
You should know these 7 Profitable Business Ideas For Canadians Who Want To Be Their Own Boss
You don’t want to be with them anymore but you aren’t sure why.
It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves in a situation where they aren’t sure if divorce is the best option. They might know that they don’t want to be with their spouse anymore, but not why that feeling has come about.
These feelings can be confusing and often lead people to question whether or not they really want divorce. If you’re experiencing these feelings yourself, here are some questions you should ask yourself:
Know yourself and be ready to make tough decisions when needed.
There’s no easy way to say this: divorce is a decision that you have to make yourself. You can’t let your spouse influence the terms of your divorce, even if they’re pressuring you into it. You also can’t let your own emotions get in the way of making the right choice for yourself and your family—you’ll regret it later if you do.
If you’re considering divorce, make sure that before taking any action, there are some things that are clear in your mind:
- What do I want? What would be better for me?
- Where do I see myself going from here? Am I ready for new beginnings? Or do I need time alone before starting something new?
The best advice I can give you is to know yourself, be ready to make tough decisions when needed, and do what’s best for you and your family. The only way to get through this process is if you’re confident in yourself and feel good about the decision you’re making. I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned over our years as lawyers, I’ve given you some insight into divorce proceedings so that when it comes time for them in your life, they won’t be as scary or overwhelming.