7 Ways to Know You’re Truly Ready to Date Again After Divorce
Okay, let’s get real for a minute. No whistle magically blows in your bedroom, waking you up one day to show you’re ready to put your dating shoes back on. Society imposes these arbitrary waiting periods, like a year off the dating scene, waiting until your papers are final, or until you’ve been single long enough. Honestly, though, life doesn’t operate on timelines. You might feel pressure from your friends to swipe right on that trendy dating app, or you might just be lonely and bored on your weekend nights. The point is, diving back into dating after divorce on a whim is like going food shopping when you’re hangry. You’ll grab whatever junk feels soothing in that moment and regret it later. But then, what’s the honest answer to knowing you’re prepared, instead of just looking for a quick emotional Band-Aid? The Trap of the Comparison Game Most people get tripped up after a divorce when they start seeking out a new person to love without first changing the criteria of what they are looking for. Understandably, it is human nature to pick someone who immediately seems different than your ex. If betrayal was part of your past, you’ll likely develop a sharp radar for even the slightest hint of dishonesty in others. You might catch yourself overthinking how neat your friend’s apartment is, especially if your ex wasn’t the tidiest. Even though the idea of a new person ticking all the right boxes sounds great, it’s a slippery slope to measure them against your ex. This thinking forces you to let your ex-hole choose your future mate, which is basically clinging to heartache rather than growing from it. Using a Temporary Solution to Mend a Deeper Gap There is an emptiness that comes along with divorce. Losing [...]









