Hi Scared,

R2C has some good advice there about living in the moment and expanding your relationships. All of us end up in M difficulty due to a problem in the underlying R - and typically, upon introspection we can find that similar problems exist in all of our Rs - with family, friends, children, co-workers, etc. So a very useful exercise is to work to improve the way you relate to others - completely separate from your M.

As you cannot fix W or your M directly, you must work on you. Focus on how you want to improve yourself. Make a list, make sure it is things you see in yourself to improve, not what you think W would like to see. Put things on that list about relating to other people - I really like R2C's getting out and talking to people at *bucks. Anything you can do to improve your relationship skills.

This will not only improve your chances of a restored M, but will improve your life in all facets. We relate with people constantly, and the better we do it the better we do everything. Plus, you must be working on making you better - you have to get to the point where you will be better, with or without W. Until you get to this point there is little chance of a new R with W. Read more here, you will see that "success" really has one measure - when the LBS has reached the point that they are happy with themselves, know they will be ok regardless of the outcome of the M, and are looking forward to the future, not constantly crushed by the current circumstances.

And the funny thing is, right when the LBS gets to this point, quite often the spouse becomes interested again. I wont lie to you and tell you always, or even most of the time, but it is far more often than when the core of DBing (making yourself better) is not employed. And through the growth created by DB, you will be happier and better regardless of that outcome.

Hang in there, we all know it aint easy but it is absolutely necessary. There is no way through but through, keep pushing.


X
Love, confidence, trust, and patience.
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