Don't Let Embarrassment Lead to Bigger Mistakes

For some people, the only thing worse than getting dumped is admitting to friends and family that they picked a jerk to be in a relationship with.

They’re so terrified about being alone and admitting that they made a mistake that they just keep going back.

Women especially seem to have this problem, like 36-year-old Taryn who was humiliated by her boyfriend.

During our call, she told me, “He knew I was going to be there watching a friend’s band, and he showed up with another woman!”

So, why was this loser even an issue anymore? Why hadn’t Taryn dumped him as soon as she found out that he was playing games with her heart?

Part of it had to do with her young daughter who was attached to her mom’s boyfriend. How would it look to Taryn’s daughter, her friends and her family when they found out she had wasted two years on this guy? When we don’t want to admit our failures we think, “Maybe I can keep this together and no one will have to know that I didn’t pick well (again).”

The solution to moving forward after a breakup? Be honest with yourself and willing to suffer through temporary pain.

Taryn needed to admit that going back would be very foolish for herself and her child. Because you feel like a fool and are worried about being alone, doesn’t mean you should hang on. It's far better to accept your screw-ups and suffer for a while. Avoiding the truth and the sadness of a breakup just allows a problem to fester and grow bigger down the road.

📹 Transforming heart-break into healing:

🎧 To Date or Not To Date?

Don’t miss these classic Call of the Day episodes, filled with callers in need of help with their dating dilemmas:

1. Will I Ever Get Over This Breakup?

2. My Boyfriend Dumped Me Via Text!

How many of my 10 Stupid Things are you guilty of? Read my bestseller to learn how to recognize your self-sabotaging patterns and how to avoid falling back into those cycles.

My Favorite Types of Gems to Collect

Some listeners, like Rick, keep an arsenal of my sayings at the ready. I hope the following quotes he shared can also provide you insight and motivation to grow:

Congratulations on achieving 50 years in broadcasting! As a long-time listener of your program, I’ve enjoyed hearing your opinions and advice on all types of life’s challenges. I want to share my three favorite Dr. Laura gems of wisdom:

"Understand that you do not always have control.”

This has quelled my tendency to rescue others and helps preserve my sanity.

“Never ever compromise on your values nor tolerate it in others.”

I failed to adhere to the second part of this reminder, and I put myself through an unhappy relationship. I’ve grown to recognize I should’ve faced the facts of this person’s behaviors from the start and listened to my gut.

“Ask yourself: Am I happy living the way I am from now until dead?”

This valuable question gave me the strength to move on from that relationship and improve my life. I could be angry or hurt about the wrongs committed against me, but I choose to be grateful I can be the architect of my own happiness.

Ronald Reagan once addressed a group of Marines and said something like this: “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Marines don’t have that problem.” I would like to amend that to say, “Marines AND Dr. Laura don’t have that problem.”

📖 Getting Your Life Back on Track

Wallowing in self-pity? Complaining too much? Look no further than my book, Stop Whining, Start Living, to transform your “poor me” mindset.

💡 Thought of the Day 

"Now, go do the right thing!"

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