Should You Start Dating After Divorce?

Marriage is supposed to be a lifetime commitment. People marry because they thought they found the person to share their lives with. Married couples strive every single day to make their marriage work and to keep their families together. But what happens when it started becoming a disaster? When married couples decide to file for divorce, it's definitely heart-wrenching for both parties. Nobody wanted the marriage to fail. If someone does, they would not have married each other in the first place. But after the divorce, one question remains. Should you start dating after divorce?

Most women are really in search for the guy of their dreams. That man who they would be spending the rest of their lives with. That man who would be the father of their children. That man who would raise a family with them. And when they find love, they want to be bonded by marriage. But not all married couples end up together as they grow old. Marriage may or may not work out. When it doesn't, don't have the wrong idea that you are forever stuck.

After divorce, take your time to heal. It is not advisable to date right away after the breakup of your marriage. It will only lead to more emotional turmoil. There are a lot of issues that you have to focus on before dating.

After the divorce, you may have issues on yourself that you have to resolve. Because of the failed marriage, your self esteem may have been damaged. Focus first on building it again. Do the things that you enjoy before you married your ex-husband. Start loving singlehood again before wanting to commit in another relationship.

Get in touch with your inner self. You gave so much on your marriage that some things that you love about yourself was gone. Develop a healthy "self-love" because that's the only way other people will appreciate and love you.

Listen to your heart. Don't force yourself to date if you know deep down that you are not ready. You will not enjoy dating if you do it for the wrong reasons. Gauge yourself as to why you want to date again. Is it because you are scared to be alone? Is it because you want to fill the hole that your ex-husband left in your heart? Does your family and friends pressure you to go out and find the right guy? Or is it because you just want to enjoy meeting other people?

When you finally find yourself being ready to date again, consider other factors. If you have children, you certainly have to prepare them for this. It's not like you will be entering a serious relationship again. But seeing you going out with a new guy will have an effect on them. Dealing with the idea that their parents separated is hard enough. For them to accept that you will see other guys will take time.

Dating after your divorce is not the same when you were still single before the marriage. Be clear on the purpose of why you want to date again. Just be sure that you are doing it not for other people but because you want to.