If your spouse asks for a divorce, there’s no way of knowing how you’ll react. Some people are able to take it in stride, especially if they feel the same way. Others, however, don’t want to give up so easily. Instead, they desire to save their marriages.
If you want to save your marriage, here are several things you should immediately do after your spouse asks for a divorce:
- Take action. Implement a plan for taking positive steps, as the longer you wait, the greater the chance that your marriage will end in divorce.
- Don’t place blame. Forget about what happened in the past and focus on making things better in the future. Playing the victim won’t get you anywhere.
- Talk things out. Don’t assume you and your spouse are on the same page. Tell them you understand their stance, and then share information on the steps you want to take.
- Talk about the past. You can’t change the past, but you can talk about it so it doesn’t continue to pose problems in the future.
- Get help. If you’re unable to work through things on your own, it’s a good idea to sit down with a marriage counselor. They may have some ideas to help you get your marriage back on track.
If you’re not interested in saving your marriage or have tried everything and failed, turn your attention to the divorce process. It’s stressful and challenging at times, but the right strategy will help protect your legal rights and leave you positioned to move on with your life.