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Heartbreak Can Lead to Happiness Even if It Doesn’t Lead to Love
I’ve noticed that magazines love to use the headline “Heartbreak to Happiness”. Whether it’s Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, or Reba McIntyre, magazines love to report on very painful, very public breakups. What they love even more is being able to announce that these women are now happily dating, engaged or married.
I don’t blame the magazines. I know that catchy headlines sell. Shoot, I was intrigued enough to pick up the issues featuring the aforementioned lovely ladies. Plus, who wouldn’t want to celebrate love?
The reason that these types of headlines frustrate me is because it reinforces the notion that happiness is a destination, and when it comes to love, your journey will end only when you’ve found a travel companion. Equating “finding love” with “happiness” minimizes the true purpose of the hard work and the mental and emotional resilience that it takes to pick yourself up and keep moving forward after you’ve been devastated by heartbreak —that purpose is to heal and to recognize that you alone are enough.
Some people will get their fairytale ending, and I am genuinely happy for anyone who finds love…
