"Embracing both/and thinking makes it possible to accept the truth that your husband has betrayed you and he has loved you. This was a most difficult concept for me to embrace in the early days after discovery of my husband’s betrayal. I simply could not make sense of this concept. I did not have the capacity to compartmentalize these two diametrically opposed behaviors."
- Debbie Laaser, MA, LMFT
The Problem with Black-and-White Thinking
If you live in black-and-white thinking, there is absolutely no way to make sense of sexual betrayal and words that confess, “Even though I’m looking at pornography or I’ve had an affair, I have always loved you.”
The problem is that most of the world lives in an all-or-nothing mindset. You are either good or bad, right or wrong, truthful or untruthful, faithful or unfaithful. There is one "right" way and there is one "right" answer with no room for complexity. Black-and-white thinking is a confining way to live and it leads to judgments about people and situations that simply are not true.
Both/And in The Bible
Living in the both/and—or ‘ampersand truth’—allows us to accept the paradox of several truths that appear to be contradictory.. The Bible is full of ampersand situations.
Nehemiah was sad and scared and with the support of King Artaxerxes, courageously traveled to his homeland.
The woman at the well lived a promiscuous life and was chosen to deliver the first declaration of Jesus’ presence.
The Jewish people sought the Promised Land with great gratitude and were frustrated and angry with the struggles of their new life.
Jesus himself was both divine and human.
The both/and theology permeates the lives of Biblical characters as it does our lives.
Embracing Both/And
Embracing the ampersand makes it possible to accept the truth that your husband has betrayed you and he has loved you, too.. This was a most difficult concept for me to embrace in the early days of discovery of my husband’s betrayal. I simply could not make sense of this concept. I did not have the capacity to compartmentalize these two diametrically opposed behaviors. With greater education about trauma and addiction, I learned how the brain can literally "dissociate" and close off certain memories or behaviors while others take over. I learned that pain, fear, and anger can distract one temporarily from healthy behaviors to choose behaviors to comfort and survive.
I slowly began to believe that a life of betrayal is complicated, not black-and-white. When my worldview expanded to include possibilities other than my simple and legalistic thinking of the past, I could take in the both/and truths of Mark’s behaviors: he did love me and he was medicating some extraordinary pain with some very unhealthy, sinful behaviors.
A Group Effort
I don’t believe we have the capacity to change our thinking patterns by ourselves.. Too often I counsel women who want to figure out all of this pain and lead better lives by reading numerous books, studying Scripture, praying alone, or finding one best friend to talk to.
I don’t see much change in their lives. What I do observe is women who find other safe women on similar journeys and commit to professional help slowly begin to broaden their worldview of black-and-white thinking. They explore other possibilities and practice talking about their conflicting thoughts and emotions. They experience the acceptance of others even when they share their confusion.
I also know that embracing ampersand thinking led me to stay with my husband. I knew I was in tremendous pain from Mark’s infidelity and I truly loved him. Speaking up about that pain and getting support allowed me to hold the tension of both truths—and to choose to stay and work toward a new life of faithfulness with Mark.
A Final Invitation
I pray for any of you who are living in the tension of two truths that you will find safe people who will help you explore the both/and. Choose the opportunity to live in deeper truth and relationship with others by living an "ampersand" life! I invite you to consider our attending one of our upcoming Women’s Journey Workshops. There you can learn about the complexity of behaviors, embrace your pain with other women in the journey of healing, and focus on your healing from betrayal trauma.
Debbie Laaser MA, LMFT, became the Director of Faithful & True, in 2019 after her husband, Mark's passing. She has facilitated therapy groups, individual counseling, and 3-Day Intensives for betrayed wives for over 20 years. Debbie is the author of several books, and her recent research project, "Posttraumatic Growth in Relationally Betrayed Women" was published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.