The topic of revenge is undeniably a fascinating one. People will inevitably arrive at remarkably different conclusions about if and when acts of revenge can be justifiable, but at the same time, it is hard to dispute the fact that at some point in our lives, we have all been tempted to at least fantasize about ways in which to exact revenge on those who have caused us harm in some way.

When it comes to dating and revenge, there is no shortage of examples that illustrate how tempting the idea of payback can be to a scorned lover. Wanting to settle the score with those who have been careless with your heart or your feelings is a perfectly natural part of the healing process. Actually going through with a revenge scheme, on the other hand, is not exactly what I would consider helpful or therapeutic. In fact, while acts of retribution might bring an immediate sense of satisfaction or perhaps even justice, a spiteful attitude and the malicious behaviors that often accompany it usually end up causing a lot more harm than good in the long run.

For me personally, revenge is something that can be fun to fantasize about but should never be allowed to wander too far out from the confines of one’s imagination. If you think about it rationally, it isn’t hard to see that the more you dwell on getting even, the less time and energy you will have for the things that really matter, such as getting on with your life. In my opinion, there is no revenge sweeter than preventing the wrongs of the past from interfering with your ability to live a happy and fulfilling life in the here and now.

If you are thinking about whether or not to retaliate against somebody who has done you wrong, take a few moments to consider the following pros and cons:

PROS:

• Planning and executing plans of revenge can sometimes be fun.
  
  
• You have the opportunity to give the perpetrator of your pain a little dose of his/her own medicine, which can usually produce a momentary sense of satisfaction or justice.
  

CONS:

• It could end up backfiring in a number of ways, some of which include failing to produce the desired effect or even worse, possibly leading to further humiliation and/or an arrest record that could have easily been avoided.
  
  
• No matter how clever your plan might be, there is no act of revenge that will ever change the past and/or right the wrongs that led you to desire vengeance in the first place.
  
• Plotting revenge uses up valuable time and energy that could be much better spent on activities that allow you to heal and move on to bigger and better things.