Is divorce a failure?

Shane Parrish has engaged in discussions regarding divorce and its societal narrative. Parrish and guests on The Knowledge Project podcast have broached the subject of divorce not necessarily equating to failure.

• In one episode featuring Suzanne Iasenza, Parrish mentions that some people consider divorce a failure, and he shares that overcoming the shame and narrative that divorce means failure was one of the hardest things for him personally 1.

• Esther Perel also speaks about the concept of 'conscious uncoupling' on the podcast. She suggests that the marker for a successful relationship should not solely be its longevity, pointing out that people live much longer now and may have multiple significant adult relationships. The goal, she says, is to separate in a way that allows for well-wishing and personal growth, leading to healthier future relationships. The quality of how one ends a relationship can impact how they begin the next 2.

It appears from these discussions that Shane Parrish and his guests consider the view of divorce as a failure as a narrative that can be challenged and transformed. The emphasis, instead, is on the individual's growth and the ability to maintain a positive outlook for the future.