Hopes have been shattered, ambitions crushed, vulnerabilities exploited by others. The enemy could be another individual, "the system" or your own shortcomings or lack of self-respect. In any case, the defeat brings humiliation and a sense of helplessness. Life may feel like a cruel joke.

These humbling circumstances are not completely grim. Pain can be a profound catalyst for growth, and dissolution offers the opportunity for a new start. To avoid being caught in a spiraling dynamic of bitterness and treachery, resign yourself to losing the battle. Search for the lessons that lie in the ruins.

If you are the one who feels powerful and conquering at this time, ask yourself how you got here. Does a trail of others' tears lie in your wake? When people gain at the expense of others, everyone ultimately loses.