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When Loyalty Breaks: Betrayal, Self-Preservation & Rising Anyway

There’s a quiet kind of heartbreak that doesn’t come from a breakup or a layoff.

It comes from someone you trusted… choosing themselves over you.

That sting?

Yeah—it’s betrayal. And it happens to all of us eventually.

Even, apparently, to Taylor Swift.

Let’s talk about the rumored Taylor Swift and Blake Lively fallout.

Two women who were bestie goals. Seen at football games together, parties, red carpets.

Now? No birthday posts. No photos. No mention of each other. Just silence.

And while we’ll never know the full story, the speculation is a wake-up call:

Even the closest friendships can unravel when fear, pressure, or self-preservation kicks in.

🎙 This Week’s Episode: “They’ll Throw You to the Wolves”

In this new episode of Rise to More, I’m sharing something raw and personal:

A betrayal I didn’t see coming.

It wasn’t cinematic. It wasn’t explosive. It was quiet. Calculated. And devastating.

But it taught me something I needed to learn:

Most people won’t throw you to the wolves… until it benefits them.

Here’s what I dive into:

* Why betrayal almost always comes from someone close

Not enemies. Not strangers. Friends. Mentors. Business partners. The people you believed in.

* Self-preservation bias

When fear creeps in, most people will act in their own best interest—and justify it later.

* How to spot the signs early

(The silence, the distancing, the rewriting of history.)

* Why loyalty is beautiful—but leverage is essential

You can be a good person and still protect your position.

* Four strategies to protect your peace and integrity

From documentation to detachment, I lay it all out.

A Truth We Hate to Admit

People will protect their own reputation before they protect your relationship.

And when betrayal happens, the worst part isn’t the loss of the connection.

It’s that gut-wrenching voice that whispers,

“How did I not see this coming?”

You’ll question your instincts.

You’ll replay the last conversation over and over.

And if you’re not careful, you’ll start believing you can’t trust anyone again.

But here’s the thing: you can prepare without becoming paranoid.

You can be loyal without being naive.

You can build trust and still build a backup plan.

My Challenge to You

This week, take stock of your world:

* Are you too reliant on someone?

* Do you have leverage—or are you just hoping people do the right thing?

* If someone pulled the rug out tomorrow… would you be okay?

If the Taylor & Blake fallout taught us anything, it’s this:

Fame, success, and years of history don’t always protect you from disconnection.

So let’s stop pretending that loyalty alone will keep us safe.

Let’s start learning how to rise anyway.

-

🔗 Share this with someone who’s rebuilding after betrayal.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jasnaburza.substack.com