Learning to Accept Injustice When Justice Will Not Come
- Falsely Accused Network
- Sep 20
- 3 min read
By Michael Thompson, Founder of the Falsely Accused Network
At the Falsely Accused Network, I speak to many people who call us in moments of deep pain. They’ve been falsely accused, wrongfully arrested, or treated with a level of unfairness that shakes them to their core. They are desperate for justice – and rightly so. But sometimes, and this is one of the hardest truths to face, justice does not come. The system does not always right the wrongs. The courts, the police, society itself they can fail.
This reality is brutal. It is enough to leave a person bitter, broken, or consumed by rage. But I want to draw here on some of the greatest psychological and philosophical minds Viktor Frankl, Epictetus, Carl Jung and combine their wisdom with what I’ve seen firsthand. Because while we cannot always control outcomes, we can control how we respond.
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1. The Power of Acceptance
Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist who survived Auschwitz, said: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
That is the essence of acceptance. Acceptance does not mean condoning injustice, nor forgetting what happened. It means recognising: “This is what happened. This is reality. I cannot change it by sheer willpower or anger. But I can choose how I live from here.”
Acceptance is the beginning of freedom. Without it, we remain chained to the injustice itself.
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2. Avoiding the Trap of Bitterness
Carl Jung once wrote that “what you resist, persists.” The more we fight the fact that something terrible has happened, the more it festers in our mind. I’ve seen men and women waste years of their lives obsessing over wrongs that cannot be undone.
Bitterness eats away at us, not the system. We must refuse to hand over more of our lives to those who wronged us.
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3. Reframing the Story
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
If you cannot win in the courts, win in your mind. Reframe the story: instead of being the person destroyed by false allegations, become the person who endured them, who grew stronger, who built resilience that others will never know.
Pain can either define you or refine you.
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4. Practical Tips for Letting Go
Limit rumination: When you catch yourself replaying the injustice again and again, stop. Set a boundary: “I’ve thought about this for 10 minutes today. That’s enough.”
Channel your energy: Put it into something constructive -fitness, learning, supporting others, creative work. Purpose is the greatest antidote to despair.
Surround yourself wisely: Some people fuel your anger; others help you heal. Choose carefully.
Use rituals: Write the injustice down, then burn the paper. It’s symbolic, but it helps the mind release.
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5. Daily Affirmations for Strength
Try repeating these aloud, daily if you can:
“I cannot control the system, but I can control myself.”
“What happened to me is not who I am.”
“Every day I choose to move forward, not backward.”
“My peace is worth more than revenge.”
“I am stronger than what I have endured.”
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6. Moving Forward Without Forgetting
Moving on does not mean forgetting or pretending the injustice never happened. It means carrying it differently not as a crushing weight, but as a scar that proves survival.
You may never get the justice you deserve. But you can still live a meaningful, empowered life. That is not giving up. That is reclaiming your life from the hands of those who tried to destroy it.
And if you need extra support along that journey, we are fortunate to work with Aga, a dedicated coach and therapist who supports men facing false allegations, domestic abuse, and family court battles. Her sessions are practical, grounded, and very reasonably priced. If you’d like to be booked in with her, just drop us an email and we can make the arrangements.
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Final Word
If you are reading this and struggling with the weight of false allegations or wrongful treatment, please know: you are not alone. Others have faced it, endured it, and rebuilt their lives. You can too.
At the Falsely Accused Network, we are here to support you on that journey.
📞 0204 538 8788
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