It can be hard to move forward after a divorce, even if you know that the divorce was smart and the best decision for all involved. These tips can help you move on and perhaps even reinvent yourself a bit as you step into this next stage in your life.
First, don’t be afraid to mourn the loss of the marriage. There’s nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t mean you made a mistake. It just means a big part of your life has ended, and mourning is a natural step for most people so that they can move on to the next part.
Next, remember to focus on yourself. Your marriage didn’t define you, and it doesn’t mean you can’t love yourself after the split. For some people, the key is remembering what they were like before the marriage, the hobbies they enjoyed and how they lived alone. For others, the key is discovering new things that they may never have learned about themselves had they stayed married.
Don’t say you’ll never date again. This doesn’t mean you need to run out right away and start dating, but ignoring it entirely can just make you feel alone. Dating helps you see that you can still have strong, fun relationships, and it shows you that you have other options. You don’t have to swear off all relationships if having them is important to you.
Finally, learn to love and embrace where you are in life. Look at your divorce as something that opens new doors — to travel, to new careers, and to new lifestyle changes. Finding the good in these things makes what you’ve lost easier to bear.
Naturally, it’s also important to know your legal rights and obligations thanks to the divorce. As you adjust to this new lifestyle, take the time to focus on things that may be unavoidable, such as child support or custody agreements.
Source: WebMD, “After Divorce: 8 Tips for Reinventing Yourself,” accessed Sep. 22, 2016