Divorce Teaches Us What is Important

 Divorce isn’t happy but divorce can teach us all a whole heck of a lot about happiness. For better or worse, divorce is one of the quickest ways to find out what is important to you. Negotiating a separation from a life partner really puts things into perspective regarding the fragility and unpredictability of life.

Often what feels important in life are actually the ways in which we define ourselves by our roles, degrees, jobs, race, gender, etc.  For example, a woman may believe that the most important things in her life are her medical degree, her spouse, and her children. What happens when one or more of those things are lost?  What happens when you no longer have a spouse? Or you lose your job or change career paths? Now how will you define what holds importance? Are YOU no longer important? We feel important when we are needed or desired and divorce can completely turn all of this on its head.

Divorce can strip you down to the core emotionally. In times like these the true angels in your life will appear to support you. Those who you may have previously thought were important fixtures in your life fall by the wayside as you are faced with the reality of who actually turns up in times of need. Often times in divorce, there are children who need you. They need your comfort, your guidance, and your assurance that everything will be all right. They are important. Last but not least, you are important. Divorce is a symbol of the loss of a life partner and it can be incredibly daunting to approach life solo but hold onto the knowledge that the most important the in your life is yourself. You deserve every moment of care and reprieve that you give yourself and probably much more. Self-care is a trendy phrase these days but there is no circumstance in which it is more applicable than in a divorce.

STAY UP TO DATE

Subscribe to our newsletters

 
Subscribe to one or more of our newsletters, delivering meaningful insight on topics that matter to you and your family.

FURTHER READING

Latest Blog Posts

When parents go through a divorce, child custody can be one of the hardest issues to deal with. But increasingly in American households, pets are part of the family, and separating can create similar concerns over who gets the family pet.

As a Seattle entrepreneur, you’ve undoubtedly dedicated countless hours and resources to building a successful business. You’ve dotted all of your I’s and crossed all of your T’s. But have you considered what will happen to your business after you're…

In today’s world of fast-paced decision-making and on-demand solutions, such as DIY divorces, it is not surprising that many couples contemplate divorce the moment they find themselves unhappily married. Our culture’s fickle mentality often seems to advocate for the idea…

In the wake of divorce or separation, co-parenting can feel stressful. Not only have you just gone through an emotional experience, but you are also now trying to figure out how both you and your co-parent can spend time with…

Far too many families end up fighting, or at least experiencing tension, over a family inheritance, but it does not have to be that way. Having counseled families for years, we offer the following advice to help your family avoid fighting over your property — while you are here and after you die.

If you are getting divorced, you may be worried about what it will do to your finances. Maybe your finances are heavily intertwined with your spouse’s, or you are worried about what your future will look like, given these changes.…

Establishing paternity and parentage is important for many families and parents. Regardless of why you want to establish paternity and parentage, the process has the potential to be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the terms and rules for…

After divorce, you may find yourself living on one less stream of income than you did when you were married and want to find a way to make up for it. Or even if you didn’t lose any income by…

If you are in the process of getting remarried, a prenuptial agreement may be the last thing on your mind. It should be at the forefront of it, however, as it can be beneficial for you, your spouse, and, if…

As a mom of four (now adult) kids, I remember well the flood of emotions that came each time they went to my ex’s, especially during the early days of my separation and eventually after my divorce. Not only was…