It’s easy to look at getting divorced as the end: the end of a marriage, the end of living in a particular house, even the end of having a certain last name. But in many ways, divorce is a beginning — a way to shake off the dust, pick yourself up, and move on to bigger and better things that you felt you couldn’t do before.
Many people, while engaged in divorce proceedings, will necessarily focus on things that have to be taken care of before the marriage is over: determining the fate of marital property, real estate and retirement plans, particularly among those couples fortunate enough to have healthy asset portfolios. But once everything is said and done, there can be a feeling of emptiness. The trick, according to personal coaches, is to turn that feeling into one of opportunity.
In particular, there are three obvious benefits that can be realized:
- Weight loss. Many people will end up dropping pounds due to stress. However, realizing that this can be a health benefit when combined with a better diet and improved exercise can be a key to a better attitude.
- Learn who your best friends are. It’s also a stressful time for people who are supporting you. The ones who stick with you through the rough times are the ones you can count on going forward, toward hopefully better times.
- Do a major purge of your possessions. Getting divorced can help to seal the fate of some items your spouse said he or she would use, but never did. Help yourself by literally getting rid of some of the burdens weighing you down.
Of course, it may take experienced legal assistance to get to this point. Having someone help you lay the foundation for a successful divorce can make all the difference.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Three Good Things About Your Otherwise Terrible Divorce,” Christina Pesoli, Jan. 6, 2014
