How to Control Your Divorce

While I was in the midst of my own divorce, I was convinced that my soon-to-be ex husband was my biggest enemy.

I was wrong.

In fact, in many ways was my own worst enemy.

I allowed myself to become consumed with things that were outside of my control. I grew increasingly frustrated with the glacial pace of the court proceedings and allowed my ex’s lack of cooperation to spark my ire. I obsessed over his new relationship, convinced that the details were important. I fixated on my desire for him to face the repercussions for his (illegal) actions and allowed the shortcomings of the legal system to derail me.

And all of those things have a single commonality – they were outside of my locus of control.

Part of what makes divorce so scary and so painful is the enormity of the changes and the scarcity of control. To make the transition easier, learn to let go of the areas you cannot control and redirect your attention to the spheres where you have influence.

 

What You Can’t Control

 

Timing of Divorce

The family courts move at their own pace. And it’s often a glacial one.  It’s very easy to get frustrated and caught up with the actions (or inactions) of the professionals involved. You can ensure that your bills are paid, your paperwork is prompt and your attorney is kept apprised. And that’s where your part ends. Let go of the need for the divorce to happen on your desired timeline.

 

Your Spouse’s Reactions

Maybe you’re like me and you are the recipient of an unwanted divorce. Or perhaps you are the one who initiated the split and your spouse is taking the news hard. Either way, you cannot control your partner’s reactions. You can ask for discussion if they are leaving and you can act with compassion if they are. Their response is not something you can influence.

 

Fairness

I was completely hung up on the notion of “fairness” in my divorce. I felt like it was needed for me to move on. But fairness as we think of it is more at home in fiction than reality and I couldn’t write it into my own life. When you’re in the emotional storm of a divorce, little will feel fair. But it’s okay. You’re alive and you’re breathing. You can go on regardless.

 

Limitations of Law

 If your spouse acted poorly, you may be looking to the courts to provide the consequences for their actions. But that isn’t what the law is designed to do. According to the courts, your marriage is a legal contract and nothing else. You will not find any emotional healing or salvation in their halls.

 

Ex’s Behavior

Every day I receive messages from people inquiring how they get their ex to tell the truth. Or to stop dating so soon. Or to step up and be present for the kids. The difficult truth is that you couldn’t control those things while you were married and you have even less influence now. It’s difficult to go from being in someone’s everyday life to being merely a bystander. Yet the sooner you can accept that role, the happier you’ll be.

 

Financial and Lifestyle Impact

 It’s the rare person who doesn’t take a financial and/or lifestyle hit after divorce. It can be a frustrating setback, especially when it comes on the heels of years of hard work and sacrifice. While you have to make adjustments to allow for the change, try not to expend too much mental energy on the financial losses and instead focus on what you can do to rebuild.

 

 

What You Can Control

 

Environment

Divorce is often a time of unwanted change and loss. You may be feeling rejected and scared, unsure in your new life. Take this opportunity to create an environment in your home (wherever that may be for now) that feels supportive and welcoming. And why stop with your physical space? Extend this idea to your friends and family as well, surrounding yourself with people that make you feel good. The investment in your environment will pay dividends in the coming months.

 

Legal Knowledge

 You can’t control the courts and you don’t write the laws, but you can educate yourself about the process so that you are not subjects to whims of the attorneys (who may or may not have your best interests in mind). It’s difficult to focus on the practical while in the midst of the emotional storm yet it’s worth the effort.

 

Personal Boundaries

You’ve accepted that you can’t control your ex, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with anything they have to offer. You get to decide what you will tolerate and you can communicate those boundaries and reinforce the natural consequences. It’s amazing how empowering the act of creating space can be.

 

Staying Out of the Storm

Like many others, my divorce was drama-filled. At first, I allowed myself to get caught up in it, the daily ups and downs dictating my emotional state. It took some time, but eventually, through a combination of mindfulness and yoga, I learned that I could refuse to allow my emotions to get caught up in the storm. The nonsense still went on but it no longer had such an influence.

 

Attention and Energy

Divorce’s impact is huge. It’s natural for it to occupy a large portion of your attention and energy. Be careful how much you feed it because whatever you nurture, grows. Make an effort to find other, more positive areas to direct your attention. This is a great time to recommit to a hobby or dive headfirst into a new one.

 

Attitude

If you can control this, you are powerful beyond measure.

Attitude changes the end of the world into a new beginning. Attitude is the difference between being a victim and stubbornly flourishing in spite of the circumstances. Attitude throws away the shame and replaces it with fierce determination. Attitude can say, “This is horrible,” or it can pronounce, “I will make it through!”

And attitude determines if you focus on those things you cannot control or if you direct your attention to what you can change.

Thank you for sharing!

3 thoughts on “How to Control Your Divorce

  1. I had been verbally abused and gaslighted for several years when I asked for a divorce. I lost a job and had to discontinue school so had some debt at this time and no help from him. Since I was unemployed, I tried to get free counsel but he wouldn’t agree to the terms. He said I couldn’t do anything right and threatened to take me to the court where his attorney and the judge previously yelled at and interrogated me. Frightened by this, I ended up with no representation and signed papers at his attorneys office. He wouldn’t give me the house where I could have lived with my college age and younger child. I had to get a cosigner to get an apartment with my younger child a couple towns away. Apparently, he had all the help he needed, but if you have the finances and support you’ll get through this much better.

  2. divorcehealingblog – The meaning of the “second chance” I seek has been changed a lot. I started writing this in the hope of saving my marriage. But as time showed me , that was futile and misguided. Now I seek a second chance to be father to my six year old boy. He will no longer live with me starting aug2018. I hope to use this blog to allow him an insight into his father. I would want him to read this when he is older. My original synopsis A man in crisis. I am a 30 -something man. My 10 year marriage shattering in front of my eyes. I have decided that writing helps. I am hoping to heal from whats coming, but before that I have to deal with it. Experience the pain, I know I will feel, when my wife walks out the door. I have a little boy who I don't want to lose. And I am scared. Of restarting my life from scratch. I am hoping to find kindred spirits on the blog, who are going through or have gone through what I am experiencing. But I have hope, and I have faith. To some degree, I hope to reconcile my marriage.
    divorcehealingblog says:

    I WILL make it !! If possible I will be better than I was before, a better person, thanks for the reminder.

  3. struth71 – New Zealand – Mum of 3 beautiful kids. Coming up 2 years separated. Still on the roller coaster. A strong-minded, typical Taurean. I don't try to hide what I am - at my age, I'm not going to change the fundamentals. But I am still willing to learn and to 'smooth the edges'. Two years on, still got lots of hurt and anger - struggle to 'let go'. Hoping that this year will be the one where that just happens overnight.
    struth71 says:

    Brilliant words again, Lisa. The ‘fair’ issue really resonated in particular. I must stop believing the world owes me any degree of fairness right now. That will come once this door is firmly closed.

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