Some spouses are fully aware their marriages are in trouble. Others experience surprise when their partner asks for a divorce. In either case, preparation is key to navigate the process successfully after learning of your spouse’s desires.
According to Kiplinger, divorce involves emotional, financial, and personal issues. Being able to sort through these issues effectively can help you navigate the process as successfully as possible.
Get in touch with your emotions
Divorce can lead to a hurricane of emotions, including anger, frustration, sadness, guilt, and many others. You cannot deny your emotions and pretend they do not exist. You can get in touch with them to let them run their course. Journaling is great in this respect, as it allows you to release pent-up frustrations privately. This also prevents you from saying something to your ex you might regret.
Do not make emotional decisions
When it comes to things like asset division, you must address the process with practicality in mind. For example, you may want to keep the family home for yourself, but this decision might not make sense if you have difficulty covering costs on your own. Listen to your legal team for an objective perspective, which will help you make rational decisions.
Make your kids top priority
Hurt feelings are unavoidable during divorce. You may also hold major resentment if your ex was unfaithful or hurtful towards you. Regardless of these feelings, refrain from speaking ill of your former spouse in front of your kids. You should also refrain from putting your kids in the middle, as this will only exacerbate the hurt they are experiencing.
One good thing about divorce is that it gives both parties a chance to start fresh. It is also possible that you will enjoy your new life a lot more than your previous one, which is often the case when marital strife was high.