Navigating Your Divorce Transition

In the Fall Season, we think about Transitions. People flock all over to observe the beauty of transitions in nature. 

I love reading. Most of the time, I find myself recommending books to clients and co-workers. A good client once recommended a book for me to read. He explained that he had gone through many transitions throughout his life and he has guided a number of friends and colleagues through similar experiences. The book he recommended was Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges and Susan Bridges. This book was first published in 1980, but the concepts are universal and still apply today (more than 40 years later).

Divorce brings on a number of transitions. The personal transitions take time, and they move in phases. Knowing these phases of these transitions can remind you that what you are feeling is part of a natural process and that there is a future on the other side. Before any new beginning you need an ending.

1. Endings: Saying Goodbye. Every divorce begins with an ending. You may be letting go of routines, roles, or the picture of life you once imagined. It is normal to feel sadness, anger, or relief (sometimes all at once). These endings are difficult, but they also clear space for something new.
2. The In-Between: Finding Your Footing. After an ending, life can feel unsettled. Old patterns are gone, and the new patterns ones are not yet steady. This “in-between” time often feels confusing or uncomfortable, but it is also a time of growth. One of my mentors talks about progress through tensions points. Throughout divorce, many people discover strength, creativity, and resilience that they didn’t know they had or maybe that they had forgotten about during their married life.
3. New Beginnings: Looking Forward. Eventually, a new chapter takes shape. You begin to see the purpose of the changes, picture what life can look like, and step into your role in building it. This stage does not erase what came before (it does not stop endings or change the struggle of the in between time). Instead, these new beginnings build on your strengths and experiences to create a “new normal” that can bring happiness, stability, peace, and possibility.

These transitions are not quick or easy, but they are meaningful. As you move through the ending of one chapter and toward the beginning of another, remember:

• You are not alone in this process.
• Feeling unsettled is part of finding your footing.
• The future holds space for healing, growth, and new opportunities.

Our role is to guide you through the legal steps and to support you as you look toward what’s next.

If you are interested in reading this book, you can click this link to purchase: Transitions (40th Anniversary Edition).

If you are interested in talking to an attorney about this confusing time in your life, give our team a call at 407-834-4847.