After Divorce: Moving From Survival Mode To Truly Living Again
I Lost My Marriage, Identity, And Security — Here's How I Rebuilt
The Weekly Compass - Living
“Don’t you want to be alive again before you die?”
That question hit me hard at a time when everything in my life felt like it had fallen apart. My marriage, my sense of security, and the identity I’d carried for decades were gone. I felt like I was standing in the rubble of a life that no longer existed.
But that one sentence became a turning point.
Because existing isn’t the same as living. And after loss — whether it's through divorce, death, or another major life change — the work isn’t just to recover. It’s to rebuild.
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A Quote to Start the Week
Maya Angelou once wrote,
“The ache for home lives in all of us — the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
That’s what rebuilding is really about. Not just creating a new life, but creating one that finally feels like home — a place where you belong to yourself, where you feel safe, whole, and truly alive.
A Simple Practice
Try this today:
Imagine your life like a house that’s burned down. The old structure is gone, but the land is yours. You get to rebuild.
Ask yourself:
What do I want this new home — this life — to look like?
What sort of person do I want to become?
How do I want to feel?
Then set three small goals (like: shower, eat, journal). Three medium ones (like: take a walk, write for 10 minutes, stretch). And one big goal (like: start the project you’ve been putting off, travel, career change).
This is how you start again. One small step at a time, with courage and determination.
A Meditation to Support You
This short guided meditation is the one I wish I had during my early days of rebuilding. It's designed to centre you, lift your energy, and gently help you reconnect with the possibilities of your day — even if you're still healing.
Awaken Your Day Meditation
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Music to Set the Tone
Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
This song is pure release. A reminder that you’re allowed to shed what’s behind you and step into something new. Loud. Brave. Alive.
Book to Read This Week
The Other 90% by Robert K. Cooper
I know I’ve recommended this book before, but it’s so good! It reframes what true potential looks like and how much of it we leave untapped. It’s perfect if you’re ready to move from survival to thriving — with purpose.
A Mantra for the Week
“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
— Carl Jung
Repeat it often. Especially on the days that feel heavy.
One Thing to Do
Open your journal and write this at the top of the page:
“What do I want life to feel like?”
Then answer honestly and in detail. Not from the mind, but from the heart.
Let this answer shape how you move through the week.
This Week’s Compass Reminder:
This isn’t just about survival. It’s about living again. It’s about becoming someone who doesn’t just get through the day, but lives it fully.
You deserve to feel alive again just like I did.
If you’ve found value in this article please consider upgrading to become a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers get access to all content here and on my podcast and my Inner Peace Kit.
Such helpful questions and prompts, Georgia. I think these are realistic steps to take for folks in this situation.