Post-Divorce Peace A Guide to Being Good to Yourself
When you look in the mirror, do you see your strongest advocate or your worst adversary? If you’re still working through the process or aftermath of a divorce, the answer isn’t always clear. Separating from a spouse is rarely anything but traumatizing. As you work to get your life back on track and move forward, your feelings may lead you to engage in self-sabotage without realizing it. Here are two common ways you may be causing yourself more harm than good, and ways to be a better friend to yourself as you heal. YOU’RE RIDING AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. As with most other deeply stressful life events, divorce can place us in a mental whirlwind that can change course seemingly out of nowhere. You may be angry one moment, depressed the next, and irritable a few minutes later. While these mood fluctuations are normal and
understandable, it is important not to let them become your new norm at the expense of your friendships, professional relationships, or even opportunities to spend time with a potential new partner. First, recognize these emotional ups and downs as temporary reactions, not permanent realities. Give yourself space to acknowledge them when they appear, and remind yourself that these thoughts will pass. If you struggle to rise above them when they bring you down, don’t shut out those around you who offer support and insights your present state of mind won’t allow through. YOU’RE PRETENDING TO BE A SUPERHERO. Although it’s reasonable for someone to want to lean into their independence following a divorce, convincing yourself that you can do everything on your own is a recipe for burnout. No one expects you to suddenly have all the answers or have
everything under control all the time, and there’s no shame in asking for help when life gets overwhelming. It’s great to feel empowered, but reaching out to others when we need them is perhaps the truest expression of inner strength.
TAKE A BREAK
Spinach Artichoke Pizza This deep-dish pizza recipe is fancy and easy to make, delivering all the flavor of a cheesy spinach-artichoke dip in a baked-pizza form!
Ingredients • 1 loaf frozen bread dough • 2 tbsp garlic herb spreadable cheese • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 7 oz artichoke
hearts, chopped • Several handfuls of fresh spinach • Pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Thaw dough according to package directions and let it rise for 2 hours. 2. Preheat oven to 450 F. 3. Coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with non-stick spray, then gently stretch dough to fit. 4. Spread garlic herb cheese evenly across the entire dough layer. 5. Sprinkle mozzarella and Gruyere cheeses evenly over dough, reserving a small amount of each. 6. As the topping, scatter chopped artichoke hearts, followed by a layer of torn spinach leaves, and then the reserved cheeses. Add black pepper to taste. 7. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and crisp.
Inspired by BlueBowlRecipes.com
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