Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

Gray Divorce After 50: Why It’s Happening & 3 Steps to Heal a Broken Heart

Hello and welcome to the Midlife Made Easier, a supportive space where midlife women prioritize their healing, reclaim their power, and build a life they love. This is your place to take charge of your well-being, find your voice, and feel seen, supported, and strong.

I want to share a free resource that might help you on your journey: the Midlife Reboot Workbook. It’s designed to help you reset, refocus, and reclaim your joy in this next chapter of life.

My Story: Divorce, Starting Over, and Healing

I am going through my own gray divorce. After decades of marriage, I suddenly found myself facing the unimaginable, starting over in midlife. It was more than just dividing up our stuff and having to move back home; it felt like losing a part of my identity.

At first, the heartbreak was all-consuming. I cried daily, my body ached, and I even struggled with my health. Stress showed up as exhaustion and anxiety. There were days I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. But slowly, I began to heal. I committed to taking care of both my physical and mental health, one step at a time. I started walking every morning, journaling my feelings, eating healthier meals, and leaning on a few trusted friends. Over time, I realized divorce wasn’t the end; it was the beginning of a new chapter.

My healing journey gave me a new perspective: midlife is not too late to start again. In fact, it can be the perfect time to step into your power and create a life that finally feels aligned with who you are today.

What Is a Gray Divorce?

“Gray divorce” refers to the rising trend of couples over 50 ending long-term marriages. These separations often come after 20, 30, or even 40 years together. While divorce is always painful, the midlife version can feel especially overwhelming because lives are so deeply intertwined, emotionally, financially, and socially.

Why Is Gray Divorce Happening?

Here are three key reasons gray divorce is becoming more common:

  1. Empty Nest & Identity Shifts
     Without the shared focus of raising children, couples sometimes realize they’ve drifted apart and no longer share the same values or dreams.
  2. Long-Term Dissatisfaction
     Midlife often brings clarity. Patterns of neglect, lack of intimacy, or unresolved conflict that were once tolerated become impossible to ignore.
  3. Greater Independence
     Today, many women are financially independent and living longer, healthier lives. With new confidence and options, they feel empowered to pursue happiness on their own terms.

The Pain of a Broken Heart

Regardless of who initiated the divorce, the grief is real. Sadness, loneliness, and even physical pain are common. These feelings can interfere with your health and daily life if left unaddressed. But healing is possible, and it begins with intentional action.

3 Crucial Steps to Healing After a Gray Divorce

1. Remove Physical & Emotional Reminders

Clear out mementos, photos, and digital connections. By creating physical space, you give your heart and mind room to heal.

2. Prioritize Self-Care

Instead of numbing the pain, nourish your body and soul. Eat well, move daily, try new hobbies, and surround yourself with supportive people.

3. Prepare for Encounters

Your first inclination might be to confront or berate, but if you run into your ex, keep the interaction polite, brief, and calm. Practicing composure honors your dignity and protects your energy.

Healing Is Your Midlife Superpower

Healing a broken heart isn’t easy, but it’s possible. I’m living proof that you can move through the grief, rebuild your health, and come out stronger. Divorce doesn’t define you; it opens the door to rediscovering who you truly are, and please remember, something I have to remind myself of on occasion, midlife is not too late; you are just getting started.

Well, my friend, that is all I have for you today. Please share this post with someone you love. Let us know in the comments how you’re navigating midlife transitions and what helps you feel supported. 

With Peace & Love,
Renee


Ready to Reclaim Your Spark in Midlife?  Free guide The Midlife Reboot Workbook
If you’re prepared to wake up excited again, reconnect with your purpose, and feel like you again, this workbook is for you. Until next time, take care of yourself and each other. 

✨ Check out other empowering resources below to support your midlife journey:

📘 FREE – The Midlife Reboot Workbook
 Feeling stuck in the middle of life? You’re not alone. Download this uplifting and straightforward guide to reconnect with yourself and take the first step toward a life that feels entirely your own.
📥 Download the FREE workbook here

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Empowering everyday people through faith, wellness, and real-life resilience. We love supporting our blog family with helpful tools and resources designed to make everyday life more intentional and rewarding. Grab These Free Resources: Created With YOU in Mind:

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🌿 Midlife Made Easier – Encouragement and resources for women navigating midlife with purpose, joy, and grace.   Midlife Life Reboot Workbook:  Gain clarity, reset your goals, and step confidently into your next chapter.

💪 Surviving & Thriving Single Parenthood – Strength, support, and self-care strategies for single moms raising thriving kids.  The Ultimate Self-Care Guide for Single Moms: Prioritize Your Well-being and Parent with Confidence and Purpose

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

I Will Show Myself Compassion and Open Myself Up to Growth

Introduction:

     We are often quick to show compassion to others, we give them grace when they make mistakes or hurt us, but we do not allow ourselves this same compassion.  True growth has a learning curve, and as we learn, we will make mistakes; it is okay to make mistakes; instead of running away from them, we need to acknowledge these mistakes to give ourselves room to grow. 

     This week show yourself some compassion as you pursue your dreams, as you face challenges head-on when you fall-lift yourself back up and ask yourself, what did I learn?   Will you give yourself room to grow?

The Affirmation

I am a work in progress. I give myself room to learn and grow.

I will try new things.   I will keep an open mind and move beyond my comfort zone. My new adventures might include skydiving or writing poetry.

Whatever I choose, I will allow myself the grace to enjoy it.

I will try new things like listening to country music, rap, and jazz. I will replace my usual morning run with a yoga class.

I will seek out challenges. I will volunteer for challenging assignments at work. I will talk about sensitive subjects with my family and friends.

I will not be afraid to ask questions. I will gratify my curiosity.

I will welcome feedback. I invite colleagues and clients to let me know what they think about my performance. I thank my loved ones for helpful reminders. I will use their input to make positive changes.

I will let my light shine as I teach others. I can use my knowledge to teach students and mentor newcomers in my field.

I will expand my mind by reading books I love and new works of fiction and nonfiction.

I will take classes. I will push past fear, sign up for courses at my local university, and subscribe to e-learning platforms.

I will make learning fun. I will visit my local library to browse for free audiobooks, movies, and events.

I will travel to other countries or explore new places in my neighborhood or town.

 I will practice speaking foreign languages at ethnic restaurants and grocery stores.

Today, I train my mind to think. I add to my knowledge and skills. I pursue my passion for learning.  I will remind myself that my mind is powerful and capable of accomplishing the goals and dreams I have for my life.

Self-Reflection Questions:

  1. What is one new skill that would help me to advance my career?
  2. What is the difference between working hard and working smart?
  3. Why is it important to adopt a growth mindset?
  4. What is one way I can show myself compassion this week?
  5. What feelings arise in me as I answer these questions?

With Peace and Love,

Renee

PS

Whenever you are ready, I can help you create the future you’ve always wanted:

Join the private Welcome To Your Life Midlife Made Easier Facebook group, a curated community exclusively for fun-loving midlife. Learn from and connect with other midlife women this is your village a safe place to vent your concerns and celebrate your wins.  Click here to join (note: you must answer the questions to be considered).

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

You Can Create a Life That Is Balanced and Joyful

Listen to Episode 49 of Welcome to Your Life! Midlife Made Easier Podcast: You Can Create a Life That Is Balanced and Joyful

(Download The Best Self-Care Journal Heal your body and soul through self-love and mindfulness. )

Today we are talking about how to create and live a balanced life.  I know that that can be difficult to achieve considering the times we live in now.  But I hope that today’s post will give you some insight into how to accomplish this.  Now, if you can listen with a pen and piece of paper close by, that would be very helpful, as I will be asking you to answer some reflective questions to create a picture to determine how balanced your life is now.

Why am I talking about living a balanced life?  Because we spend so much time compartmentalizing the various areas of our lives, trying to ensure that everything has its own place.  Our relationships, career, money, exercise, health, but we all know that our whole lives will be affected if one area is out of whack.

Imagine having tons of money, the house, and the career you want. But not being able to enjoy it because your health is failing.  That is not an exaggeration.  I had my dream job and was at least 30 pounds overweight and trying to reverse diabetes and prehypertension.  When a part of your life is not in line with your life’s other aspects, you will begin to enjoy your lifeless and less as you struggle to get it back on track.

It is crucial to think of your life as one holistic pie and decide to put your energy into making every piece of that pie as yummy as possible.  Forgive the pie metaphor, but I am giving up sweets for Lent.

What would creating a life that is balanced and enjoyable look like? 

Your first step would be to take a real and honest look at your life in every area.  So many times, we let the fear of change stop us from making moves in our lives that we know will set us free.

Fear of change is real and can be the number one reason that we stay stuck in unhealthy and unhappy areas of our lives.  We convince ourselves that it is easier to keep the familiar mess we know rather than finding the creativity and energy to make the changes we need to be happy.

My job as your coach is to help you begin the process of imagining what your life would be like if you gathered your courage and made the necessary changes you need to make to create a happy and balanced life.  Before you ask, yes, you can have a happy and balanced life because this is not available for lucky people or blessed people. 

Now, this is where your pen and paper will come in handy?  The self-reflective questions I am about to ask you will help you to decide if you need to make changes in your life.

Are you getting things done on your own, but could use some report?

Do you want to build a healthier relationship with food?

Do you eat when you are bored, angry, sad, or stressed out?

Do you want to develop a deeper connection to yourself and others?

Do you want to be empowered to be your own health expert?

Do you want more confidence, energy, and self-acceptance?

Do you want to be held accountable to show up for yourself?

Are you looking outside of yourself for love, support, and acceptance?

I want you to take the time to answer these questions because this is the first step towards reducing your stress and healing your emotional health. 

Once you have answered the questions, I want you to use your answers to create a plan that will help you begin nurturing yourself.  This is something we can not turn over to the hands of others.  I am talking to all my romantics out there; believe me, I know how you feel.  I spent the whole day recently watching Hallmark romantic comedies and saying to myself, if my husband would just be like the characters in these movies, I would feel fantastic, and our marriage would be excellent.

Nurturing must begin with us; this is how we teach others how to treat us.

Your next step is to create priorities.  Have you ever woken up in the morning, dreading the start of your day?  You have so many things pulling at your time and energy you want to turn off the alarm and remove the cover over your head. 

Prioritizing your life will help you reduce you overwhelm and focus on the items in your day that must get done, bringing you joy.

I know that some days would be impossible to find balance, but that cannot be our daily existence.  It might be that it has been years since your life appeared to be in a healthy balance, but that does not mean that with the right action, you cannot make things right.

It is time for you to embrace and create the best life you can now!  You can decide where to put energies each day and make the life you want to live, so you do not get stuck living the life you have.

With Peace and Love,

Renee

Download The Best Self-Care Journal Heal your body and soul through self-love and mindfulness. 

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

My Inner Voice is Kind to Me

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

Listen to Episode 48 Welcome to Your Life! Midlife Made Easier My Inner Voice Is Kind To Me

I speak to myself with much love and compassion. I think positive. My inner voice builds up my confidence and self-esteem.  

I choose gentle words and stick to the facts. I ask myself open-ended questions that help me view situations from a different perspective and clarify my purpose.

I practice daily. Doubts and assumptions can be stubborn. I am patient. I strengthen my new beliefs each time I think about them or say them out loud.

I repeat positive affirmations. I use empowering statements to guide my thoughts and actions.

I give myself a pep talk before challenging tasks. I take a few deep breaths and remember my achievements. I tell myself that I am strong and competent. I visualize myself delivering an effective presentation or negotiating a raise.

I comfort myself when I am under pressure. I validate my feelings and my experiences. I motivate myself to persevere and move forward.

I praise myself for making an effort. I give myself credit for trying, regardless of the outcomes. I can learn from successes and setbacks.

I let myself cry and make myself laugh. I love and accept myself for who I am. I observe my thoughts and feelings without making judgments. I look for the reasons behind them, so I can understand my reactions and make conscious decisions.

Today, I appreciate the power of my inner voice. I talk to myself like a dear friend.

Self-Reflection Questions:

  1. How can writing in a journal help me to become more aware of my self-talk?
  2. How can my self-talk help me to deal with stress?
  3. What is one positive thing I want to tell myself each morning?

Share this affirmation with someone you love! Until next week

With Peace and Love,

Renee

PS If you want to tap into some midlife love and support, join The Welcome to Your Life! Midlife Made Easier Facebook group. In this group, there are extra trainings, resources, and support from midlife women just like you. Click here to join!