178. Staying Calm, Clear, and Confident in a High-Conflict Divorce with Karen McMahon
In this powerful episode of We Chat Divorce, we sit down with Karen McMahon, high-conflict divorce strategist, certified divorce coach, and founder of Journey Beyond Divorce.
Karen shares her deeply personal story of surviving a prolonged, high-conflict divorce—and how that experience became the foundation of her life’s work helping others navigate divorce with emotional clarity and confidence.
Together, we explore what it really means to “keep your side of the street clean” during divorce, why reacting emotionally is one of the most expensive mistakes people make, and how staying calm, clear, and confident directly impacts both your legal outcomes and financial future.
This episode is essential listening for anyone feeling overwhelmed, triggered, or stuck in defense mode during divorce—especially in high-conflict situations.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why high-conflict divorce often makes the calmer spouse look like the problem
- The true meaning of “keeping your side of the street clean”
- How emotional dysregulation leads to rushed, costly decisions
- Why mindset, emotional regulation, and boundaries are foundational—not optional
- How to pause before responding to texts, emails, or demands
- Why financial clarity and emotional clarity must work together
- How inner work protects your children and breaks generational cycles
- Why a strong settlement alone does not guarantee peace or freedom
- How to reclaim your confidence during—and after—divorce Resources Mentioned
Journey Beyond Divorce Website: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com
Rapid Relief Call with a Journey Beyond Divorce coach: https://www.rapidreliefcall.com
Transcript
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Welcome to WeChat Divorce,
hosted by Karen Chellew, Legal
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Liaison and Catherine Shanahan,
CDFA.
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Each episode we sit down with
divorce professionals and
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industry experts to provide
insights and frank discussions
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about real people, real
situations, and real divorce to
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help you achieve your best life
post divorce.
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This episode of WeChat Divorce
is brought to you by My Divorce
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Solution, offering divorce
financial planning so clients
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can secure the divorce
settlement they deserve.
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Visit azure-emu-499854.hostingersite.com/ to
request access.
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Welcome back to WeChat Divorce,
brought to you by My Divorce
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Solution.
I’m Karen Shalu, your legal
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liaison here to help you
navigate the legal side of
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divorce with clarity and
confidence.
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And I’m Catherine Shanahan,
Certified Divorce Financial
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Analyst and your partner in
building long term financial
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stability throughout your
divorce journey and beyond.
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At MD’s, we believe preparation
is power and clarity is your
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greatest asset.
Today we had the chance to speak
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with someone who deeply
understands one of the most
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emotionally draining dynamics in
divorce, those high conflict
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personalities.
And I think for most people,
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just by the fact that you’re
going through a divorce, it’s
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high conflict by default.
But there are some who deal, and
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I guess most who deal with very
high conflict personalities.
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Yeah, it was good catching up
with Karen today, Karen McMahon.
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It was a great podcast and
really resonated with me because
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I like analogies, right?
And we talked about staying on
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your side of the street, which I
think I can continue to talk
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about all not talk about think
about all day long.
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You know, it’s, it’s just such a
good way to approach your day
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and your decision making because
it can give you a piece of calm
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knowing that you’re only trying
to regulate yourself and not
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everything around you, which is
what you try to do when you’re
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going through the divorce
process. 100% And I think, you
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know, I’ve never used that term.
I don’t even think I’ve heard
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that term before.
So it’s interesting to talk
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about, but I often find myself
speaking with our clients about
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learning a new language.
And it’s kind of the same thing,
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meaning the language of, you
know, what do I want?
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How do things work for me?
Because during the relationship
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with a spouse, you have that
language going on specifically
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about finances.
And so when you’re going through
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divorce, you do have to learn a
new language about how you talk
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about things and the mindset and
the, you know, Catherine, you
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talk about it, how you view
money, how you talk about money.
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A lot of that has to be
redirected in order for you to
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have a successful financially
post divorce life.
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So I think that it all comes.
Together.
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Yeah.
You know, and I don’t know if
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you, if you know me at all, you
know that I just got a divorce.
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I had a short term marriage the
second time around, 4 years and
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got divorced.
But Karen, even going through
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that, you know, because we
didn’t have any assets together,
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you had to help me stay on my
side of the street because I was
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so logistically thinking,
listen, this is a four year
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marriage.
We have nothing together.
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We’re just going to sign this
agreement.
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Everybody knows what I do for a
living.
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So there was no question there.
But I kept trying to get him to
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see just sign this.
And you kept saying to me,
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Catherine, just do what you can
do you doing right?
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So it’s so hard to do.
What ifs, right?
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There’s so many what ifs, and
you feel so vulnerable to all
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the what ifs.
And believe us both, Catherine
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and I know there’s a ton of what
ifs, but you can’t control them.
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And the best place to stay is on
your side of the street every
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day, all day.
I love that.
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Yeah.
It’s such an important
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conversation we had with Karen
today, packed with practical
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strategies.
Plus, Karen is offering our
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listeners a free gift, her fresh
start guide, how to break free
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from a toxic spouse.
So stay tuned.
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We’ll tell you how to grab your
copy later in the show.
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All right, let’s get into it.
Here’s our conversation with
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Karen McMahon.
Karen, welcome to WeChat
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Divorce.
I am so excited to be here.
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Thanks for the invitation.
Of course, and we’re so excited
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too to have you on the show.
But first, I want to introduce
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you to our listeners.
Karen McMahon is a high conflict
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divorce strategist, certified
divorce coach and the founder of
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Journey Beyond Divorce.
She’s also the host of the
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Journey Beyond Divorce podcast
and co-author of Stepping Out of
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Chaos, Turning Pain to
Possibility.
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Karen began this work in 2010
after walking through her own
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painful divorce and discovering
that it became a
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transformational turning point
in her life.
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She now leads a national team of
coaches helping men and women
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around the world move through
divorce with emotional clarity
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and personal growth.
Karen, again, we’re so glad
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you’re here.
And to start, can you tell us a
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little bit about your own
journey and what inspired you to
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start Journey Beyond Divorce?
Sure, thank you.
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The crib notes version is I was,
I was married, Blade.
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I was 34.
We had two beautiful children.
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And by the time my daughter hit
her second birthday, our
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marriage had already gone
severely off the rails.
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And I was very confused.
I didn’t understand.
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I’m intelligent, I’m heart
centered.
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Why can’t I make this work?
And this man was my Prince
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Charming.
What happened?
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And there was my ex-husband is
he has a lot of narcissistic
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trades.
He had a tremendous amount of
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anger management.
I do believe he was on the butt
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is on the bipolar spectrum.
And so it was just a he was
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consistently inconsistent was
one of my sayings.
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So you just never knew what you
were going to get.
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And and I lost myself.
I actually had a physical
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altercation with him that I
began on my daughter’s second
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birthday.
And the following Monday I
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called a therapist and started
therapy because I knew I had
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become the rageaholic that I was
raised by my mom.
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My dad was an alcoholic, my mom
was a rageaholic.
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And when I began to connect the
dots in therapy, I realized I
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had brought a lot of unhealthy
tendencies to the table.
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I I was a people pleaser.
I was definitely codependent.
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I was uncomfortable with
conflict because of how I grew
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up and my my relationship was
filled with all of those things.
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When I finally decided to
divorce, I thought, OK, it’ll be
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over soon.
And then 3 1/2 years later,
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after the courts had us hire a
psychological forensic, an
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attorney for the children, CPS
was called on us three times.
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I had to call the cops.
I had to get an order of
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protection.
I was in sales.
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I was a full time fully
commissioned salesperson.
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I lost 3/4 of my business
because I was an emotional mess.
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I, I was, I was, I was nothing
that I tell my clients now to
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be.
I was really a hot mess and
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blaming and accusing.
And yet through the process, I
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learned about a 12 step program.
I learned to keep my side of the
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street clean.
And that I would really say was
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the beginning of a pivot.
I, I don’t know that there was
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much coaching.
This was 2002 to 2006.
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And so learning the 12 step
concept of keep your side of the
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street clean was huge for me.
And how important is it?
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And one step, one day at a time,
one minute at a time.
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And and then I and I remember
calling my best friend and
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saying I am so pleased with the
human being I am and that if I
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had to do it all over again, my
answer would be yes on a dime.
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Which is a pretty big statement
because it was a big hell.
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I lived in the attic.
It was 100 plus degrees for
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three of the 3 1/2 years.
My kids were four and six when I
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told them.
It was heartbreaking.
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It was scary.
He told me I was going to lose
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the kids, and I believed him.
I was so afraid that he was
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going to have these kids and
like just crush them.
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And yet, Fast forward all of
these years and even just right
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after my divorce, I knew this
was for me.
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This was not as hard as it was.
It was absolutely for me.
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And I I was selling commercial
printing, which was a dying
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industry.
And I thought, and I’m a
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Christian and I sat on the couch
and cried for months and said,
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God, you did not bring me
through this journey to sell ink
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on paper.
What do you have for me?
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How how am I supposed to take
the jewels of what I’ve learned
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and do something better?
And I became a coach and I knew
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right away, right?
They’re like, what’s your niche?
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And I’m like, Oh my God, I was a
child of divorce.
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I just went through a hellacious
divorce.
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I think I’m supposed to be a
divorce coach.
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I hit the ground going into the
coaching in 2010.
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I had my first client 10, like
25% into the program.
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And I just built from there.
And I think that for so many
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coaches who have a hard time
launching a business I had, I
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had no other money.
It was like failure wasn’t an
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option.
I think that was like one of my
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mantras going into the divorce
coach chain.
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And and I was so passionate
about it.
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And I think that people really
resonate with someone who’s
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walked the walk because you
don’t just have that book
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theory, that theoretical
understanding.
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You have a lived, you have a
sense of it on such a cellular
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basis.
And for me, a lot of clients
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have hired me because they’re
like, I have no hope.
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But you seem so hopeful, Karen.
I’m actually going to hire you
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and hold on to your hope until I
can find my own.
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I like that, you know, it’s so
true because we all want to be
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able to relate to someone,
right?
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It’s not all the degrees, a lot
of times hanging on the wall.
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It’s more more about can you
relate to what I’m going
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through?
Because I don’t think people
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relate to me.
They talk over me.
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They took talk under me.
They they want to tell me that
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my life is just going to be okay
because they don’t really get
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it.
They only get what their
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profession is.
So when you actually have walked
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the walk, like you say, you’re
able to listen differently and
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speak differently to people
because you get where they are
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in that moment.
And you know, we see that on the
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financial side all day long.
We don’t judge anyone because
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they never were in charge of
their finances and, you know,
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they never looked at a statement
or their tax return.
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There’s no judgement here.
It’s like, let us walk you
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through it differently than
you’re used to so that you have
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an understanding and can make
good decisions for yourself.
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Exactly, Yeah.
Wow thank you for sharing that I
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am a little teary.
Just wow your story.
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I know I don’t get teary.
That our Karen doesn’t get teary
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very often.
So now me, I could baw my eyes
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out right now.
You know there’s.
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One of the things that now I’ve
been doing this for over 15
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years and so I’ve it’s, I’ve
spoken to thousands and one of
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the things I realized is I
really struggled with at least
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one piece of anyone who comes to
me.
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And I’m like, why, why did I
have to have all of that?
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And he’s like, well, maybe I had
to have all of that so that I
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could show up and go, I get it.
I hear you, I feel you.
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I, I understand you in a way
that so many others can’t.
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And So what was hell has turned
into just an incredible blessing
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and and not for me as much As
for the reach and the support
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and the healing that I can help
foster in the clients that we
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work with.
Well, there’s so many pieces of
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your story that are so similar
to mine that I really can make
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that connection because I was
deeply rooted in the church and
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my children were five and seven,
and I felt like everything that
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was happening was isolating me
from my family and everything I
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knew.
And so I really appreciate you
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sharing that because it really
spoke to me.
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I do have one question, though,
before we get into our further
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discussion today.
You talk about keeping my side
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of the street clean.
What does that mean?
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Well, and it actually plugs very
much into what we’re talking
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about South.
Most of us when our marriage
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starts going a little bit off
the rails, we figure what we
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need to do is help our spouse
change.
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And and that’s the beginning of
the mistake because, you know,
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we as human beings, we only have
control of ourselves when we
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bring little people into the
world, we actually think we have
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control of them for much longer
than we do.
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Probably 1516.
And this is the edge at which
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like you have to start really
losing control.
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And so here we are marrying
another adult and especially in
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high conflict divorce.
We should all over them.
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You should, you should, you
should, you should, you should.
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And I did a lot of that.
And when I went into therapy and
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I went into the program, the
question was not what’s he doing
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wrong?
Leave him alone.
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He’s on that side of the street.
He’s going to change or he’s not
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going to change.
He’s going to make his
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decisions.
That didn’t work.
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Barking at him, nagging him,
begging him, pleading with that
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didn’t work.
So what if you just stay on your
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side of the street?
What if everything is about what
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did I bring to the table?
What are my fears?
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What are my insecurities?
How am I reacting?
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How am I showing up in a way I
don’t want to?
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How’s my thought behavior as
well as my action behavior
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serving me?
And when I started doing that, I
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began to realize my own
insecurities, my own judgement,
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my unforgiveness, my my
expectations that were never
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verbalized or agreed to by the
other person.
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My and, and, and when you keep
your side of the street clean,
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when you focus on what you have
control over, which is you in a
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process that is so overwhelming
and uncertain and I want to say
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out of your control, people
always like how am I supposed to
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feel empowered?
We can feel so incredibly
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empowered in a process that we
don’t have a lot of control over
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when we’re controlling ourselves
because and especially I’ll say
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with the high conflict, it’s
often the spouse of the high
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conflict person that looks like
the high conflict person.
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We’re frothing at the mouth,
we’re raging, we’re hysterical,
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we’re screaming, we’re
frustrated, we’re melting, we’re
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we’re shutting down.
We’re doing all of these things.
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And when we work on that and to
the point of our topic today and
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we show up calm, clear and
confident, we we feel empowered
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because we’re controlling the
most important thing, which is
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how am I going to show up?
And like how do I line with my
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values?
Yeah, and that really plays
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through in the financial side as
well because you know, a lot of
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times in these high conflict
divorces, they’re well, my
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spouse won’t agree to that.
My spouse isn’t going to do
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that.
My spouse wants that asset.
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No, my spouse won’t give me that
asset.
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And so we try to reframe it.
You know, we don’t tell them
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what they get, but you know,
what are your thoughts?
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What what do you think of the
impact of this decision?
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Where would you like to be?
What asset would you like to
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keep and what’s the value to
that asset?
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And all of a sudden you do see
there you a little light coming
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on in their heads, like, oh, let
me just control my own thoughts
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here.
And then, yes, you’re going to
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compromise.
I hate to tell you this.
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If you’re listening to this
podcast, you are going to
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compromise somewhere down the
line.
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You don’t get everything that
you want.
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It just doesn’t work that way.
But if you’re clear on what
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00:16:52,360 –> 00:16:55,720
options are available to you
based on you and your knowledge
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and what you know, you don’t
have to worry about the other
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00:16:57,720 –> 00:16:59,880
side of the street.
As you’re saying, you know,
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that’s not your job to worry
about the other side of the
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street.
I so I love this analogy because
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of course I love being able to
relate to something, so I can
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relate to staying on my side of
the street.
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And you know what’s interesting
about what you said?
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I have this little mini course I
put together because of exactly
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what you just said.
I’ll get on the phone with
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someone and start coaching them
and they’ll start saying, well,
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my step spouse thinks, well, my
spouse says, well, my spouse
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believes and I’ll go, excuse me,
let’s pause the call.
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Could you ask him or her to
leave the room?
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Because I’m actually just
coaching you.
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And my course is reclaim your
mind, evict your spouse from
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your mental space.
Because so many people come and
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00:17:40,960 –> 00:17:46,760
they’re so used to the narrative
that their husband or wife has
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told them that they’re fighting
against themselves even in their
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own head.
And, and when we as
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professionals can say, you know,
let’s quiet that voice and let’s
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00:17:58,680 –> 00:18:02,960
actually tune into what you
want, what you think, what you
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feel, what you believe, all of a
sudden they get centered and
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they start feeling aligned with
themselves.
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And that’s the beginning of
feeling empowered.
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It’s like, it’s like inviting
people to come home.
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Yeah.
And you know, it goes really
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sorry, Karen, but it really goes
further than just the divorce
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process.
And if you’re listening, I want
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00:18:25,560 –> 00:18:28,840
you to understand this because a
lot of people say, you know,
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00:18:28,840 –> 00:18:31,200
your divorce is over.
Yay, let’s have a divorce party
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00:18:31,200 –> 00:18:34,080
and you’re so excited, but it’s
but everyone goes home after
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that and you are sitting at home
by yourself.
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And so if you I’m just going to
speak financially.
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So financially speaking, even if
you knew your options and you
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walked away with what was the
best scenario for the family or
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00:18:44,640 –> 00:18:48,720
what have you, you still have to
have the confidence to not say,
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oh, what would my spouse do
right now?
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00:18:50,520 –> 00:18:53,640
I remember for me and my spouse
and I were both financial
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people, but I handled
everything.
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00:18:55,200 –> 00:18:57,960
But it was still post divorce.
It was still scary like, Oh my
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00:18:57,960 –> 00:19:00,160
God, I’m going to buy a car
without talking to my spouse
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about it.
You know, I had a 20 year
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relation, 23 year relationship.
Now all of a sudden I’m making
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this decision by myself.
Oh my gosh, I have to go think
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about buying a place, buying a
home by myself.
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And I have nobody to bounce that
off of.
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00:19:12,680 –> 00:19:15,600
So if they do that work with
you, you’re going to have more
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00:19:15,600 –> 00:19:18,800
confidence, even post divorce,
feeling clear about what
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00:19:18,800 –> 00:19:20,840
decisions you have to make for
yourself.
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00:19:21,080 –> 00:19:23,600
And the answer is not always get
into another relationship.
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00:19:23,600 –> 00:19:28,960
Right or expecting that your
attorney is going to take care
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00:19:28,960 –> 00:19:34,240
of matters so that in place of
you and something that you know,
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00:19:34,240 –> 00:19:37,720
our topic today is staying calm,
clear and confident in a high
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00:19:37,720 –> 00:19:41,240
conflict divorce.
And I think the fork in the road
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00:19:41,240 –> 00:19:45,640
is exactly what you’re talking
about, Karen, taking the time to
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00:19:45,640 –> 00:19:52,640
invest in yourself to also be a
part of that ability to engage
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in that journey.
Short of that, you and I think I
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00:19:57,880 –> 00:20:00,040
did this.
I didn’t invest in myself,
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00:20:00,040 –> 00:20:03,120
frankly, but you did.
And I see the difference in our
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00:20:03,120 –> 00:20:05,760
journeys.
I wanted someone to take care of
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00:20:05,760 –> 00:20:07,800
it for me.
I worked in a law firm and if I
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00:20:07,800 –> 00:20:12,360
just get the best attorney in
this county, I’m going to be
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00:20:12,360 –> 00:20:14,200
fine.
Well, that wasn’t true.
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00:20:14,200 –> 00:20:18,240
But you took the pathway of I’m
going to do what it takes to
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00:20:18,240 –> 00:20:22,480
invest in myself to become clear
to do what I can do so that when
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00:20:22,480 –> 00:20:26,360
you emerged on the other side,
you not only.
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00:20:28,040 –> 00:20:32,240
Emerged a better person, but I’m
sure your children and the
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00:20:32,240 –> 00:20:36,600
family unit did as well.
That’s just my presumption, but
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00:20:36,600 –> 00:20:38,600
I see how you’re speaking about
it.
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So I think I’m can be pretty
confident there.
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00:20:41,800 –> 00:20:44,040
You know, I think it’s, it’s
such a good point.
359
00:20:44,040 –> 00:20:45,920
You know, we don’t want to
diminish.
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00:20:45,920 –> 00:20:48,960
It’s vitally important that you
understand the legal process,
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00:20:48,960 –> 00:20:53,680
that you understand your
finances, and yet you could, you
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00:20:53,680 –> 00:20:56,320
could emerge with the best
settlement.
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And if you haven’t done any of
your inner work, if you haven’t
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00:21:00,280 –> 00:21:03,200
looked at that, if you haven’t
healed your heart, refined your
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00:21:03,200 –> 00:21:07,840
character, there is no freedom.
You have a piece of paper and
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00:21:07,840 –> 00:21:11,840
maybe a lot of money, but
nothing else has changed.
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00:21:11,880 –> 00:21:15,720
I have had people come to me, I
think the latest was 12 years,
368
00:21:15,720 –> 00:21:20,720
10 or 12 years post divorce,
lost all those years because
369
00:21:20,720 –> 00:21:22,520
they were still looking across
the street.
370
00:21:22,520 –> 00:21:25,120
They were looking at what their
spouse did and their spouse was
371
00:21:25,120 –> 00:21:29,000
with.
And and so the freedom doesn’t
372
00:21:29,000 –> 00:21:31,520
come from the piece of paper and
the finances.
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00:21:31,520 –> 00:21:34,920
We need it and it’s important,
but that doesn’t bring the
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00:21:34,920 –> 00:21:37,600
freedom.
The freedom comes from
375
00:21:37,640 –> 00:21:42,160
disentangling yourself from the
other human being and then
376
00:21:42,520 –> 00:21:44,920
paying attention to what got me
there.
377
00:21:45,200 –> 00:21:49,120
What was the luggage I threw on
the table with my spouse and how
378
00:21:49,120 –> 00:21:52,960
can I clean that up so that I
am?
379
00:21:55,120 –> 00:21:58,080
I have a colleague who says be
the one to meet the one.
380
00:21:58,080 –> 00:22:02,880
Become the one to meet the 1:00
so that I am everything I want
381
00:22:03,200 –> 00:22:06,080
in a partner.
I am calm, Claire and confident.
382
00:22:06,080 –> 00:22:13,200
I am able to regulate my
emotions, manage my mindset,
383
00:22:13,320 –> 00:22:18,960
notice my judgement, work on my
unforgiveness, address my fear
384
00:22:18,960 –> 00:22:21,080
of conflict.
I was talking to a client
385
00:22:21,080 –> 00:22:23,640
yesterday and I was like, that’s
not conflict, that’s just a
386
00:22:23,640 –> 00:22:26,880
disagreement.
Yeah, but I was raised where
387
00:22:26,880 –> 00:22:30,040
anytime there was a
disagreement, XY and Z would
388
00:22:30,040 –> 00:22:33,160
happen.
That’s the inner work that we do
389
00:22:33,440 –> 00:22:36,920
that enables somebody.
And then honestly, I walked away
390
00:22:36,920 –> 00:22:42,640
with $60,000 of debt, two kids,
maybe half of what I should have
391
00:22:42,640 –> 00:22:46,240
gotten in child support, and I
had this Commission only job
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00:22:46,240 –> 00:22:49,800
with almost no clients left.
And so one could say my
393
00:22:49,800 –> 00:22:52,320
settlement was as horrific as it
could get.
394
00:22:53,720 –> 00:22:58,160
I have loved my life.
I feel so deeply grateful for
395
00:22:58,160 –> 00:23:01,480
both my divorce.
And last night I was speaking to
396
00:23:01,480 –> 00:23:04,040
a client who was talking about
regret and I wished I had
397
00:23:04,040 –> 00:23:06,760
married the other one.
And I’m like, I am so glad I
398
00:23:06,760 –> 00:23:11,840
married my husband because
number one, raising the two
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00:23:11,840 –> 00:23:15,120
human beings we brought into the
world has been such a gift.
400
00:23:15,360 –> 00:23:21,160
But even more than that, because
of him, I am who I am today and
401
00:23:21,160 –> 00:23:23,320
and because of the work that I
chose to do.
402
00:23:23,320 –> 00:23:28,640
And so I think that each
listener, we can take the
403
00:23:28,640 –> 00:23:32,800
circumstances that we’re facing
and look at it from a vantage
404
00:23:32,800 –> 00:23:35,320
point that serves us.
And the final thing I want to
405
00:23:35,320 –> 00:23:42,360
say is my children are rock
stars only because I didn’t, I
406
00:23:42,360 –> 00:23:47,440
didn’t flood them with my stuff.
And that’s so important.
407
00:23:47,440 –> 00:23:51,800
And so we can break generational
chains of whatever we came from
408
00:23:52,040 –> 00:23:56,680
by getting healthy and then just
leading by example with our
409
00:23:56,680 –> 00:23:58,440
children.
And even if you have adult
410
00:23:58,440 –> 00:24:01,080
children, the best time to start
is today.
411
00:24:02,320 –> 00:24:05,640
Yeah, I agree with that.
And you know, and your children,
412
00:24:06,080 –> 00:24:10,440
my daughter got married five
years ago now and you know, you
413
00:24:10,440 –> 00:24:12,720
have to put I’m very I love
marriage.
414
00:24:12,720 –> 00:24:15,920
I just got divorced again, but I
love marriage and all my friends
415
00:24:15,920 –> 00:24:17,560
and family say you better never
get married again.
416
00:24:17,720 –> 00:24:19,760
But anyway, I’m a marrying kind
of girl.
417
00:24:19,760 –> 00:24:22,880
I love relationships, but
keeping that pot just because
418
00:24:22,880 –> 00:24:28,760
you can’t, you’re divorced from
your kids parent, other parent,
419
00:24:30,360 –> 00:24:32,640
doesn’t mean you have to be
negative about them entering
420
00:24:32,640 –> 00:24:34,440
into divorce.
You know, I hear a lot of
421
00:24:34,440 –> 00:24:35,640
divorce.
He’s saying, Oh my God, I’m
422
00:24:35,640 –> 00:24:37,160
telling my daughter she
shouldn’t get married.
423
00:24:37,160 –> 00:24:38,840
Marriage is terrible, blah,
blah, blah.
424
00:24:38,840 –> 00:24:40,080
Because they’re still living in
there.
425
00:24:40,080 –> 00:24:42,320
They haven’t done the work that
with you like you’re speaking
426
00:24:42,320 –> 00:24:43,920
about.
So they live in this negative
427
00:24:43,920 –> 00:24:47,800
Nelly kind of thing where I’m
like, great, you know,
428
00:24:48,600 –> 00:24:50,400
communicate, communicate,
communicate.
429
00:24:50,400 –> 00:24:54,360
And, you know, I just give them
hindsight tip kind of tips if,
430
00:24:54,480 –> 00:24:57,280
if they ask right or, and that’s
hard too.
431
00:24:57,280 –> 00:25:00,760
And I think that if you haven’t
done the work to heal yourself
432
00:25:00,760 –> 00:25:03,880
from your own divorce, you’re
not able to do that.
433
00:25:03,880 –> 00:25:07,120
So it it spreads out in so many
areas of your life moving
434
00:25:07,120 –> 00:25:08,920
forward.
And it’s one quick life that we
435
00:25:08,920 –> 00:25:11,240
have.
That’s so true.
436
00:25:11,840 –> 00:25:15,760
And you know, I can tell for our
clients coming through our
437
00:25:16,000 –> 00:25:21,080
process of the MD’s portrait, if
they have done the work, they’re
438
00:25:21,080 –> 00:25:24,120
approaching decisions very
differently.
439
00:25:24,120 –> 00:25:28,520
They’re not in that space of
saying, well, I’m going to let
440
00:25:28,520 –> 00:25:34,000
my spouse choose the mediator so
that, you know, I want
441
00:25:34,000 –> 00:25:41,280
exacerbate the emotions here or
I don’t want to take what’s not
442
00:25:41,280 –> 00:25:46,920
mine or, you know, I’m, I have
to tiptoe very carefully so that
443
00:25:46,920 –> 00:25:50,480
he or she doesn’t get upset.
And to your point of staying on
444
00:25:50,480 –> 00:25:53,720
your side of the street, if
you’re doing that work for
445
00:25:53,720 –> 00:25:57,160
yourself, you can just make
better decisions, more
446
00:25:57,160 –> 00:26:01,120
practical, more pragmatic
decisions as you’re working
447
00:26:01,120 –> 00:26:03,440
through your finances and as
you’re working with your
448
00:26:03,440 –> 00:26:05,480
attorney through these legal
decisions.
449
00:26:05,680 –> 00:26:09,120
It does make a difference.
Yeah, 100%.
450
00:26:09,640 –> 00:26:12,880
And so much of what we do is
unconscious, right?
451
00:26:12,880 –> 00:26:18,160
So it’s whether I behave the way
I do because I was raised by, in
452
00:26:18,160 –> 00:26:22,240
my case of rageaholic and an
alcoholic or because of my
453
00:26:22,240 –> 00:26:25,680
Catholic upbringing or because
of my Italian and Irish heritage
454
00:26:25,680 –> 00:26:30,040
or because of American Society.
So we we all have and then we
455
00:26:30,040 –> 00:26:35,000
have unconscious beliefs.
And when you slam into the wall
456
00:26:35,000 –> 00:26:39,320
of high conflict divorce, there
is an invitation to slow down.
457
00:26:39,320 –> 00:26:42,480
And as we talk about the work, I
would love to touch on three
458
00:26:42,480 –> 00:26:45,960
things.
And the first one is mindset.
459
00:26:46,520 –> 00:26:51,800
You know, we kind of go along
somewhat unconscious.
460
00:26:51,800 –> 00:26:53,840
I was high, I was highly
unconscious.
461
00:26:53,840 –> 00:26:55,760
And we just do whatever we’re
doing.
462
00:26:55,960 –> 00:26:58,720
But when you slam into this
particular wall, there’s an
463
00:26:58,720 –> 00:27:01,600
opportunity to say, let me slow
things down.
464
00:27:01,600 –> 00:27:05,160
How am I looking at this?
Why am I always worried about
465
00:27:05,160 –> 00:27:09,280
him?
And so less likely to take care
466
00:27:09,280 –> 00:27:11,560
of me.
And so one thing that my clients
467
00:27:11,560 –> 00:27:16,200
will walk through, it’s like,
where are you on your list of
468
00:27:16,200 –> 00:27:19,360
priorities?
And typically I’m, I’m not at
469
00:27:19,360 –> 00:27:22,240
the bottom of the list.
I’m just not on the list at all.
470
00:27:22,480 –> 00:27:27,080
So, So what does that mean?
Well, everything you do, I say
471
00:27:27,080 –> 00:27:30,320
yes.
When I want to say no, I, I act
472
00:27:30,320 –> 00:27:33,040
like a martyr because I did
things I didn’t want to do that
473
00:27:33,040 –> 00:27:35,080
I could have said, you know,
like they’re all of these
474
00:27:35,080 –> 00:27:36,640
things.
And so the first thing is
475
00:27:36,640 –> 00:27:38,720
mindset.
How are you looking at things?
476
00:27:38,720 –> 00:27:43,120
How are you looking at your
situation and even how are you
477
00:27:43,120 –> 00:27:46,120
looking at your soon to be ex?
Because when you can start
478
00:27:46,120 –> 00:27:48,760
saying what is my thought about
that?
479
00:27:48,760 –> 00:27:51,960
Oh, so for me he’s going to get
custody of the kids.
480
00:27:52,960 –> 00:27:55,560
It took me so long to slow it
down and say, well, why in the
481
00:27:55,560 –> 00:27:57,880
world would I think he’s going
to get all the custody of the
482
00:27:57,880 –> 00:28:02,040
kids because he says so.
And why do I listen to that?
483
00:28:02,360 –> 00:28:05,360
And what else is possible?
And what did my attorney tell
484
00:28:05,360 –> 00:28:06,760
me?
And why am I listening to my
485
00:28:06,760 –> 00:28:09,800
spouse over my attorney when my
attorney actually does this not,
486
00:28:09,800 –> 00:28:13,680
you know, for a living.
And, and, and then you start
487
00:28:13,680 –> 00:28:20,040
looking at, well, I’m, I’m so on
my ear, which I was so
488
00:28:20,040 –> 00:28:24,600
emotionally overwhelmed.
Do I even understand what that
489
00:28:24,600 –> 00:28:27,000
means?
Like, do I know when I get
490
00:28:27,000 –> 00:28:29,320
triggered, how it shows up in my
body?
491
00:28:30,000 –> 00:28:34,040
Do I know when I get triggered,
how to bring myself back to calm
492
00:28:34,040 –> 00:28:39,120
rather than acting out of that
trigger and being reactive and
493
00:28:40,280 –> 00:28:43,400
throwing emotional grenades
across the room, which is what
494
00:28:43,400 –> 00:28:46,440
we end up doing.
And so I think that the three
495
00:28:46,440 –> 00:28:50,200
areas are really mindset,
emotional regulation and
496
00:28:50,200 –> 00:28:53,440
boundaries.
And when we can begin to work on
497
00:28:53,440 –> 00:28:56,280
those just baby steps, just
change one thing.
498
00:28:57,040 –> 00:29:00,080
Just the next time you think the
thought, say, how true is that?
499
00:29:00,360 –> 00:29:02,120
That, that that’s that’s the
thing.
500
00:29:02,360 –> 00:29:05,120
How true is that?
And then if you’re like, no,
501
00:29:05,120 –> 00:29:07,960
that’s true, he’s going to screw
me and take all that money.
502
00:29:08,560 –> 00:29:13,560
OK, What else might be true?
What is your attorney saying?
503
00:29:13,640 –> 00:29:16,520
What are your legal rights?
What else might be possible?
504
00:29:16,520 –> 00:29:21,040
And if you’ve been bullied, then
their voice is so very loud and
505
00:29:21,040 –> 00:29:23,840
your inner critic is equally as
loud.
506
00:29:23,840 –> 00:29:29,240
And the thing we want you to tap
into is your intuition, your
507
00:29:29,240 –> 00:29:34,000
gut, your inner wisdom.
And that’s going to whisper.
508
00:29:34,320 –> 00:29:38,440
And until you calm the chaos of
your life, you’re not going to
509
00:29:38,440 –> 00:29:41,440
hear the whisper.
And that whisper is the guiding
510
00:29:41,440 –> 00:29:43,400
light that’s going to get you to
where you need to go.
511
00:29:45,960 –> 00:29:51,120
You like it?
I do too and it and Karen, is
512
00:29:51,160 –> 00:29:55,520
this what you walk through
people through in your 12 step,
513
00:29:56,600 –> 00:29:59,560
your 12 step divorce recovery
program?
514
00:29:59,960 –> 00:30:04,000
Is that what this is?
Yeah, so, so one of the steps is
515
00:30:04,000 –> 00:30:07,760
so, so the first step is about
staying calm and learning to
516
00:30:07,760 –> 00:30:12,240
take a pause, right?
Because I mean, I have clients
517
00:30:12,240 –> 00:30:14,920
where it’s like I’ll even be
coaching them and their, their
518
00:30:15,000 –> 00:30:18,280
their spouse or their ex text
them and they’re about to stick
519
00:30:18,280 –> 00:30:20,200
their fingers on the phone and
I’m like, put the phone down.
520
00:30:20,520 –> 00:30:23,720
Breathe.
There’s no fire.
521
00:30:24,400 –> 00:30:27,040
There’s no fire.
Let’s look at how did that make
522
00:30:27,040 –> 00:30:28,880
you feel?
My heart’s pounding.
523
00:30:28,920 –> 00:30:30,360
I’m angry.
Like whatever.
524
00:30:30,360 –> 00:30:34,520
OK, let’s breathe.
What did you make that mean?
525
00:30:35,280 –> 00:30:37,960
He said, she said blah, blah.
What did you make that mean?
526
00:30:38,280 –> 00:30:39,480
I’m bad.
I’m wrong.
527
00:30:39,480 –> 00:30:46,080
I’m what if it just means that
he or she is splashing their
528
00:30:46,080 –> 00:30:48,800
emotional reaction onto you?
What if it just means that
529
00:30:48,800 –> 00:30:51,080
they’re angry that they’re out
of control?
530
00:30:51,080 –> 00:30:53,480
What if you just make it mean
what it is?
531
00:30:54,000 –> 00:30:57,960
And so that that I am the center
that people pleasing peace,
532
00:30:57,960 –> 00:31:01,800
which is anything that anyone
says or does says something
533
00:31:01,800 –> 00:31:04,520
about me.
And I’ve raised my children on
534
00:31:04,520 –> 00:31:06,000
this.
It’s like what somebody else
535
00:31:06,000 –> 00:31:09,360
says or does is about them.
What you say or do is about you
536
00:31:10,560 –> 00:31:12,200
keep your side of the street
clean.
537
00:31:12,200 –> 00:31:14,960
And so, so yeah, so we walk them
through that.
538
00:31:14,960 –> 00:31:17,480
Another one is mindset.
Mindset.
539
00:31:17,480 –> 00:31:19,680
There’s four, there’s four
things, right?
540
00:31:19,680 –> 00:31:23,440
There are our assumptions,
because it happened before, it’s
541
00:31:23,440 –> 00:31:27,000
going to happen again.
Our interpretations, which is my
542
00:31:27,000 –> 00:31:29,600
perspective of what you said and
what it means.
543
00:31:30,320 –> 00:31:33,360
Our limiting beliefs, which is
what I talked about earlier, our
544
00:31:33,360 –> 00:31:36,360
cultural upbringing, religious
upbringing and everything else.
545
00:31:37,280 –> 00:31:39,800
Our beliefs, those limited
beliefs are often the
546
00:31:39,800 –> 00:31:43,000
unconscious ones that we don’t
even realize, and then the one
547
00:31:43,000 –> 00:31:46,800
we all love so much, which is
our inner critic.
548
00:31:47,240 –> 00:31:52,360
And when we start going, oh, so
that’s what’s going on between
549
00:31:52,360 –> 00:31:54,720
my ears.
Well, what if I just clean all
550
00:31:54,720 –> 00:31:56,600
of that up?
What if I just slow down?
551
00:31:56,600 –> 00:32:00,040
I’d let him or her deal with
their craziness.
552
00:32:00,040 –> 00:32:04,320
And I just, I just focus and
clean that up and start noticing
553
00:32:04,320 –> 00:32:08,560
and start questioning.
And certainly having a coach or
554
00:32:08,560 –> 00:32:12,200
a therapist as a sounding board
because, you know, if you’re
555
00:32:12,200 –> 00:32:14,200
just in your head, that’s never
good.
556
00:32:14,760 –> 00:32:20,280
Those things go a long way.
We have one on on choosing
557
00:32:20,280 –> 00:32:23,960
between judgment and curiosity.
You know, you enter divorce,
558
00:32:23,960 –> 00:32:26,680
we’re all really judgmental.
We’re judgmental of our spouse.
559
00:32:26,680 –> 00:32:28,600
We’re judgmental of the divorce
system.
560
00:32:28,600 –> 00:32:30,680
We’re judgmental of our
financial planners.
561
00:32:30,680 –> 00:32:33,000
Like there’s just judgment going
everywhere.
562
00:32:33,960 –> 00:32:35,520
Get curious.
Wow.
563
00:32:35,520 –> 00:32:39,280
I’m so triggered by Catherine
and Karen and what they told me.
564
00:32:39,760 –> 00:32:42,600
OK, Why am I so triggered?
I have a lot of money fear.
565
00:32:43,080 –> 00:32:46,920
OK, so what’s going on with my
money fear?
566
00:32:47,680 –> 00:32:50,560
I’ve had millionaires say I’m
going to be homeless and in the
567
00:32:50,560 –> 00:32:53,720
street and I’m like, what’s the
likelihood?
568
00:32:53,720 –> 00:32:55,360
OK, maybe it’s not going to be
that.
569
00:32:55,480 –> 00:32:58,120
OK, let’s start looking at what
is likely what’s going on
570
00:32:58,120 –> 00:33:00,400
beneath that.
It’s a money fear, which I’m
571
00:33:00,400 –> 00:33:02,040
sure you guys deal with all the
time.
572
00:33:02,040 –> 00:33:06,120
So those are the things that we
take them step by step through
573
00:33:06,120 –> 00:33:10,840
the 12 step program to it’s all
inner work.
574
00:33:10,840 –> 00:33:16,080
The 12 step program is all inner
work that has beautiful outer
575
00:33:16,080 –> 00:33:18,440
impacts.
Once you start behaving out of
576
00:33:18,440 –> 00:33:23,600
that, those new awarenesses.
Yeah, that’s great.
577
00:33:23,600 –> 00:33:25,960
I mean, Karen, you’re sharing so
much wisdom and everything that
578
00:33:26,120 –> 00:33:28,880
you’re saying today for people.
I’d like to just share a couple
579
00:33:28,880 –> 00:33:31,800
of highlights of a few important
takeaways that I’m hearing.
580
00:33:32,200 –> 00:33:34,080
You know, if you’re going
through a divorce and you need
581
00:33:34,080 –> 00:33:38,560
to find that calm, you know, I
love your stay on your side of
582
00:33:38,560 –> 00:33:42,680
the street analogy.
It’s really, gosh, if you could
583
00:33:42,680 –> 00:33:45,640
just start with that one
statement throughout your day
584
00:33:45,640 –> 00:33:49,040
today, you know, OK, am I on my
side of the street?
585
00:33:49,040 –> 00:33:51,240
You know, I’m doing it right now
myself personally.
586
00:33:52,040 –> 00:33:56,000
And, and that will really help
you shift that, excuse me, that
587
00:33:56,000 –> 00:33:59,440
mindset that you’re talking
about because your mind is so
588
00:33:59,440 –> 00:34:02,160
powerful and your mind is going
to direct you through this
589
00:34:02,160 –> 00:34:05,640
divorce process and beyond.
So if you could just take away
590
00:34:05,640 –> 00:34:09,560
today the mindset shift and
staying on your side of the
591
00:34:09,560 –> 00:34:13,120
street, I think that you’re
going to change the way you move
592
00:34:13,120 –> 00:34:14,520
through the rest of your
process.
593
00:34:16,400 –> 00:34:19,560
For sure.
And you know, Karen, I really
594
00:34:19,560 –> 00:34:24,400
appreciate what you said about
put your phone down, take the
595
00:34:24,400 –> 00:34:29,560
time to pause and breathe
because every day I’m speaking
596
00:34:29,560 –> 00:34:37,120
to people who are in the, I
think the term is emotional
597
00:34:37,120 –> 00:34:41,679
dysregulation of not of just the
response.
598
00:34:41,679 –> 00:34:44,480
Yesterday, I was on the phone
with someone and she was trying
599
00:34:44,480 –> 00:34:47,159
to make a decision.
And she said, he’s texting me
600
00:34:47,159 –> 00:34:49,400
right now.
I have to make the decision
601
00:34:49,400 –> 00:34:52,560
right now.
And I said, well, do you like, I
602
00:34:52,560 –> 00:34:55,360
can understand the emotion, but
do you?
603
00:34:55,360 –> 00:34:58,680
And is that more important than
getting financial clarity?
604
00:34:58,680 –> 00:35:02,000
You get to decide that.
You know, I’m not a divorce
605
00:35:02,000 –> 00:35:06,760
coach, but I see it happen.
And so I appreciate that you you
606
00:35:06,800 –> 00:35:11,280
offer this for people at because
divorce can go fast.
607
00:35:11,480 –> 00:35:16,480
It can be hugely disruptive and
finding that ability to make
608
00:35:16,480 –> 00:35:19,880
good decisions is so important.
So thank you again for being
609
00:35:19,880 –> 00:35:23,920
with us today, your story, your
work, you’re doing what you
610
00:35:24,040 –> 00:35:28,000
offer hope for people who feel
stuck in pain, fear and
611
00:35:28,000 –> 00:35:31,440
confusion.
So can you talk and let our
612
00:35:31,440 –> 00:35:34,880
listeners know where they can
learn more about Journey Beyond
613
00:35:34,880 –> 00:35:37,240
Divorce and connect with your
resources?
614
00:35:37,600 –> 00:35:40,800
Yeah, thanks so much.
That’s my dog if you hear her in
615
00:35:40,800 –> 00:35:44,640
the background.
So Journey Beyond Divorce is
616
00:35:44,640 –> 00:35:47,360
also a podcast.
We’re one of the top podcasts,
617
00:35:48,040 –> 00:35:51,840
divorce podcasts in the world
and in the United States, and we
618
00:35:51,840 –> 00:35:56,400
have over 425 episodes on our
website,
619
00:35:56,840 –> 00:36:01,520
whichisjbddivorcesupport.com.
You can actually grab a series
620
00:36:01,520 –> 00:36:06,360
if there’s something specific or
specific stage of divorce you’re
621
00:36:06,360 –> 00:36:09,400
in like a a curated playlist
just for that.
622
00:36:09,760 –> 00:36:14,800
And we have our gift to to your
listeners is a rapid relief
623
00:36:14,800 –> 00:36:18,880
call.
And that is a call with one of
624
00:36:18,880 –> 00:36:22,720
our coaches where you’re you can
get clear and you can find out
625
00:36:22,720 –> 00:36:26,680
what other support we have that
might serve you and how coaching
626
00:36:26,680 –> 00:36:33,560
has worked and supported others.
And so rapidreliefcall.com nice
627
00:36:33,560 –> 00:36:37,960
and easy is the way to get on
our schedule.
628
00:36:37,960 –> 00:36:41,840
And I so appreciate, I’m so glad
to have met the two of you and
629
00:36:41,840 –> 00:36:49,680
so appreciate the the robust
support that you offer clients,
630
00:36:49,680 –> 00:36:53,440
especially having both the
financial and legal background
631
00:36:53,440 –> 00:36:56,800
to help them.
And I think that, you know, for
632
00:36:56,800 –> 00:37:01,360
me, with every client I talked
to, the one thing I tell as
633
00:37:01,360 –> 00:37:05,120
coaches, we’re supposed to ask
and not tell.
634
00:37:05,120 –> 00:37:10,960
But the one tell is always find
yourself a rock star financial
635
00:37:10,960 –> 00:37:13,440
professional.
Because no matter how much or
636
00:37:13,440 –> 00:37:17,440
how little you have, it’s a
vital part of the divorce
637
00:37:17,440 –> 00:37:22,080
journey.
And especially if you have money
638
00:37:22,080 –> 00:37:27,040
mindset issues.
People like you are just gold
639
00:37:27,040 –> 00:37:28,520
for everyone going through
divorce.
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00:37:28,520 –> 00:37:30,240
So thank you so much for what
you do.
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00:37:31,240 –> 00:37:32,720
And likewise, and thank you for
that.
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00:37:33,280 –> 00:37:36,200
To our listeners of navigating
divorce and you feel like you’re
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00:37:36,200 –> 00:37:38,520
constantly in defense mode,
you’re not alone.
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00:37:38,720 –> 00:37:41,800
At My Divorce Solution, we help
you step out of that survival
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00:37:41,800 –> 00:37:44,520
mode by giving the tools to
prepare and protect your
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00:37:44,520 –> 00:37:47,800
finances as you move forward.
So visit us at My Divorce
647
00:37:47,800 –> 00:37:51,400
solution.com to learn how the
MD’s financial portrait can help
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00:37:51,400 –> 00:37:54,480
you organize your assets,
prepare for negotiations, and
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00:37:54,480 –> 00:37:56,600
take the guesswork out of your
next steps.
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00:37:57,760 –> 00:38:01,920
And be sure to join the NDS
Community, your hub for trusted
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00:38:01,920 –> 00:38:05,000
resources, expert guidance, and
real connection.
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00:38:05,320 –> 00:38:08,160
Whether you’re just starting
your divorce journey or already
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00:38:08,160 –> 00:38:12,080
rebuilding, it’s a safe space to
access free financial tools,
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00:38:12,320 –> 00:38:14,720
find support, and move forward
with confidence.
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00:38:15,000 –> 00:38:16,720
We’ll drop the link in the show
notes.
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00:38:17,280 –> 00:38:20,440
And don’t forget to like, follow
and share this episode.
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00:38:20,680 –> 00:38:24,120
Until next time, stay on your
side of the street, take a
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00:38:24,120 –> 00:38:27,000
breath, protect your peace, and
let knowledge be your power.
659
00:38:29,040 –> 00:38:33,040
Thanks for joining us on another
episode of WeChat Divorce.
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00:38:33,480 –> 00:38:36,520
We hope this episode was
informative and supportive on
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00:38:36,520 –> 00:38:39,360
your divorce journey.
If you’re looking for more
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00:38:39,360 –> 00:38:42,560
support for navigating divorce
with confidence and clarity,
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00:38:42,920 –> 00:38:46,680
head over to
azure-emu-499854.hostingersite.com/ for more
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00:38:46,680 –> 00:38:50,840
podcast episodes, divorce
events, and resources for your
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00:38:50,840 –> 00:38:53,160
divorce.
We’ll see you back here for our
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00:38:53,160 –> 00:38:54,040
next episode.