Don’t Hate, Mediate

Don’t hate, Mediate! Divorce is one of life’s major stresses akin to death or moving.  Your life as you knew it is no more. This overbearing stress can chop years off of your life, harm your kids, and much more. How can the modern divorcing couple avoid these pitfalls?

Mediation is very similar in wording to meditation. This isn’t an accident. Meditation involves being in a state of awareness and a profound deep peace that occurs when the mind is calm and silent, yet completely alert. Most importantly, meditation is seen as one of the most effective forms of stress reduction. Meditation allows us to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past or an unknown future. It’s all about how you react to things in your life.

With mediation you also have to put yourself in the right mindset before proceeding, coming to a state of awareness and readiness. Divorce mediation offers a process in which parties who would have otherwise reacted adversely to each other are helped to engage within a set structure, guided by a neutral third party. In essence, the parties reach a state of awareness before and while mediating which reduces the usual stress of divorce proceedings.

Additionally, mediation focuses on the present and the things you can control and make it the best it can be. It is certainly not about inflaming hurt feelings and dwelling on the past or a supposed missed future.

Oftentimes, when couples divorce they don’t take the time to hit the pause button. Everybody hires attorneys and readies for the “fight”. What if we sat back, took a deep breath, and decided to mediate before going to war?  You’re going to be at the same place -divorced- at the finish line anyway. Why not make the journey as stress-free and intelligent as possible?