Start Your Comeback: Rebuilding after Divorce, Empty Nest, and Loss of Spouse

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We explore how structure and routine become anchors when transition blows up your playbook, from empty nest and retirement to divorce and the loss of a spouse. Small, intentional habits become scaffolding that restores safety, momentum, and meaning.

• why a blank slate overwhelms after a change
• routines as practice drills that build confidence
• empty nest strategies fo...

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Have you ever felt trapped in an impossible situation with no way out? That's exactly where we find Benaiah in one of Scripture's most overlooked stories – facing a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The symbolism couldn't be clearer: a predator stronger than us, nowhere to run, and treacherous conditions making every move dangerous.

This powerful biblical account perfe...

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What happens when our love of the familiar becomes the very thing that keeps us stuck? That's the question at the heart of this deeply reflective episode on breaking free from comfort ruts.

As someone who thrives on routine and predictability—"If sameness has a fan club, I'd be president and treasurer"—I've come to recognize the subtle but significant dif...

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Life transitions often force us into uninvited pauses that feel like being benched, but these pauses are actually opportunities for formation and growth. The stillness after major changes like divorce, empty nesting, or job loss isn't punishment but rather a necessary halftime that prepares us for our comeback.

• Pauses feel terrible—lonely, confusing, and full of doubt—but ...

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We've reached a milestone with our 100th episode, celebrating 100 weeks of showing up to share coaching, strategies, and stories about navigating life's transitions. This journey has been a joy, and I'm grateful for every listener who has allowed me to be part of their comeback story.

• Understanding the three phases of transition: shock, limbo, and re-entry
• ...

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The classroom door closes behind you. It's just you and thirty expectant faces. Your teaching degree prepared you for lesson plans and pedagogy—but did it ready you for the real-world challenges of your first year? Whether you're a brand-new educator or a seasoned veteran, this episode delivers candid insights about navigating the often overwhelming transition into the teaching ...

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Brittany Tinsley, author of "Stories Our Scars Tell," shares her 20-year journey through self-injury, healing, and finding purpose in her pain. This raw conversation explores how scars—both literal and metaphorical—can become powerful storytellers of hope and redemption.

• Brittany explains how her struggle with self-injury began at age 15 and continued into adulthood

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That gentle whisper of "it's time"—have you felt it lately? That nudge toward something new, even when everything familiar feels comfortable enough?

In this deeply moving conversation with Andrea Ward Fernandez, we explore the complex emotions and practical realities of knowing when it's time to move. Andrea shares her remarkable journey from living her entire...

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Ready to retire but feeling uncertain about what comes next? You're not alone. That identity crisis of "Who am I now?" hits harder than most expect when contemplating retirement. This episode dives deep into the emotional side of ending your career—something rarely discussed in traditional retirement planning.

Drawing from my own experience leaving tennis coaching ...

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Have you ever found yourself questioning whether your workplace loyalty has crossed the line into simply being stuck? That gnawing feeling on Sunday nights, the constant daydreaming about being somewhere—anywhere—else, or the realization that your physical and mental health are suffering at the hands of your job?

This deeply resonant episode tackles the complex relationship betwe...

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Divorce is one of the most difficult decisions a loyalist can face, especially when loyalty has crossed into codependence. I share my personal experience and four critical questions to ask yourself before making this life-altering decision.

• Loyalty is noble and necessary, but becomes toxic when it binds you to someone not interested in mutual growth
• The emotional weight o...

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Have you ever defended someone's behavior while secretly knowing things were exactly as bad as others suspected? That's not loyalty—that's the slippery slope into codependency.

Drawing from my own painful journey, I open up about the fine line between standing by those we love and losing ourselves in the process. After my parents' divorce in my twenties, I was...

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Feeling stuck in a holding pattern? You're not alone. Life's major transitions—divorce, job loss, empty nesting, or losing a loved one—can plunge us into what feels like solitary confinement. Not the restful solitude we sometimes crave, but the punishing isolation that whispers lies about our worth and future.

This episode explores the profound difference between sacred...

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Have you ever noticed how, after surviving a major life upheaval, you suddenly find yourself standing on solid ground—yet still bracing for waves that aren't coming? That disorienting moment marks the beginning of an unexpected freedom journey.

Freedom after transition arrives quietly. After treading water through divorce, empty nesting, retirement, or career changes, many d...

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That simmering feeling beneath your "everything's fine" smile? It's not your enemy. Anger—especially during major life transitions like divorce, loss, retirement, or relocation—often gets a bad rap. But what if this powerful emotion could actually fuel your comeback instead of derailing it?

In this episode, we walk straight into a topic most people avoid. Ange...

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Transition is uncomfortable and messy, but you can navigate it with strength and clarity by using the right resources. I share my personal experience with therapy, essential books that helped me through difficult times, and recommended podcasts for those going through major life changes.

• Therapy is a non-negotiable resource for navigating transitions
• Resources include Tod...

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Standing in my first apartment after a major life change, keys in hand, I felt completely paralyzed by fear instead of proud. Could I really take care of myself? Would the money stretch far enough? How would I handle being alone? That moment taught me something profound about doubt and how it shows up precisely when we're ready to move forward.

Doubt doesn't arrive quie...

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Ever felt like you're wandering through a wilderness with no map, no cell service, and absolutely no clue what the future holds? That's exactly what we tackle in this raw, honest conversation about the "soul wilderness" – that gritty, confusing, heart-wrenching space where the familiar landmarks have vanished and doubt pulls up a chair.

The wilderness isn&apos...

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The moment when life pulls the rug out from under you doesn't just bring shock—it opens the door for doubt to flood in. Whether you're facing divorce, job loss, an empty nest, or an unexpected diagnosis, that one-two punch can leave you questioning everything, even your ability to make basic decisions.

Having walked through my own devastating transition when my marriage...