Divorce can shake your sense of stability and leave you feeling lost and unsure of who you are outside of your marriage. You’ve spent years thinking of yourself as part of a couple, and now everything feels different—perhaps even overwhelming. You might feel disconnected from the person you were before and unsure about how to begin focusing on yourself again. It’s okay to feel this way. Right now, your needs matter, and this is your opportunity to gently reconnect with yourself. By taking small, intentional steps, you can rediscover your values and explore what truly matters to you. Finding direction after divorce isn't something that happens all at once, but it's an essential step in moving forward. It's about tuning into your own needs, rediscovering who you are, and beginning to envision what you want for your future, one day at a time.

There are many ways to start reconnecting with yourself and discovering who you are now, as well as who you want to be in the next chapter of your life. If you’re wondering, How do I find myself after divorce?—you’re not alone. Many divorced women feel uncertain about what comes next. This period of transition can feel overwhelming, but it can also be an opportunity to reshape your life with intention and purpose. One powerful and tangible way to begin this process is by creating a vision board. In this article, we’ll explore how a vision board can help you clarify your goals, inspire action, and find direction after your divorce.

Tuning Into Yourself

Feeling lost after divorce is normal, and it’s important to recognize that this feeling of uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. When your entire life has been reshaped, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected from who you once were, and unsure of what the future holds. But these feelings also present an opportunity for transformation. This period is a chance to rebuild your life on your terms, guided by your needs, values, and desires.

The first step is tuning into yourself and reconnecting with your inner voice. Divorce can leave you questioning your identity, and it’s natural to feel uncertain about what you truly want. Taking time to explore your thoughts and emotions is essential to regaining clarity. Journaling can be a powerful tool here—it allows you to express your feelings without judgment, helping you to process what you’ve been through and uncover what matters most to you now.

Meditation and quiet reflection are also valuable practices. These moments of stillness give you space to listen to yourself without external influences. Whether it’s a guided meditation or simply sitting in silence, these practices can help you reconnect with your inner self, understand your emotional landscape, and start to see a path forward.

It's okay if this process takes time. The goal isn’t to have all the answers immediately but to start creating the space for those answers to emerge. By making a habit of checking in with yourself—through journaling, meditation, or any other reflective practices—you will gradually begin to understand who you are now and what you want from the next chapter of your life.

When was the last time you thought about what your core values are? Core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your actions and decisions—those principles that reflect what’s most important to you in life. Reflecting on these values is crucial because they serve as the foundation for how you live and the choices you make. Especially after a major life event like divorce, reconnecting with your core values helps you gain clarity on how you want to shape your future.

This is an important time to reflect on your values. They may have been influenced by your marriage, but now you have the opportunity to define them for yourself. Ask yourself what truly matters to you—whether it's independence, authenticity, financial security, or building deeper connections. Grounding yourself in your values is key to finding direction after divorce. When your actions align with what’s most important to you, you'll feel more confident and focused as you rebuild your life. Your values can act as a compass, guiding you through this period of transition and helping you create a life that feels true to who you are.

How Do I Find Myself After Divorce?

For many divorced women, rediscovering themselves after divorce is a journey of self-exploration. It’s about understanding who you are outside of the roles you played in your marriage—roles that may have defined you for years. The idea of starting over can feel daunting, especially when it wasn’t part of your original plan. Yet, this unplanned gift of self-discovery can also be a time of profound growth and possibility. Divorce offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself, to get to know who you are now, and to redefine your life on your own terms.

This journey doesn’t have to be rushed, and it’s okay if you’re not sure where to begin. Start by giving yourself permission to explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. One of the most effective tools for navigating this process is creating a vision board. A vision board allows you to explore your dreams and aspirations in a tangible way, helping you bring clarity to what you want next in life. As you curate images and words that resonate with your new vision, you begin to see this unplanned gift of rediscovery take shape, guiding you toward a future that reflects who you truly are and what matters most to you now.

The Power of a Vision Board for Finding Direction After Divorce

Vision boards aren’t just about making a pretty collage—they engage your brain in ways that can actually help you achieve your goals. When you create a vision board, you activate a part of your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS), which helps filter out distractions and focus on what’s important. By regularly looking at your vision board, you’re training your brain to recognize opportunities that align with the goals and desires you’ve highlighted.

Visualization, like the kind you do with a vision board, can also help you feel more confident about reaching your goals. When you picture yourself achieving something, your brain reacts as if it’s already happening, which can boost your motivation and make your dreams feel more within reach. So while making a vision board might seem simple, it’s actually helping your brain focus and build momentum toward the life you want to create.

.Why Create a Vision Board?

If you're feeling lost after your divorce and wondering How do I find myself again? or What do I want from my life now?, creating a vision board can help provide clarity. This simple yet powerful tool can guide you in visualizing your goals and setting a clear path forward. Here's why using a vision board can make a real difference in helping you discover your new direction.:

1. Clarification of Goals: As you gather images and words for your vision board, you’re forced to think about what you truly want from this new chapter of life. What do you want your daily life to look like? What experiences do you want to have? Creating a vision board helps you put these ideas into focus.
2. A Source of Inspiration: Placing your vision board where you can see it every day acts as a constant reminder of the life you’re working toward. It keeps your goals top of mind and can inspire you to take small, consistent steps, even when you’re feeling lost after your divorce.
3. Motivation to Move Forward: The journey after divorce can be challenging, and it’s easy to lose sight of your progress. A vision board helps you stay motivated by visually reinforcing the future you’re building. It reminds you that every action, no matter how small, brings you closer to that vision.
4. A Compass for Decision-Making: Life after divorce often comes with many decisions, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Your vision board serves as a compass. When faced with choices, you can ask, “Does this decision align with the life I want to create?” If it does, you’re moving in the right direction. If it doesn’t, you can adjust course.
5. Permission to Dream: Divorce often brings uncertainty, but creating a vision board gives you permission to dream about what’s possible. It helps you focus on the future, allowing you to imagine a life that feels fulfilling and aligned with your values.

How to Create Your Vision Board 

Creating a vision board is a personal process, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Here’s how to get started:

1. Gather Your Supplies: You’ll need a board or large piece of paper, magazines, scissors, glue, and markers or pens. If you prefer, you can also create a digital vision board using online tools.
2. Reflect on Your Values: Before diving into the visuals, take time to reflect on what matters most to you. What values do you want to honor as you rebuild your life? These values will serve as the foundation for your vision board.
3. Find Images and Words: When creating your vision board, let your intuition guide you. This isn’t about logic—it's about choosing images and words that resonate with your inner desires. Trust what feels right and let your heart lead the way without overthinking it.
4. Arrange Your Vision: Arrange the images and words on your board in a way that feels appealing to you. Focus on creating something that inspires and motivates you, rather than making it perfect.
5. Display Your Vision Board: Place your vision board somewhere you’ll see it every day. Let it serve as a reminder of your direction and as a source of inspiration as you continue on your journey.

Embracing the Post-Divorce Growth Cycle to Supercharge Your Vision Board

In addition to using your vision board, another powerful tool to guide you as you rebuild your life with intention and purpose is the Post-Divorce Growth Cycle. This framework focuses on four key areas: Healthy Relationships, Authentic Self, Money Confidence, and Radical Self-Care. Each area supports your personal growth as you navigate life after divorce, ensuring that you’re addressing your whole self—emotionally, financially, and spiritually.   [Read more about this framework here].

By combining your vision board with the Post-Divorce Growth Cycle, you’ll create a clear direction for your life. You’ll have a tangible reminder of your goals, daily inspiration to keep moving forward, and a framework to help you stay focused on what truly matters. This approach empowers you to rebuild a life that feels purposeful and aligned with your values.

Finding Direction After Divorce

Finding direction after divorce takes time, patience, and self-reflection. It’s about reconnecting with yourself, rediscovering your values, and exploring what you truly want. Using tools like vision boards and the Post-Divorce Growth Cycle can help you clarify your path and make intentional choices that align with your future. Whether you’re feeling lost after your divorce or asking, How do I find myself after divorce?, remember that this is your opportunity to create a life that reflects who you are and what you truly want. With time and focus, you’ll find your new direction and build a life that feels right for you.

Want more resources for rebuilding your life after divorce? Check out:

1. Martha Beck, a contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine, and one of the original life coaches, emphasizes that vision boards are more than just a craft project—they tap into your subconscious and help manifest your future by focusing on what truly matters. Assembling images that resonate with your deepest desires can unlock your imagination and bring your goals to life. Read her blog on vision boards here
2. Divorce Recovery Kit: Download this helpful kit designed to guide you through your divorce recovery journey and provide the tools you need to start rebuilding your life. Get the Divorce Recovery Kit here.
3. Join Our Coach-Led Vision Board Party in January! Kickstart your new year with intention by joining our coach-led Vision Board Party. This interactive event will help you create a vision board based on the Post-Divorce Growth Cycle, aligning with your goals for the year ahead. Guided by expert coaches who understand the unique journey of life after divorce, this experience will set you on the right path. Stay informed by joining our mailing list. Sign up here