Who Am I After Divorce? Rebuilding Identity, Self-Trust & Your Life with Hope Firsel

Sometimes the hardest part of divorce isn’t losing the marriage—it’s losing the version of yourself you thought you would always be. In this deeply personal and uplifting episode of *Dishing on Divorce*, we sit down with certified life coach, certified divorce specialist, and IFS-trained coach Hope Firsel to talk about the hidden grief that can come with divorce and what it really takes to rediscover yourself afterward. Hope’s perspective was shaped not only by the end of her 18-year marriage, but by years of life-changing experiences including infertility, five failed rounds of IVF, stage three colon cancer, multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and, more recently, the loss of her father. Through those experiences, Hope learned powerful lessons about surrender, gratitude, grief, resilience, and trusting yourself when life no longer looks like the plan you once imagined. Together, we explore: - Why divorce involves grieving more than the relationship itself - The loss of identity, family structure, traditions, friendships, and the future you expected - Why you can want a divorce and still experience profound grief - The danger of “toxic positivity” and trying to rush through painful emotions - How fear, shame, resentment, and old beliefs can influence the way we navigate divorce - How Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help us understand the different “parts” of ourselves - Rebuilding self-trust and reconnecting with your own inner authority - Discovering what *you* actually enjoy after years of making decisions through the lens of marriage and family - Why a new relationship should add to your life rather than become the source of your happiness - How gratitude can coexist with incredibly difficult seasons of life Hope reminds us that difficult experiences are chapters—not our entire story—and that rebuilding can become an opportunity to decide who we want to be moving forward. As Hope beautifully puts it, “On the other side of fear is freedom.” Learn more about Hope and her coaching at hopefirsel.com. Hope has also generously offered *Dishing on Divorce* listeners a complimentary consultation. Text Hope directly at 773-848-9349 and mention “Dishing on Divorce” to connect with her. Sometimes beginning again requires a plan…and a little Hope.