"It is important to recognize the importance that choosing improvement and education made in helping you reach these levels of self-discovery."

After a divorce, you may be looking for a new start. Many feel that what defined them during the course of their previous marriage is not something that they want to take with them moving forward, and that is okay. There is nothing wrong with change.

In fact, looking to reinvent yourself can be a healthy exercise in helping yourself get over the emotional hurdles that divorce may entail. It also allows you to improve yourself and the way you present yourself to the world, which can improve your self-esteem and self-image.

With how difficult the legal process of divorce may be, it can sometimes inspire you to learn more about what the rest of the world has to offer. Beyond your marriage, you may have had a limited scope of what else is out there, and this can be an opportunity to look elsewhere.

The world of education

One of the best places to look is in the world of education. With the daily demands of work and possibly parenting preventing a full-time pursuit in education, going back to college part-time can be a beneficial way of opening up future career options.

While you may think that this may not be the best time, the truth of the matter is that there really is not a perfect time that would be more beneficial than right now. As difficult as may be to think about sitting in a classroom and dealing with lectures and homework, the end result includes a lot more opportunities for career advancement and pay increases in future jobs.

Exploring community and online college

There are two possible ways to best accomplish this task, while maintaining your current job: at a community college or online. Community colleges give you the opportunity to pursue a college degree at a less expensive cost, and for those looking to get their GEDs, many community colleges have programs that can make that happen.

In addition, many community colleges give you the opportunity to pursue courses in classes designed for students that are older than their ages 18-22 target demographic, and as far as the classes that you may have to take that include the target demographic, don’t fret. Many adults look to pursue education at an older age, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. You’re bettering yourself.

For those looking to pursue their advancement in education through online means, many universities, community colleges, and online college offer options in a wide-range of fields, dedicated to helping your pursuits at your convenience (at least, within reason).

Providing for yourself, your children

Not only will these educational pursuits result in career advancement, but for those that are parents, it will give you a better capability of providing for your children. Even if a student loan needs to be taken out initially, you will be in a better position to give your children the life that you deserve in the long term.

You also will be more capable of taking care of yourself financially. With how difficult divorce can be on your finances, the opportunity to stabilize the losses would be a good way to improve your financial future.

Interests and improvement

If you are pursuing a familiar interest that is related to your previous career path, you may be able to carve out a leadership position in your future, giving you the new image that you were looking for from the beginning.

If it is an entirely new area, that is unrelated to your previous career path, it is important to keep in mind that some may look at your pursuits with skepticism and question your ability to reach your goal. It’s important to distinguish those that are skeptical with those that genuinely wish you ill and address the skeptics with reassurance. After a divorce, many may look at these pursuits as some sort of crisis and may look to help. It’s important to kindly explain to them that you are looking to better yourself for you, not your ex.

In taking care of yourself and improving yourself, you are improving who others see you as. You are gaining confidence and forging a path outside of an unhappy and dysfunctional marriage, and it is important to recognize the importance that choosing improvement and education made in helping you reach these levels of self-discovery.

From the way others see you, you are no longer identified as the ex-husband of your ex-wife, but rather by your own character. You made improvements to yourself and forged your own path to make a better life for yourself and for your children. You get to enjoy the pride of that accomplishment, as you continue to seek new opportunities moving forward.