A divorce can be a turning point in a person's life--for better or for worse. Many people in Texas and elsewhere will be experiencing that soon, as January is traditionally the month with the most divorce filings occur. This can be due to several reasons, with the timing often tied to the December holiday season.

Divorce is often seen as an end--the end of a relationship, a breakup of a family, the loss of normalcy. But from that, there can also be a beginning. The end of one way of living signals the beginning of a different way. While many people experience a period of mourning for the death of a marriage, this negative feeling need not continue indefinitely.

One method for working toward happiness is to set goals, or as one expert calls them, intentions. These intentions shouldn't be considered Band-Aids or quick fixes, but rather long-term lifestyle changes:

  • Put emotion aside and carefully think through life-changing decisions. Take enough time to make sure you're doing something for the right reasons.
  • Don't fall back on old belief systems--those didn't work, at least in the sense that they got you to this point.
  • Avoid interacting with people who want to remind you of the negativity. Positive people will improve your attitude.
  • Gain energy by doing things that energize you. Divorce can be a drain and have the opposite effect.
  • Figure out what you need to be successful in the future. If you don't have it, then go outside your comfort zone to get it.

Source: The Huffington Post, "The Power of Intentions - Thriving Through Divorce," Melanie Gorman, Jan. 10, 2012