When you’re going through a divorce, it’s easy to lose your joy. You feel like you have every right to be down in the dumps.This was certainly true for Connie Monroe, who threw herself a pity party with wine and cigarettes every night after work during her divorce.But when she found out that her cousin had been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis was not good, Connie had an AHA moment. She realized that divorce was not going to kill her, and it was an insult to her cousin to wallow. She recognized that joy was a choice.And in 2008, Connie left her corporate finance career to build Monroe Coaching, a transformational coaching practice that helps women navigate fertility issues and divorce.On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Connie joins Katherine to discuss her book, Holding Onto Joy Through Abandonment and Divorce.Connie shares the story of her own infertility issues, her husband’s infidelity and their attempt to reconcile that ended in divorce.Listen in for Connie’s advice on being completely honest with yourself about your marriage and learn how to avoid bickering over the small stuff and choose joy during a divorce.Topics Covered What it means to ‘hold onto joy’ through a divorceHow each of the 12 chapters in Connie’s book offers a strategy for holding onto joyThe AHA moment Connie realized divorce was not going to kill herHow to set an intention each morning to avoid bickering over the small stuff in divorceThe story of Connie’s infertility issues, her husband’s infidelity and their attempt to reconcileHow Connie decided to pursue divorce once she uncovered her ex-husband’s double life Connie’s advice around being completely honest with yourself about your marriageHow the skills Connie learned working in corporate finance inform her work as a divorce coachThe mistakes Connie made with finances in her marriage (despite working in the space)Connie’s top advice for listeners considering divorceConnect with Connie MonroeMonroe Coaching:https://monroecoaching.com/Connie on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/constancejmonroe/20/20 Retreats on Facebook:http://bit.ly/3l1HL0hConnect with Katherine Miller The Center for Understanding Conflict: http://understandinginconflict.org/Miller Law Group: https://westchesterfamilylaw.com/Katherine on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kemiller1The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller: https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorkers-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce/dp/0692496246Email: katherine@miller-law.com Call (914) 738-7765ResourcesHolding Onto Joy Through Abandonment and Divorce by Constance J. Monroe:https://www.amazon.com/Holding-onto-Through-Abandonment-Divorce/dp/1734284315