What do you think about when you think about working through the divorce process? Many people in Clearwater associate divorce with bitter feelings, constant fighting and brutal emotional damage. However, that doesn't need to be the case.

When you are intentional about your actions during divorce, it is possible to move through the process with inner peace. Divorce does not need to be a time of contention and fighting; it can be an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth.

To move on from your marriage with inner peace, it is important to accept the ways in which your actions contributed to the end of your marriage. It's easy to point fingers and feel like the victim, but that is not an effective way to move forward. Owning your actions can help you move forward with intention and the opportunity to change.

It is also important to stop thinking about what your relationship used to be. You may have been the most romantic lovers in the world, or perhaps you thought your relationship was fail-proof. The sooner you stop thinking about what your relationship was and start thinking about what it became, the sooner you will be able to move on with your life. Allow yourself to grieve the end of your marriage, but then think about the transitions that are in front of you.

Finally, regardless of how your soon-to-be ex-spouse acts, it is important that you remain committed to moving through the process peacefully. If your ex is critical or insulting, do not respond with the same tone. If you can remember that anger is a form of pain, it may help you regard him or her with more sympathy.

No one is claiming that divorce is easy. However, when make a commitment to move through the process peacefully, it can be easier to move on with your life in a healthier way.

Source: Huffington Post, "6 Steps to a Peaceful Divorce," Ashley Davis Bush, LCSW, Jan. 25, 2012