You’re not doing anything wrong. Most people realize their marriage is not going well long before someone files for a divorce.

At some level, they are working on coming to terms with things before the legal work even begins. That work continues while they slog through the legal process.

Now that the paperwork side of your divorce is over, there’s nothing to shield you from your emotions. Even though the cause of the divorce was black and white, there’s still a lot to sort out. Your marriage has ended. Your life today looks very different from what it looked like some years ago, and from the one you imagined for yourself. That’s a lot to process.

Rather than avoiding this work, accept that it must be done in order to move on from your divorce. It’s every bit as important as the legal work. Allow yourself to process these emotions.

Given that the paperwork is done, but emotional work is still ahead, we say you are about halfway to the finish line. Take control over this next chapter in life.