Women in Life Transitions: Reset Your Body, Mind, and Soul After 50

Luxury real estate broker, 7x national ballroom champion, spiritual director, and Miss Senior America—CT titleholder Robin Kencel joins Melissa Gragg to unpack practical ways women can reset mind, body, and spirit—especially through divorce and life transitions.

Learn centering prayer in 10 minutes, the “three graces” nightly practice, how to spot disordered attachments, and a gentle path to forgiveness (including forgiving yourself).

What you’ll learn

• How to start centering prayer in 10 minutes a day
• The “three graces” bedtime ritual that rewires your focus
• Why removing harmful people and then forgiving frees energy
• How to treat upheaval as information, not identity
• Simple ways to find your voice again: tiny reps, new routines
• A week-one reset plan for women in divorce or transition
• What spiritual direction is and how to try it

Quick takeaways

• Purpose lives where what you’re good at + what you love + what serves others meet.
• You can’t change much, but you can change yourself—via micro steps.
• Disordered attachments (even to “good” things) block your love/flow.
• Divorce is a forced reset—use it to design a life you actually want.
• Your 10-year-old self didn’t vanish—she’s just covered like grass under snow.

Q1: What is centering prayer and how do I start?
Centering prayer is a silent, 10-minute daily practice of consenting to God’s presence—no agenda, no analysis. Sit comfortably, choose a simple “sacred word” (e.g., peace), and when thoughts arise, gently return to the word. Consistency matters more than duration.

Q2: What are “three graces” and why do they help?
Each night, name three grace-filled moments from your day (a kind driver, a pink sunset, an unexpected laugh). This shifts attention from rumination to gratitude, improving sleep and emotional resilience over time.

Q3: How can I find purpose after divorce at 50+?
Map the purpose trifecta: list (a) what you’re good at, (b) what you love, and (c) who it serves. Where they overlap is your next move. Start with one micro-action this week that touches all three.

Q4: What does “disordered attachment” mean?
It’s over-attachment to something—even a “good” thing—that pulls you away from love/flow (or your relationship with God). Signs: compulsive checking, anxiety if you can’t do it, neglecting health or relationships. The fix is gentle rebalancing, not self-shaming.

Q5: How do I set boundaries with harmful people?
Name the behavior, state the boundary, and define the consequence—briefly and calmly. Example: “No yelling. If it starts, I’ll leave the call.” Follow through once; consistency builds safety. Then begin the work of forgiveness to release the emotional hook.

Q6: Why does forgiveness matter if I’m already done with them?
Because your nervous system isn’t done. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse harm; it releases the energy you spend reliving it. Pair boundaries (external protection) with forgiveness (internal freedom).

Q8: How do I “find my voice” after a power-imbalanced relationship?
Practice in low-stakes rooms: improv, community classes, or small groups. Aim for one rep per day where you ask, decline, or express a preference. Reps build confidence faster than reflection alone.

Connect with Robin:

https://robinkencel.com/

Connect with Melissa:

https://www.valuationmediation.com/

Connect with The Divorce Allies:

https://www.thedivorceallies.com/

Whether you're just beginning your divorce journey or already in the thick of it, understanding disclosures is key. We’ll walk you through what they are, why they matter, and how they can become one of the most powerful tools in your strategy—not just a pile of paperwork.

This episode will help you rethink your first steps, take back control of the process, and avoid wasting money on the wrong professionals at the wrong time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, intimidated, or unsure of what your lawyer has already submitted, don’t worry—you’ll leave this episode with clarity and confidence.

Financial Disclosures & Filing for Divorce: What You Need and Why It Matters (Divorce Mediation StL)

If this episode resonated with you, don’t stop here.

✅ Start with your Position Statement — tell your story, list your priorities, and anchor your divorce strategy. Download the guide here (https://www.thedivorcevault.com/)

📂 Download your state’s financial disclosure forms and use our checklist to get organized before you spend a dollar on legal help.

📄 Use that information to create a Settlement Offer that leads your case instead of reacting to chaos.

🧠 If mediation is part of your process — or could be — we’ll show you how to navigate it, even with a high-conflict or narcissistic spouse, through our Mediation Prep Strategy Guides.

🔓 Want all of this in one place? Unlock The Divorce Vault, which gives you 6+ months of support, templates, AI tools, and insider strategy.

🤝 And if you’re craving real community and expert insight, join our weekly live sessions inside The Divorce Allies Circle. We’ll help you turn fear into clarity and lead your own case like a pro. https://www.thedivorceallies.com/

✅ 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Financial Disclosures Are Strategy, Not Just Paperwork
Disclosures aren’t busywork—they form the foundation of your settlement and influence how negotiations unfold.

Start With the Forms, Not the Lawyer
Downloading your state’s pro se forms is often a smarter first step than spending $5–10K on an attorney just to gather basic info.

Your Position Statement Is Your Blueprint
Combining your financial disclosures with a clear position statement gives you negotiating power and saves time across your legal team.

Missed Assets Create Legal Risk Later
Incomplete or inaccurate disclosures can damage your credibility and derail your case—especially when assets like businesses or SBA loans are overlooked.

You Can Revise and Reclaim Control
Even if disclosures were filed without your input, you can (and should) revisit, update, and use them to regain strategic control.

Q: What are financial disclosures in a divorce?
A: Financial disclosures are formal court documents where you list all income, expenses, assets, and debts—essentially a sworn financial truth that shapes the rest of your divorce strategy.

Q: Should I hire a lawyer before filling out disclosures?
A: Not necessarily. Start by downloading your state’s forms, gather your financial documents, and organize everything. Then decide if you need expert help—this can save you thousands in unnecessary legal fees.

Q: Can I update my disclosures if they were already filed by my attorney?
A: Yes, and you absolutely should. Request the filed version from your lawyer, revise with accurate data, and use it to build your position statement and settlement offer.

Q: How do disclosures give me leverage?
A: A complete, organized disclosure becomes the basis of your position statement. It helps your legal and financial experts negotiate from a place of truth, reducing costly surprises and missed assets later.

Melissa Gragg
https://www.valuationmediation.com/

Emile Flowers
https://www.divorcemortgageplanningservices.com/

Position Statements: Your Divorce Roadmap | Negotiate From Strength & Avoid Oversharing

Welcome back to the Divorce Allies Podcast. In today’s workshop-style episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful—but overlooked—tools in your divorce toolkit: the position statement.

https://www.thedivorceallies.com/

If you’ve ever felt like your case is a chaotic mix of emotional stories, endless emails, and missing numbers—this episode is your turning point.

Emile Flowers and Melissa Gragg walk you step-by-step through what a divorce position statement is, why it’s crucial for mediation or trial, and how it gives you control, confidence, and clarity throughout the process.

We’ll break down exactly what goes into this document, how to use it to negotiate from strength, and how to avoid oversharing while still being taken seriously.

Plus: get insider strategies for using the position statement to anchor your offer, save legal fees, and keep your professionals on the same page—without having to repeat your story 500 times.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Your Position Statement Is Your North Star
It keeps you focused, strategic, and fact-based—so your team, mediator, or judge sees your case clearly, not emotionally.

Clarity Wins Over Chaos Every Time
A concise, well-crafted position statement makes you look credible, calm, and prepared—even when emotions are high.

Tell Your Full Story—Then Summarize Strategically
Voice-memo your entire history, then use AI (like ChatGPT) to extract timelines, top issues, and facts that belong in the statement.

Anchor the Offer, Don’t Chase It
A strong position statement lets you lead with your offer and forces others to respond to your clarity, not drag you into their confusion.

Less Is More—Until They Ask for More
Start small: one or two pages. But be ready with deeper data, summaries, and exhibits to pull out if challenged. That’s your quiet power.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: What exactly is a divorce position statement—and why do I need one?
A: It’s a short, fact-based summary (1–2 pages) of your history, top issues, and high-level settlement goals. It keeps your team aligned, saves you legal fees, and presents you as credible and prepared in negotiations or court.

Q: How detailed should my position statement be?
A: Start with bullet points, dates, and major assets/issues—enough for someone to understand the case in 5–10 minutes. You can build out detailed sections later (on parenting, finances, home) as needed.

Q: Can I make one if I’m already in the middle of my divorce?
A: Yes. It’s never too late. Whether you’re just starting or 6 weeks from trial, a position statement helps refocus the strategy and save time during every meeting, mediation, or hearing.

Q: What if I’m too emotional to write it?
A: That’s okay. Start by voice-memoing your story. Then use AI tools to help turn your thoughts into facts and timelines. You’ll process your emotions and produce a clear strategy at the same time.

Q: How do I use this in mediation?
A: Bring it. Share it with the mediator (and your attorney, if applicable) ahead of time. Let it guide the conversation, anchor your offer, and remind the professionals what you want—so you’re not stuck re-explaining everything.

Melissa Gragg
https://www.valuationmediation.com/

Emile Flowers
https://www.divorcemortgageplanningservices.com/