Michael T. Pedersen is a personal coach specializing in helping divorced men after 50 rebuild confidence, rediscover purpose, and reclaim their lives. He is the creator of the Presence Mastery Method and the author of Man Awakened: Rediscovering Purpose and Vitality After 50.
After a divorce at 50, many men feel adrift. It’s a quiet loss not just of a partner but of identity, routine, and direction. You might look in the mirror and not recognize the man staring back at you. The easy thing to do is sink into distraction, blame, or avoidance. But the truth is this: nothing changes until you decide to stand up, take responsibility, and rebuild, starting with yourself. I’ve been there, and I’ll show you how to rise again.
Presence isn’t optional – It’s who you are
Most men don’t realize their posture, voice, and energy reflect the state of their mind. After divorce, it’s common to shrink back head down, shoulders slumped, as if hoping no one notices you. The problem is you start believing you’re invisible. I know because I fell into that trap, too. It took me months to realize I wasn’t a shadow of who I was; I was just acting like one.
Presence starts with intention. When you walk into a room, make people take notice. It doesn’t require loud words or flashy clothes; you just show up like you matter. Stand tall with your shoulders back, look people in the eye when you speak, and slow down your words. Confidence comes from believing you have something to offer, and trust me, you do. The man you want to be doesn’t hide in the background.
Your pain is your power – If you let it be
After my 24-year marriage ended, I sat alone and angry at myself, at the situation, at the world. I didn’t want to deal with the pain, but the more I ignored it, the heavier it became. The day I finally faced it was the day I started rebuilding. Pain, as much as we hate it, is often the thing that pushes us forward.
Don’t mask it with distractions like alcohol or meaningless work. Sit with it. Ask yourself hard questions about what hurts, why, and what it’s trying to teach you. Pain reveals your weaknesses, but it also shows you where you’re strongest because you’re still here. Use it to take action. Go to the gym, clean your space, and start a new project, anything that builds rather than numbs.
Strength is a standard, not an option
When men tell me, “I’m too old to get in shape,” I tell them the truth: age isn’t the problem; excuses are. Your body reflects how you respect yourself. You don’t need to look like you’re 25 again, but you do need to look like a man who values himself. For me, strength training wasn’t about ego but proving to myself that I could take control.
The way you move matters, too. Stop shuffling through life. Walk with purpose, as if you have somewhere to be, even if it’s just the coffee shop. Energy comes from movement. When you start treating your body like it matters, everything else shifts with it, including your confidence, focus, and how people respond to you.
Live by a code only you can write
Men without standards drift. It’s easy to wake up one day and realize you’ve been living someone else’s life, following someone else’s expectations. After divorce, you get a second chance to define who you are and what you stand for. Write your own code, a set of unshakable principles, and live by it.
For me, this was everything. I decided I’d be a man who spoke honestly, showed up on time, and never quit on himself. Your code might look different, but the point is to have one. A man with principles earns respect first from himself and then from everyone around him.
Find men who push you forward
Men after 50 often isolate themselves, thinking no one can relate to their struggles. But isolation will destroy you faster than any failure. When I hit rock bottom, I realized I couldn’t rise alone. I surrounded myself with men who challenged me, held me accountable, and reminded me of my worth.
You don’t need a big crowd, just a few men who won’t let you quit. Seek out those relationships through fitness groups, mentors, or professional circles. Iron sharpens iron. Strong men build each other up, and brotherhood makes the climb out of darkness faster and more certain.
You’re not done yet with life after divorce, you’re just getting started
The truth is most men let the weight of divorce bury them. They stop trying, hoping, and believing there’s more to life. But you are not done. You have more to give, more to build, and more to become. I know because I’ve been there.
The man you were yesterday is gone. The man you want to be is still waiting for you, stronger, sharper, and more alive than ever. You don’t need permission to start. You just need to take the first step.
Read more from Michael T. Pedersen
Michael T. Pedersen, Coach For Divorced Men Over 50
Michael T. Pedersen is a three-time author, personal coach, and creator of the Presence Mastery Method, a transformative coaching program designed to help divorced men over 50 rebuild their confidence, reignite their purpose, and reclaim their lives. Drawing on three decades of experience working with successful, professional men, his coaching integrates emotional intelligence purpose-driven strategies, and actionabe insights. His newly released book, Man Awakened, is a powerful guide for men navigating life after 50, offering tools to overcome self-limiting beliefs and embrace new possibilities with clarity and boldness. Combining personal resilience, professional expertise, and a mission to inspire, Michael is here to serve.
