From the outside, Cris had the perfect life: she’d married her high school sweetheart, they had a son, two cars, two dogs — even the literal white picket fence.
But honestly, Cris was faking it: her feelings, her conversations, even her orgasms.
In this episode, my longtime client Cris Greer and I look back at the Dark Night of the Soul that followed the end of her 17-year marriage: her husband’s alcoholism, becoming a single mother, and realizing just how much of her life she had spent holding it together — which also meant losing touch with herself.
In this episode, look and listen for:
- When “holding it together” blocks you from knowing what you really feel and want
- What it takes to quit faking it — with friends, family, partnerships, s3x, and ourselves
- Why the tiny victories during divorce — paying for something yourself, getting through a hard day, making one brave choice — deserve to be celebrated like hell
- Knowing when letting your children see you struggle is too hard on them or when it can model something much healthier than pretending you’re fine
- Learning the difference between your yes, your no, and your hell no — and honoring all three
If you’ve lost yourself inside a relationship, I’m excited for you to hear from Cris about what the Dark Night of Heartbreak asks of each of us:
To reclaim the brave, spirited, authentic young women we used to be — and to realize that trusting ourselves is 100% non-negotiable as we rebuild new lives and partnerships.
About Cris Greer
Cris Greer is a midlife guide, podcast host, and co-founder of My Happy Life Box — a monthly subscription box created together with her husband, Matthew. Together, they’ve built a business rooted in intention, connection, and the belief that women deserve care too.
Cris hosts the Grounding Journey Podcast, where she has honest, soulful conversations about growth, spirituality, and what it really means to move through midlife with grace and strength. Her work supports women navigating midlife, identity shifts, and the quiet (or not-so-quiet) question of “What’s next?”
Through her programs, curated boxes, and community, Cris offers simple, doable ways for women to reconnect with themselves — without overwhelm, guilt, or pressure to become someone new.
She believes midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a recalibration. A remembering. A becoming.
When she’s not recording, writing, or curating the next box, you’ll find her dreaming up new ideas with Matthew, walking her dogs outside to clear her head, or reminding women everywhere that they are not behind — they’re right on time.
Connect with Cris
Find more about Cris and My Happy Life Box: myhappylifebox.com
Listen to the Grounding Journey Podcast with Cris: Soulful conversations for midlife and beyond: https://groundingjourneypodcast.com/
Pre-order Waking Up in the Dark Night of Divorce by LiYana Silver
And receive two beautiful book bonuses:
- The Waking Up Workbook to accompany the book, with all the practices from the book plus space for you to write and draw; and
- Book Club with LiYana: 3 weekly meetings in which I’ll read from the book, we’ll practice together, discuss, and have Q+A.
Order Waking Up in the Dark Night of Divorce+ book bonuses: liyanasilver.com/wakingup
About LiYana Silver
Relationship coach and author of Waking Up in The Dark Night of Divorce and Feminine Genius, LiYana works with women at the knife’s edge of heartbreak — reckoning with divorce, breakup, and heartbreak so complex it feels like a dark night of the soul.
LiYana guides women (and their partners) through (not around) the darkest passages of their lives. Through her transformational methodology, LiYana helps individuals, couples, and groups reclaim what they lost in the relationship, break repeating patterns, and emerge awake, aligned, and lit-up.
A former professional dancer and lover of painting with oils, LiYana lives in Asheville, NC with her son, their two cats, and a frankly impressive number of houseplants.
Connect with LiYana
Website: liyanasilver.com
Waking Up in The Dark Night of Divorce book: liyanasilver.com/wakingup
Feminine Genius book: liyanasilver.com/femininegenius
The Heartbreak Transformation Map: liyanasilver.com/map
Fresh From The Fire newsletter: liyanasilver.com/newsletter
Waking Up in The Dark Night of Divorce substack: liyanasilver.substack.com/