Episode 119: Divorce Isn't Failure-It's The Courage to Choose You

Divorce is often seen as taboo in the South Asian community, especially for immigrant women raised with deep cultural conditioning around marriage and family. But what if divorce isn’t a failure at all—what if it’s an act of courage, a choice to finally choose you?

In this episode, I sit down with Maneesha Ahluwalia, founder of Life Coaching for Indians. Maneesha and I have a candid conversation about the stories we were told as brown women when choosing partners, the unspoken pressures that shaped those choices, and what happens when marriage doesn’t turn out the way we imagined.

We talk about:

• The cultural and family conditioning that influences how many South Asian women pick partners
• The shame, guilt, and fear around divorce in our community
• What actually went “wrong” in our marriages—and why it wasn’t about personal failure
• How choosing yourself, even when it means ending a marriage, is an act of radical courage
• Practical tools and perspectives for anyone navigating love, family expectations, or difficult decisions

✨ This is an empowering conversation for anyone who’s ever felt trapped between cultural obligations and personal happiness. Divorce isn’t the end—it can be the beginning of finally living life on your terms.

Maneesha Ahluwalia is the founder of Life Coaching for Indians. She helps Indian professionals who feel torn between family expectations and their own desires find the courage to make choices that actually feel right for them. 

Instagram: @lifecoachingforindians

👉 If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with another South Asian woman who needs to hear this reminder: divorce isn’t failure—it’s freedom.