I help women over 50 to plan their retirement and optimize their health so they can move into this next chapter with energy, ease and excitement.
HI, I'M GAYLA
From Confused to Confident
Sign up for the Free 5-Week E-Workshop:
SIGN UP NOW
Have you ever found yourself bored or stressed at work, pondering retirement and asking some fundamental questions?
Trust me, you’re not alone. I remember I was sitting at my work computer, staring at the screen, and this wave of sadness came over me. I felt lost. Like my life was off track. I was in my 50s. A nurse practitioner working full-time in a busy clinic. Retirement was on the horizon. I was burnt out at my job and living for the weekend. The exhaustion was real. And I desperately craved a change. But, I had no clue where to begin.
Now, why do so many of us hit this bewildering crossroads in our mid-50s and 60s? It’s like a cosmic alarm clock, and when it goes off, we stop and reassess. And guess what? Sometimes, that reassessment reveals a hard truth – we’re not where we want to be.
The dilemma can fall into 3 categories:
1. The Uncertainty: You’re moving through life, but it feels like you’re off course. You don’t know what you want to do differently so you stay put, bored and confused.
2. The Standstill: You have an idea of what you want to do differently, but you’re like a car stuck in mud. You’re spinning your wheels and going nowhere.
3. The Stagnation: You know what you want, you are taking steps forward, but you struggle to make progress. Often due to the pressures of busy lives, stress, overwhelming circumstances, distractions, or waning motivation.
My own epiphany came when I realized that for years, my entire focus was external – on my patients, my role as a nurse practitioner, family obligations, never-ending to-do lists, the news cycle, distractions, and whatever problems popped up. And because of this external focus, I had lost touch with the most fundamental aspect of my life. Who I was beneath the roles and distractions. I had lost self-awareness.
Self-awareness Is the ability to see ourselves clearly and objectively – our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, judgements, biases, relationships, etc. According to research in this area, most of us think we are self-aware. But only about 10-15% of us really have any self-awareness at all! Most of us go through our lives thinking, feeling, and acting and reacting without reflection or introspection.
Self-reflection and introspection are the keys to rediscovering our deeper authentic selves and uncovering the sources of joy, meaning, and purpose in our lives.
Once I recognized this void in my life, I embarked on a journey to focus internally and to rediscover who I was beneath my roles and my distractions. I carved out moments in nature, embraced meditation, and filled journal pages with my thoughts. I explored my strengths and my values and what I was really passionate about.
The result? Insights flowed like a river, offering a fresh new perspective on my career and what I wanted for my retirement and my life. And with this newfound clarity and confidence, I set out to create a concrete plan.
So, how can you break free from feeling lost and bored and move toward a fulfilling retirement? Here are five tips to enhance self-awareness:
1. Carve Out “Me Time”: Prioritize daily moments to focus solely on yourself separate from your roles. It’s time to explore your passions and find your purpose.
2. Embrace Mindfulness: Mindfulness is your tool to unravel the knots of confusion. It helps you recognize and understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors better.
3. Dive into Journaling: Grab a journal and let your thoughts flow freely. Then read what you wrote. Pretend you’re an objective observer or a close friend. Approach what you write with curiosity.
4. Seek Fresh Perspectives: Ask a trusted friend or confidante for their insights about you. Listening openly to their perspective can offer a new lens through which to see your path.
5. Educate yourself: Read books. Listen to podcasts. Use online self-assessments models (personality tests, strength and value assessments) as tools to gain insight.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-awareness and equip yourself with practical tools to navigate retirement planning with confidence, I invite you to join the Mindful Retirement Roadmap Email Workshop. It’s a transformative opportunity to delve deeper into self-awareness and harness its potential for a more purposeful retirement.
Don’t let uncertainty or stagnation hold you back. Take the first step towards a brighter future. Join the From Confused to Confident: Mindful Retirement Roadmap Email Workshop and begin your journey toward a more fulfilling life today. Your future self will thank you for it.
opt in form goes here... just paste it into the code box below!
leave a comment