Recreating Your Life - Finding Purpose and Overcoming Fears in Midlife and Beyond

Anita Adams: 00:00:04

Welcome to the joyful journey podcast. If you're looking for more clarity in your life, clarity of purpose or how to activate that purpose, and you are someone who wants to operate from your highest self to be a force for good, you know this world craves, then this is the show for you. I'm Anita Adams, your host and guide to finding clarity and creating a life you love. Let's tap into our inner wisdom, access our highest self and unleash joy. As we do this, we raise our vibration and heightened the collective consciousness. And that my friend, is the joyful journey. Let's dive in. Hey, joyful journey or it's an Anita Adams, your host and I am beyond excited to dive into today's episode with you. Were exploring the incredible journey of recreating yourself in midlife or beyond, and how to confidently step into your next chapter of your most beautiful life. If you're feeling stuck, or lost or uncertain about forging a new path, or if fear is holding you back from embracing change, this episode is tailored just for you. Trust me, I've been there too caught in the whirlwind of uncertainty, confusion and fear. As you may know from previous episodes, I once led a national arts organization for 18 years. But when the pandemic hit, my world shifted overnight funding vanished depth piled up, and I felt the weight of responsibility for my team. I also felt this tremendous loss of identity. And that sent me into a tailspin of fear and anxiety. I didn't know what else I could possibly do, or who I was, without my fancy title of executive director. I was 52 years old when I made the decision to close that business and start the journey of recreating my life. Closing that chapter was terrifying, but it became the catalyst for one of the most liberating experiences of my life. Today, I'm thrilled to share with you my journey of recreating a life filled with meaning, well being and joy and how you can do the same. Alright, first things first, let's acknowledge that change is inevitable, especially as we reach midlife and beyond. life transitions are part of the journey, offering us opportunities for growth, renewal transformation. Research shows that many individuals undergo significant life transitions during these stages, whether it's changing careers or starting a new relationship pursuing lifelong dreams. Remember, it's never too late to recreate your life and pursue the path that is in alignment with your deepest desires and aspirations. So how do we navigate this journey of self creation? It starts with getting clear on who you are, what you want, and why it matters. This is an exercise in understanding your core values, which is key to your success. Yet this is also something only a small percentage of us truly grasp. The good news is that it's not hard to find this kind of clarity. It can even be quite a fun adventure. So if you need to find deeper clarity, here's my top recommendation. Invest time with yourself going on mindful walks in nature, and simply ask yourself those three questions. Who am I? Or who do I want to be? What do I really want? And why does it matter? These moments of introspection will unveil your inner wisdom and guide you towards your purpose. If you have a hard time answering the question, what do I really want? Explore the things that light you up what brings you joy? Try, try Joy spotting This is a delightful practice of noticing what brings you joy each day. Pay attention to those moments. They hold clues to your passion and desires. Revisiting past dreams is another powerful tool or their aspirations you've tucked away or are deemed impossible. Now's the time to reignite those sparks and explore where they lead. Alright, let's talk about fear. Once you get clear on what you want and why it matters, fear may step in and get in your way. It's the silent saboteur that thrives on doubt and uncertainty. Whether it's fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown. It's essential to address these fears head on. For me, as I was transitioning into the work I do to debt today my fears were, well they were multifaceted. I feared ridicule. Who you to teach people how to connect with inner wisdom. My inner critic screamed. I feared failure. What if I fall flat on my face? What if nobody wants what I have to offer? And I feared success? What if I become ridiculously successful and my life as it is the life I love completely changes? And what if it doesn't change for the better fear has the power to stop you in your tracks, or send you running in the other direction? There's no doubt it takes courage to recreate yourself to step into the unknown and take risks and doing something new. And courage is something you can build. It's important to remember that courage is not the absence of fear. I share this because some people think they have to get over their fear before taking any action. That is not true. Courage is the intersection of fear and determination. It's the willingness to move forward. Despite the trembling of your heart. Acknowledging that readiness is a myth. There's no such thing as ready. Courage allows us to fail forward, learning and growing with each stumble. To help you confront fear head on, I've crafted a practical five step process, a roadmap, if you will, that I've personally journey journeyed through countless times and I continue to be on that journey. All right. Number one, acknowledge the normalcy of fear. Understand that fear is a normal emotion experienced by many when pursuing dreams or seeking change, it does not signify weakness or inadequacy. Fear is a natural part of the journey. Number two, identify the root of fear. pinpoint the specific fear, whether it's fear of rejection, failure, success, or another variant by naming the fear its grip weakens, allowing for closer examination and eventual dismantling. So

Unknown: 00:08:08

what is what is that fear for you? If you've

Anita Adams: 00:08:12

got more than one fear like I did, name them all and understand again, that having multiple fears is normal to you are not alone. Number three, challenge old stories. Question The truth of the stories connected to your fear. Old narratives often tied to veer can be based on outdated beliefs. Challenge the stories by asking Is that true? The self inquiry helps dismantle the power of fear holds an old narrative I told myself over the years is that I'm not smart enough, a story that was drilled into me by my emotionally abusive stepfather. Whenever that fear of not being enough crops up and it still does from time to time, I stopped myself and simply ask, Is that really true? Of course it's not, I'll find myself answering. If a little extra encouragement is needed, I will list off some of mine my smart person accomplishments. So pay attention to those old narratives you've been telling yourself and pull out the evidence to prove them wrong. All right, number four, is connect with your higher self. Spend mindful time in nature, time in nature is a powerful conduit to your higher self. This connection fosters belief in possibilities instills hope and cultivates inner peace and confidence. Connecting with your higher self is a transformative step towards inspired action. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this step. Alright, number five, the last the last step to getting over or moving through fears is to focus on the single Next Step. Identify a small, manageable step to move forward with your goal or dream, right by concentrating on the micro rather than the overwhelming big picture. You can steadily progress. As the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. Now, I want to share one simple technique that will significantly propel you forward into your new purpose your new life. This comes after you find clarity on that purpose, and it's called the 30. In 30 technique, the structure is really simple 30 days 30 minutes per day working on one thing. So here's what you do commit to 30 days and 30 minutes every day working towards your goal, okay, this focused effort diminishes fears grip, it compounds progress and boosts confidence, one small step at a time. This is another transformative exercise. All right. Today, I challenge you to take one small step towards recreating yourself, what is the step you are going to take? Is it getting out for a mindful walk in nature to get clear on what it is you really want? Perhaps it's to take a closer look at the fears that are holding you back naming them. Maybe you are ready to step into inspired action and you're going to take a class, write out an action plan or reach out to a mentor. Whatever ignites your spirit, do it with courage and conviction. Okay, as we come to the end of our episode, I want to leave you

Unknown: 00:12:00

with this. You have

Anita Adams: 00:12:02

the power to recreate your life at any age. By finding clarity of purpose, doing the inner work to navigate through fear and focusing on one thing at a time, you will boldly step into the next beautiful chapter of your life and it will bring you great joy. Remember, if you ever feel like you need some additional support in recreating yourself and overcoming those fears that may be holding you back. I'm here for you. As a life and leadership coach, I specialize in guiding individuals to finding clarity and moving through fears to confidently step into their purpose. So feel free to reach out you'd like to explore how we can work together and make your dreams a reality. Alright, thanks for joining me today joyful journeyer if you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing to the joyful journey podcast and sharing it with friends and loved ones who may benefit from it. Stay tuned for more episodes on personal and spiritual growth, resilience and living a purposeful life. Alright, until next time, keep exploring, keep growing. Keep recreating your life on your own terms. And we'll catch you soon. Thank you for joining me on the joyful journey podcast. If anything resonated for you from today's show, or if you are looking for more clarity in your life, clarity of purpose or how to activate that purpose, then head over to joyful journey.ca and become a member of our community. We'll start by sending you a free download of our three guiding principles to inner wisdom, which will give you a great foundation for finding the clarity you're seeking. And you'll become part of a growing community of people who are raising the collective consciousness. So head over to joyful journey.ca And I look forward to connecting with you directly