If I were to draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and write "Gifts" on one side and "Flaws" on the other side, I'm embarrassed to admit which side would fill up the fastest. Why is it that we are able to pick up on our faults so much easier than we are our skills, talents and abilities?
So many high-achieving business women strive for this impossible state of being. But trying to do things perfectly takes much more than it can ever give: It robs your time, energy and sanity and doesn't make you happier or richer. But there's a way out. 10 ways in fact.
If I had to point out one of the most significant changes in my life over the past few years that's accounted for my growth, both professionally and personally, it's that I've cleaned house and say goodbye to those people in my life who weren't willing or able to support me.
I like to think in more positive terms about what it is I want 2022 to look and feel like. That means sitting down (or walking or whatever gets your mental juices flowing) and consciously deciding on the areas of your life you want to make the most impact on. And that impact doesn't have to be monumental. It can be subtle, barely perceptible shifts in the way you think, feel, act and plan.
So, with a full heart, I step boldly into the new year, with a spirit and voice that's strong: Welcome.
You don't have to go back to square one and rewrite the story of your life. It's your stories that have created your life and evolved you to this point. It's about starting where you are and moving forward from here. Step by step. Intention by intention.
In order to write this article I've spent a great deal of time thinking about and researching work+life fit, and looking for examples of severe work+life dysfunction among business women with family obligations who feel like they're barely treading water.
I refuse to refer to the transition that occurs for most women in midlife as a "crisis." While it's true that the word "crisis" means a crucial or decisive point or situation, or a turning point, it also has about it an air of instability bordering on hysteria.
Don't question whether or not you make an impact on the world. Know that you do. Just like the pebble in the pond.
Like so many businesswomen I interviewed about how it felt to be moving into midlife, I experienced an uptick in my personal power, and an undeniable need to rid myself of any beliefs or expectations that were not authentically mine. I realized there needed to be a paradigm shift in the way we think about aging as a whole, but specifically how we think about women aging. It became non-negotiable - living my life with intention. And so I created this manifesto for you, the midlife woman.
