In the course of my travels, I speak to many women about my work as a “midlife blooming” coach and teacher. Often they’ll sigh with recognition, and will say wistfully, “Oh, I could use that!”

Then they tell me a bit about their story. Each story is different, but they also tend to form patterns,  fitting into one of several scenarios that I realize many of us are confronted with past the age of 40.

Is one of these your story too?

• Your children have grown and left home, leaving a vacuum where your sense of purpose used to be.
• Your marriage has ended, and you’re wondering if there’s life after divorce.
• You lost your “secure” employment and don’t know where to turn, or who to be.
• You’re stressed and bored at your job and hope there’s more to life.
• You’re facing retirement and dread the emptiness.
• You’ve had a brush with illness, and are feeling a renewed commitment to how to use your precious time.
• You’ve put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own and you’re questioning if it’s too late to live YOUR life, to put YOUR work out into the world.
• You had a vision once to create something beautiful and meaningful with your life, and that vision is haunting you now.

Whatever the reason, if you’re like the women I speak to, you’re feeling adrift and wondering where your purpose and joy have gone, and how to find them. You know you’re capable of SO much more – but what exactly that looks like may be eluding you. . . .  (more…)