Reimagine Midlife
I didn't know what I didn't know, and that's probably a good thing. I thought my life would take a predictable path, and it didn't. Life got complicated and messy, and one day I found myself up a creek without a paddle.
Life is a tough sport, and there is no definitive guide to rebooting in the middle of it all. We are just improvising as we go, pivoting as needed, and doing our best. When the proverbial sh*t hits the fan we face -- disappointments, health scares, and all sorts of unimaginable things. So, how do we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get back on track?
When the going gets tough, it's time to reboot. We can take the experiences and lessons learned from life and turn them into something new. Instead of living our lives predictably, we fire them up, exploring our own potential and doubling down on achievements left undone -- turning the middle years into a time of opportunity, accomplishment, and enrichment.
The biggest challenge is always going from idea to action. Starting something new can be daunting and overwhelming. Obstacles imagined and real, block our way. Self-doubt rears its ugly head and undermines our confidence. And, sometimes, the hardest part is just starting; especially if we are unsure of the desired outcome or how to achieve it.
If we want our lives to be different than they are right now, we can choose to do things differently. We can decide that this is our time, snatch the middle years from the jaws of mediocrity and write our own damn next chapter.
My own story required a re-write. I had to own my part in what wasn't working, free myself from unproductive behaviors, and get excited about the infinite possibilities ahead. The things over which I had no control had to go, and I turned my energy and attention to what I actually had the power to change… me. This became my starting point; a freeing mind-shift that released me from unproductive patterns of behavior and self-limiting beliefs, opening up bandwidth for new, exciting opportunities.
Simplify, prioritize, and feel good again, became my mantra. So, I started with the one thing I could control each day that would have the most significant impact physically, emotionally, and mentally -- food. I took the simple, daily act of eating and turned it into my superpower.
Food in its purest form is fuel, which I needed to power-up my dreams. Eating with intention was energizing, which led to the gym. Exercise triggered feel-good endorphins, improving my energy, sleep, and mood. Looking and feeling good felt like the best version of "me" boosting my self-confidence. And one day, I looked ahead, and the future was exciting and filled with possibilities. One bite at a time I created a life of passion and purpose, and so can you.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Arthur Ashe.
The little things we do every day add up over time and impact our lives. What we eat and drink, the people with whom we spend time, our thoughts, exercise, how we manage stress, and the quality of our sleep are things within our control that profoundly shape our lives. Reimagining life when we need to starts with being good stewards of our health. Abundant energy, resilient minds, consistent wellness, and energetic bodies are tools we can use to create lives we love.
One simple step, done repeatedly, is the foundation for change.
When we feel good, we have the confidence and energy to explore other areas of our lives.
Start small and dream big. Change begins with a single action, what will yours be?
Kristen Coffield is an author, educator, and culinary disruptor at Culinary Cure where you can get her free e-book, 9 Steps To Change Your Life and start today.
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