Below is my Top Ten List
to help us LWL women become fabulous and fearless. I have tried them all and
not a single tip was recalled. Try one, or a couple or all of them. Just
embrace taking a chance on yourself and leave the fear behind!
1) CELEBRATE. First of all, celebrate all you
have accomplished in your life. Plan a party for 100 of your closest friends or
just for yourself. Set a nice table,
light some scented candles, put on some rock n’ roll music…
2) DARE. Try something you have never done
before. Here are a few examples: go
kayaking with some friends; become fluent in Italian; visit a spa for a day and
leave with red hair; help build homes or buy some Jimmy Choos shoes. Just don’t
do them all at once. Your family and friends just might freak out a bit. If
they do, invite them to come along!
3) INTUIT. Have you met your friend who goes
by the name of Intuition? Intuition,
inner voices, gut feelings can reveal clues about what you should do next. Try
this: A) Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. B) Close your eyes
(oh yes, sit down first) and take in a couple of breaths and feel yourself
start to slow down. C) Ask your
intuition a question – it can be about where to move, what direction to take in
your new life or do I really want this new relationship? D) Sit quietly and wait for your intuition to
speak to you. E) Did you get a calm,
happy feeling? Did dread or feelings of foreboding fill every cell in your
body? Did you hear a word over and over? Did you just get that “knowing “
feeling that you have found your answer? Did it act like no one’s at home? Developing one’s intuition is the answer to that corny but telling
question: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice and practice! But
what a great friend to have around and it will always tell you the truth!
4) EXPLORE. So you have decided that the time
has come to take your life by the lapels and do….? You always thought you would like to give
tours thru the ancient ruins in Egypt, or take to the stage in Edwardian finery or maybe own a cozy book store with
the aroma of just brewed coffee filling the soul along with the words of Toni
Morrison? Before you pack your bags, do take a trip to Vocation Vacations’
website. This organization will let you test drive your dreams and you may find
yourself doing a little tire kicking as you discover a new and exciting way to
live your life outrageously! www.vocationvacations.com.
5) MOVE. We got to love “Dancing with the
Stars” don’t we? I personally don’t care for the outfits (I’m more the crisp
white tee shirt, blue jeans, black jacket with scarf draped around the neck for
days kinda of woman) but they make me want to dance and shake everything that
won’t snap in two! Another way to tend to your body and its needs is to move
everyday. It won’t work to just exercise your brain because you need to drag
your body along on your great adventures. So make it your best body. How would
it feel to exercise first thing in the morning? Guaranteed to get your
metabolism up and running and whether you’re running, walking or watching the
Today Show while conquering some hills and miles on your treadmill, you are
taking excellent care of your body and soul. But it doesn’t really matter what time you exercise. Just remember that
all of you counts, so dust off those
weights and your toned muscles will thank me later. I guarantee the journey
will be less taxing and you just might end up taking Zumba lessons. Just leave
the sequins at home!
6) READ. So,
on the days when it’s raining or the humidity is so high that your hair is
picking up CNN….go and pick up something and read. I don’t know if I have an all time favorite female
author but these authors have inspired me throughout the years: Jane Austen,
Alice Munro, Anna Quindlen, Maya Angelou, Anne
Lamott (I want to come back as her sense of humor), Fannie Flagg, Dorothy
Parker, Julia Cameron and Lynn Robinson. (I just knew I was going to like her
writing - she’s one of the nation’s
leading experts on Intuition). Go and get lost in a book. You may have noticed
that I left out some popular romance writers. I want you to be inspired and not
out of breath when you have finished your books. Skip “Eat, Pray, Love” on an empty stomach. I
gained 8 pounds during the “Eat” section. And it doesn’t have to be a book.
When I read “More Magazine,” I feel far from even approaching being over some
hill, more sexy and secure in my choices and joyful to be in the middle of my
middlesence madness. It makes me want to
vacuum in high heels. Well, maybe not, why not a magazine that salutes us
fabulous women in our forties and fifties?
7) BE BOLD. Fall in love with you and your new
life and don’t let anyone tell you that you and your dreams are frivolous. When
someone asks why at this time of your life you are reinventing your life, just
smile and say, “If I don’t become the
person I am meant to be, then the world misses out on my greatness and my
potential to make the world a better place will be lost forever. Thanks for
asking and have a nice day.”
8) VOLUNTEER. Nothing makes you feel empowered
like helping someone else feel that way, too.
9) RELAX. Escapism is marvelous, but
escapism that motivates us is unbeatable. One of the best escape routes to take
can be driving to your local video store or walking over to the TV remote. We
don’t always see positive role models of women in the news. They may be
infamous (like the call girl and the NY governor, for example) but they are not
inspiring and it is a tad insulting. When going through transitions, we need
some downtime and a bag of kettle corn popcorn. And some funny, fearless and
fabulous women to make us smile and say to ourselves, “I am ready.” Here are
just a few that might make you feel that anything is possible in your life: “All
About Eve,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” (try to ignore
the fake-Asian Mickey Rooney parts) “Chocolat (zero calories),” “Dirty
Dancing,” “Hannah and Her Sisters,” “Moonstruck,” “The Way We Were” (because of
Robert Redford, but Barbra was pretty terrific in that movie), and “Field of
Dreams.” And not a car chase in any of
them!
10) MEDITATE. You have stayed focused and you
are transitioning to your new life. Now is the perfect time to focus on your
breath. How about adding meditation to
your daily routine? Here are just a few of the benefits that come from a few
minutes of meditation a day: Clarity in problem solving; reduction of stress and
anxiety; a renewed sense of well being; more restful sleep; slowing down of
aging(YES!) and can even help with the resolution of mental and emotional
blocks in our lives. Not too bad, eh? I travel to http://www.learningmeditation.com/room.htm
when I need some breathing space to collect my thoughts and slow myself and my
pace down. You can take a guided meditation with soothing music in the
background or you can print the words out and meditate on them at your
leisure. This is one of the best gifts
you can give yourself and you just start by taking a deep breath.
So, I see
you have read them all. Good for you. Now get out there and put your midlife
passions to the test. No more dress rehearsals. You have earned the right to
take center stage!
Elizabeth
Cassidy,CTACC started Branching Out Life Coaching with the belief that midlife is
just the beginning of some of the best years in our lives. She offers
complimentary coaching consultations for motivated women who are on the verge
of discovering their own greatness. Shift your perspective and change your
life. Call 516.629.6838 or email her at [email protected].
Embracing your new life just got a little easier. Please visit: www.BranchingOutLifeCoaching.com
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