I'm getting real with you about a big life change: I'm buying a condo on my own. What should feel exciting has stirred up all kinds of unexpected emotions: comparison, judgment, and even a little anger. I've been wrestling with "what will people think?" and my personal comparison of how I pictured my life at 55, and how it actually looks.

In this episode, I share the mindset shifts that are helping me find peace, gratitude, and even joy in my decision. If you've ever judged yourself, or your life, based on appearances, or compared your story to someone else's, I think you'll relate.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Don't judge a book by its cover, especially your own life. The outside doesn't always tell the truth about the beauty, peace, or joy inside—and yes, that includes condos with faded brown paint.

• Let go of the craving for how life "should" be. Clinging to that imagined version of your life is what makes you miserable, not the reality you're living.

• Gratitude changes everything. When you focus on what's good right now and give yourself credit for making wise choices, the voice that worries about other people's opinions gets a lot quieter.

Wake Up to Your Life is an award-winning podcast hosted by Colleen Odegaard. On this show, you'll hear from experts (and learn from my own hilarious stories) on how to rediscover yourself in a new season of life, no matter what that looks like for you.

Connect with Colleen:

• Instagram

• Facebook

• YouTube