Midlife can be a messy time marked by a lot of change. But my guest on this episode of the More Beautiful Podcast is on a mission to shine a light on the numerous advantages—rather than disadvantages—you have once you reach this pivotal life stage. According to Holly Boxenhorn, a psychotherapist and empowerment coach, midlife presents the perfect opportunity to leverage all your wisdom, experience and personal strengths and make the second half of your life even deeper and richer than the first. Holly says the key to tapping into your "midlife advantage" is to become aware of the seven personal energetic states that can seriously impact your life. She helps you understand how to raise your own energy level in order to improve everything from your job to your relationship, as well as move further along on your self-growth journey. Holly also runs through her list of six health and lifestyle influences that can profoundly affect your energy and your response to life's challenges.

Holly and I also discuss:

• Why the life roadmap we were given when we were kids ends at midlife—and how that can be a good thing
• The ways you may be "bullshiting yourself" and how to stop
• Why you should address your midlife baggage before embarking on major life change
• How to take a more balanced approach to health and wellness in your 40s, 50s and beyond
• The difference between catabolic and anabolic energy, and how to stay in the "good" one
• What her six lifestyle influencers are and how they can affect how you show up in the world
• How to raise your personal energy, and which of the seven energy levels marks the sweet spot
• How to strengthen your interpersonal relationships (and the three types of friend every midlife woman needs)
• Why it's OK to talk to yourself (the best of us do it) and to acknowledge the "suck" of midlife
• Why women can sometimes go overboard on feeling and expressing "gratitude" 
• How your mindset affects your views on ageism; how you approach aging is a choice and an opportunity
• Why it's OK to not have it all figured out by midlife
• Why aging powerfully is contagious

Plus, Holly gives you tips on how you can kick your energy level up a notch—right now, wherever you are! Full show notes available at Morebeautifulpodcast.com.