In this episode, we're talking about something we all wrestle with at some point in midlife—whether to accept something as it is or take action to change it.

You know the feeling… standing at a crossroads, wondering: Is this just how life is now? Do I need to surrender to this new reality? Or is this my cue to shake things up?

Midlife is FULL of these moments. And honestly? It can feel like we're on some sort of game show:

"Behind Door #1, we have acceptance! Behind Door #2, we have change! Choose wisely—no pressure!"

So today, we're going to break this down:

• How do you know when to accept something and when to change it?
• What's the biblical perspective on both?
• And most importantly, how do you make the right choice for YOU in this new season?

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

When criticism from your adult child strikes, it can take you by surprise and leave you without words. Let’s fix that on today’s episode of the Blooming in the Middle Podcast!

Because if you’re a mom of adult kids, you’ve probably been there—your son or daughter says something that makes you stop in your tracks. Maybe it’s a critique of how you raised them, how you “just don’t get it,” or even how you’re too involved… yet somehow not involved enough. It can feel like a no-win situation.

So today, we’re going to talk about those moments and what to say when you don’t know what to say.

Because, above all, you want to build a solid adult relationship with your kids. So, you need to know what works when you find yourself under fire. You know it’s not helpful to get defensive. And if you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of over-apologizing, you know that doesn’t work either.

So, let’s dive in and get you some go-to answers that will help you feel prepared the next time your adult child decides you need to hear what’s wrong with you.

🌿

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

Today, we’re diving into the topic of how to be a better friend to yourself in midlife.

I know this idea can sound odd, especially when we try as Christian women to love others the way God asks us to. Thinking too much about ourselves can make us feel uncomfortable.

But being a good friend to yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential. In fact, it’s a reflection of God’s love in your life. A love that’s contagious and draws others in.

When you nurture your well-being by being a friend to yourself, you’ll be better equipped to live out your calling to love others well.

And there’s no better time to tackle this topic than midlife, when you might be adjusting to spending more time alone than you were ready for. 

So, let’s talk about three practical ways you can be a better friend to yourself in midlife and experience more of the joy God has waiting in your second half.

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

It seems like the voices of “should” are everywhere, especially this time of year:

 I should get in better shape.

I should save more money.

I should finally get organized.

I should … well, the list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

And if you’re someone who likes to get stuff done, it’s easy to let those “shoulds” take over when planning the days and months ahead,

But what if, instead of piling on the shoulds, we approached goal-setting differently?

What if we focused less on what we “should” do and more on what we feel God inviting us to do?

Because life doesn’t have to be about fixing ourselves; it can be about honoring who we are and who God is calling us to become.

In today’s episode, let’s talk about why midlife is a great time to say goodbye to “should” so you can say hello to more joy right now.

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

Holidays look different in your empty nest, but they don't have to lose their magic. Here's how to enjoy the holidays with your adult kids.

If you've got adult kids, you already know how quickly holiday spirits can sag when you start trying to navigate everyone's schedule and expectations in this empty nest season of life.

And if those adult kids have families of their own, making holiday plans can start to feel like a negotiation between countries trying to reach a treaty.

OK, maybe not that bad. But when you've put years into creating meaningful holiday traditions that your family enjoys, it can be disorienting to realize that things won't be the same this year.

Is it any wonder that these special days can seem to lose their luster?

I'm here to share that they don't have to.

In today's episode, let's talk about how to keep spirits bright when life looks different inside your empty nest.

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

What's keeping you from asking for what you want in midlife?

You might think it’s because you’re not clear yet on what you want your next chapter to look like.

Or maybe you’re feeling a bit rusty when making requests for yourself after years spent taking care of others

You tell yourself that you’ll start asking for more when you grow more confident.

While it’s true that gaining clarity and confidence is incredibly important to asking for what you want, that’s not all that’s going on.

You’re also dealing with Resistance.

You see, our brains are wired to feel safe with what we know. So, Resistance pops up whenever we try to make a change or try something new outside our comfort zone.

And Resistance comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.

It can be external from family, friends and co-workers who like things just the way they are. And it can be internal in the form of procrastination, self-doubt, worry, and other unhelpful mindsets and habits that keep you doing what you’ve always done.

Resistance makes it very hard to ask for what you want.

The good news is that Resistance and asking are so closely linked that by making just a few changes to the way you ask, you can overcome Resistance – no matter where it’s coming from.

In today’s episode, let’s talk about 5 changes you can make in how you ask for what you want that will help you overcome Resistance and get the outcomes you’re looking for in midlife and beyond.

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for navigating midlife at BloomingintheMiddle.com/17.

🌿

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

Most of us have encountered at least one woman who seems nice at first, welcomes you into the fold of friendship then subtly – or not so subtly – makes you start questioning yourself and wondering if you’re imagining things.

Things like being targeted for unkind or critical remarks. Or becoming the subject of gossip. Or learning that you’ve been excluded from an event where other friends were invited. Surely no one would do these things intentionally, right?

It’s hurtful and confusing. It can be downright infuriating.

It’s also a sign that you’ve stepped into the line of fire from a grown-up mean girl.

Join me on today’s episode, where we’ll talk about why some women are mean to other women and how you can respond in ways you’ll feel good about the next time you come face to face with a grown-up mean girl in your life.

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for navigating midlife at bloominginthemiddle.com/16 

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

Do your aging parents send you mixed messages? They ask for help one minute, and the next, they stop listening. 

You're not alone. This happens all the time between aging parents and their kids.

Parents welcome your concern because it makes them feel loved. But when your concern comes with too many questions and suggestions, those warm fuzzy feelings turn into annoyance. 

What's underneath this confusing push and pull when you're only trying to help?

Are your parents just being stubborn? Or is something else going on?

How are you supposed to care for them when they resist or reject your offers to help?

What do your parents want? What do your parents need from you?

To find the answer to that question, it helps to understand what they don't want.

In today's episode, let's talk about one thing your aging parents wish you would stop doing. And what to do instead. So you can both find more joy and connection in your relationship.

You can find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for navigating midlife at bloominginthemiddle.com/15.

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

Trying to find your new purpose in midlife can feel like a monumental task. Especially after years filled with activity that left little room for pondering questions like, “What should I do with my time?”

Are you kidding me? What time? Filling up your time in the growing years was never a problem!

If you’re like me or many women I talk to, the opposite was true: you had to be diligent about carving out time and space for yourself and your interests.

It makes sense that you might be a little rusty when it comes to figuring out what will bring you joy and a sense of purpose in the second half of life.

Today, on the podcast, I’m sharing a tool that can help.

It’s a simple series of five questions that will get your creative juices flowing if you’re stuck and bring order to the chaos if you’re spinning.

Tune in at bloominginthemiddle.com/14, and let’s shake you out of your midlife haze and get you moving in the direction God is calling you to next.

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.

If finding joy in midlife feels elusive, you might think it's because you have responsibilities you weren't prepared for. Things like caring for an aging parent, helping a struggling adult child, or managing your health and wellness.

These and other challenges can add up to some not-so-joyful midlife moments.

But you know it's possible to find joy in the middle of life's toughest assignments – after all, you've done it before!

So, what's really going on?

If it's not the unexpected difficulties of midlife robbing your joy, what is?

It could be the mistaken belief that there's a perfect way to navigate this season. Are you stuck in the perfection trap?

Let's talk about how pursuing perfection sucks the joy out of midlife and what you can do to stop it from stealing yours.

Find the full transcript for this episode at bloominginthemiddle.com/13

Jody Cates is a faith-based life coach who helps Christian women navigate the changes and challenges of midlife and step into the joy-filled second half God created them for. Her 90-minute Midlife Strategy Session is a personalized coaching experience designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

Learn more about how you can work with Jody to find your focus, renew your purpose, age with confidence, and grow satisfying relationships in midlife and beyond at BloomingintheMiddle.com.

Grab your free copy of Midlife Reframed, Jody's practical, faith-filled guide that will transform the way you think about midlife by replacing four common midlife myths with empowering biblical truths.