Design Your Life, Your Way - Strategic Growth for the Conscious Midlife Entrepreneur

What happens when grief arrives uninvited? Not just from death, but from the quiet losses that reshape us after age 50. This conversation with author Laing Rikkers reveals how she transformed the sudden loss of her sister into a creative practice that led to deep healing, renewed purpose, and a choice to embrace joy.

If you’re a woman over 50 who spent decades dealing with family, work, caregiving and managing expectations, this episode is for you. Laing and I talk about grief as more than death. It can be divorce, empty nest, health changes, career pivots, and the quiet loss of who you used to be. You’ll hear how simple creative rituals (like morning pages) can help you let go of what you’ve been holding, open your heart to what’s still possible, and reconnect to meaning without forcing “positivity.” Laing also offers a practical resilience framework so you can keep moving through hard seasons with steadiness and grace.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why grief in midlife often looks like identity loss (empty nest, divorce, changing roles), and why that's real grief, not "being dramatic."

The "talk it, walk it, write it" approach to moving through heavy emotions and reconnecting with your inner wisdom.

How creative expression (even if you don't consider yourself "creative") can be a powerful healing tool.

The "sleep, eat, steep" foundation for building resilience through any transition.

Why service can be healing. Not as self-abandonment, but as meaningful contribution that restores perspective and purpose.

About Our Guest

Laing Rikkers is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and executive coach with over 30 years of leadership experience, including two decades in private equity. Afer losing her younger sister suddenly in 2019, she channeled her grief into creative writing which became the book, "Morning Leaves: Reflections on Loss, Grief, and Connection." Now a certified grief support specialist, Laing leads workshops and serves on the boards of Feeding San Diego and the Empowered Endings Foundation, helping caregivers and families navigate end-of-life challenges with compassion and practical support.

Connect with Laing

Website: laingrikkers.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laing-rikkers

Instagram: @morning_leaves_and_poetry

Book: Morning Leaves: Cultivating a Life of Beauty, Meaning and Joy (Second Edition coming March 2026)

Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron – the creative recovery classic that introduced morning pages

Empowered Endings Foundation – supporting caregivers and providers around end-of-life care

The Foundation for Art and Healing – research and programs on creative expression and wellness

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – mental health support and resources

University of Wisconsin Grief Support Specialist Training

Design Your Life, Your Way – Next Steps:

Learn more about coaching, energy healing, and the L.O.V.E. Method™ at: gloriarand.com/offerings

Check out the Good Grief Women’s Retreat happening in June, 2026: goodgriefretreat.net

Discover your unique strengths for designing your next chapter: bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz

If this episode spoke to you:

Leave us a review.

Follow/subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Share this with a friend who’s navigating transition, reinvention, or a fresh start after 50.

Connect with me on LinkedIn @GloriaGraceRand to continue the conversation about midlife, meaning, and living on purpose.

Remember: Your mess is your message. You don't need to have it all figured out to show up.

Ever felt like you've been running someone else's race? If so, this episode is your permission slip to finally design your life in a way that fits who you are now, not who you were a decade ago. Welcome to the first edition of Design Your Life, Your Way - the podcast that's all about new beginnings after 50! When you tune in, you'll hear what led me to rebrand Live. Love. Engage. after 6 years and the deeper shift beneath it. If you're a woman in midlife navigating transitions like an empty nest, career pivot, relationship or identity shift, this episode is your invitation to step into what's next with intention and self-trust.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why gaining clarity on your brand and message can unlock years of stuck energy

How a brand manual can be a game-changer for any business owner

How life transitions in midlife like separation, career shifts, or an empty nest can become invitations to finally live on your own terms

The power of aligning your work with who you are right now (not who you were five or ten years ago)

What light language is, how it works, and how it can support emotional release and soul-level healing

Why 2026 being a "1 year" in numerology makes this the perfect time for new beginnings and fresh starts

Resources & links mentioned:

Tiffany Neuman's Legacy Brand Workshop: https://yourlegacybrand.com/brand-clarity-workshop-series-grace-rand/ (Save $90 with my affiliate link)

Check out New Reality TV: newrealitytv.com

Curious about Light Language? Learn more here: https://gloriarand.com/light-language-healing/

Schedule your free 15-Minute introductory Light Language Session: bit.ly/lightlanguage15

Ali Rand's business management company: LiveInYourGenius.com

Design Your Life, Your Way – next steps:

Learn more about working with Gloria Grace Rand: https://gloriarand.com/offerings/

Check out the upcoming Good Grief Women's Retreat: goodgriefretreat.net

Take the Personal Power Archetype Quiz: bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz

If this episode spoke to you:

Kindly leave us a review.

Follow/subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Share this with a friend who’s navigating transition, reinvention, or a fresh start after 50.

Connect with me on LinkedIn @GloriaGraceRand to continue the conversation about midlife, meaning, and living on purpose.

Many women carry a quiet tension into a new year: "I want to grow... but I don't want to lose myself in the process." In this encore conversation, I sit down with author and business coach Melissa LaPlante to explore what it really means to build a purpose-driven business after 50 - one that honors people, values, and the planet AND still creates real profit. Together, we talk about leadership without "boxes," how to recognize the gifts inside your team (and inside yourself), and why intention-led businesses aren't just kinder, they're often stronger.

You'll also hear a grounded, relatable take on intuition - how to tell the difference between inner guidance and fear, and how to move forward even when your mind wants a guarantee. Expect a blend of spiritual perspective and practical energy: equal parts heart and "here's how."

Transcript

Key takeaways:

Redefine “purpose-driven” as being intention-led: sustainable, socially conscious, and people-centered.

Learn how to hire and lead “boxlessly,” looking beyond titles and degrees to real strengths and lived expertise.

Recognize fear for what it is, and practice distinguishing fear from true intuitive guidance.

Discover “abundance banking,” a way of leading and serving from what you do have: skills, wisdom, and presence, rather than scarcity.

Normalize the rise-and-fall rhythm of business growth: big wins, recalibration, and returning to faith and self-compassion.

Why this episode matters now

Midlife has a way of refining you. What used to “work” may feel heavier now. All the hustle, proving, and pushing through. And as priorities shift, you may feel that spiritual tension that says, “I’m ready for success that feels true in my body and true in my spirit.” This conversation meets you right there with a reminder that your impact doesn’t require burnout, and your integrity doesn’t have to be the price of growth.

If this episode speaks to you, especially that pull to lead with purpose and trust yourself more — listen all the way through, subscribe, and share it with one woman who’s building her next chapter with heart. Your share might be the exact nudge she needs right now.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Melissa

LinkedIn & Instagram: @Boxlessbusiness

Website: boxlessbusiness.com

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - Purpose-Driven Business After 50: Profit + Impact 

An Encore Conversation with Business Coach Melissa LaPlante

Introduction: Why Purpose-Driven Business Matters Now

Gloria Grace Rand:

A new year is upon us, a time when many of us set goals for our life and our business. And that's why I thought this would be a great time to present an encore episode of my interview with business coach Melissa LaPlante about building purpose driven businesses that make money and make a difference in the world. So stick around for a fascinating conversation.

I am Gloria Grace Rand, founder of The L.O.V.E. Method and author of the number one Amazon bestseller, Live. Love. Engage. - How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Being Yourself. In this podcast, we share practical advice from a spiritual perspective on how to live fully, love deeply, and engage authentically so you can create a life and business with more impact, influence, and income. Welcome to Live. Love. Engage.

Namaste. For the first time in six years on this podcast, I'm actually taking a break over the holidays. And when I come back in January, Live. Love. Engage. will be known as Design your Life, Your Way - empowering women over fifty to live life on purpose. And that's why I am actually replaying Melissa La Plante's episode today. Her message about merging abundance with impact, science with, spirituality and purpose with profit is exactly what many of you have told me you need to hear right now. So whether you're building a business, contemplating your next chapter, or simply wanting to show up more authentically in the world, this conversation is pure gold. Melissa and I dive deep into how to trust your intuition and business decisions. Why giving from your abundance creates more success than taking, and how that little voice inside of you, your own inner wisdom, is often trying to guide you toward something extraordinary. So grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and let's revisit this enlightening episode. And remember. I'll see you in the New Year with Design Your Life Your Way, where we'll continue exploring how you can boldly live life on your terms and live fully, love deeply, and engage authentically along the way. now let's get into my conversation with Melissa.

Welcome: Meeting Business Coach Melissa LaPlante

Melissa LaPlante:

Hi. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here and I'm just going to give you a super fair warning. I'm at in my home office and my dogs are in a conversation apparently, so apologies if you hear that in the background. But yes, I'm excited to be here. Thank you for having me.

Gloria Grace Rand:

Well, I, I'm glad that you're here and I'm glad the dogs are here too. You know, they'll probably add to the, they'll add to the atmosphere. It's always good. And I'm a dog lover and a cat lover, but I did close my door.

Melissa LaPlante:

I have both. Yeah, I love me some animals.

Defining Purpose-Driven Business: More Than Just Serving a Need

Gloria Grace Rand:

Absolutely. So I thought we'd start off because I do want to dive into this, this topic because I think it's so important. But what, what exactly does a purpose driven business mean to you and how did you kind of discover your own alignment between, you know, making money, which is great, but also having an impact.

Melissa LaPlante:

You know, purpose driven. To me, and that's, I love that you started with that question because it's a, I think it's a misunderstood term in some degrees. I think that, you know, when you think of purpose driven, you think of, oh, my company has to be doing something for consumers that have a need. It has to be, you know, servicing a need. And that's not necessarily the case. Purpose driven is more about being intention led, knowing that, you know, you are showing up sustainably, socially conscious, you know, that you have. And sustainability is not just environmental sustainability. It's are the hours you're working your employees sustainable is the wage you're giving them sustainable, is the way they're being treated sustainable. And so, you know, purpose driven really means just understanding your effectiveness effect in the world and on your consumers and, and you know, and showing up in a positive and giving way versus what can we take? Right. And you know, I, I've always been, I'm a serial entrepreneur. I started my first business when I was 13 walking dogs ironically. And so, you know, it's just always been important to me to flourish in business. But as a person, my moral compass also leads me to be intention led and purpose driven. And I just became really good at that paradigm.

Sustainable Business Practices: Beyond Environmental Impact

Gloria Grace Rand:

Well, I love that and I'm glad that you also clarified the difference between yes, maybe a purpose of being to earn a profit or to serve your customers, but really to have a much more deeper impact and not only, as you say, not only on the environment, but also your employees too. What? I've got, like, lots of questions, but one of the first things that popped into my head actually while we were talking about that is what are some of the benefits actually of having your business be that way, you know, have that specific.

The Profitability of Purpose: Why Sustainable Businesses Earn More

Melissa LaPlante:

I love that you asked that question. You asked the best questions, Gloria. I love it. So, so there are so many benefits aside from, you know, all of the positives of the things I just listed. Harvard Business just did a study that businesses that are showing up sustainably are 400% more profitable than their unsustainable counterparts. And I don't know any CEO out there, myself included, who wouldn't love a 400% raise. So, you know, and so there's, you know, also when, you know, I'm known as the boxless business coaching consultant because so many years, you know, I've been coaching for almost 15 years in leadership and development in one way or another. And people always tell me, oh my God, you think so far out of the box. And I'm like, I don't have a box. There's no box. And so, you know, that's why I developed boxless business, because it shows up, you know, looking at the different aspects of the business in a way that is cohesive. Right. And I'll explain that a little bit more when we get into more of that. But, you know, I think the benefits are having dedicated subject matter experts that care, that want to show up because they're, they're being valued properly. Right. You know, you have increased profitability. I teach one to one problem solving. So, you know, I'm an autistic and ADHD individual. I, in a corporation, do not expect a corporation to educate every employee in the whole building on autism and make everything as autism friendly as possible. I would prefer that they just came to me and said, melissa, what is your actual struggle in this environment and what can we do to meet that need, period? They don't need to be dumping millions of dollars into one size fits all initiatives to directly meet the needs of their actual employees. So, you know, there's a lot of benefit to showing up this way....

Imagine being able to transform stress into success - even during the busy holiday season! Discover how you can start aging gracefully with self-trust by listening to this encore interview I did with career and leadership coach Jesseca Tighe. If you’ve been pushing, proving, caregiving, or carrying the weight of “it’s all on me,” this episode is a gentle wake-up call. Jesseca and I talk about why stress isn’t just an inconvenience, it can be information. Together, we explore the real warning signs of burnout, the three different types of burnout, and the small “micro-skills” that help your nervous system come back down to earth, especially when life at home and work both feel like full-time jobs. You’ll also hear a tender reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s sacred.

Transcript

Key Takeaways:

Recognize stress as a signal, not a character flaw and learn how to stop overriding what your body already knows.

Identify the type(s) of burnout you’re experiencing so you can choose support that actually fits.

Learn how to use simple breath-based “micro-skills” to calm your nervous system in the middle of real life.

Release the belief that “more effort” is the answer, especially when your system is already depleted.

Remember that rest is not scrolling, it’s restoring... and you’re allowed to choose what truly refuels you.

Why This Episode Matters Now

Midlife has a way of turning the volume up. Your priorities shift. Your nervous system gets less interested in performance and more devoted to truth. And in a world that still rewards over-functioning, this conversation offers a kinder path: letting go of what’s draining you, opening to support, valuing what your body is telling you, and remembering you were never meant to earn your worth through exhaustion.

If this episode speaks to you and you can feel that quiet inner “yes” to doing life differently, subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a woman you love who’s been carrying too much. And if you want to stay close as the show steps into its new identity in January 2026, make sure you’re connected to Gloria’s community so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Jesseca

Website: soulutionsforhealth.com

Social Media: @JessecaTighe

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - Encore Episode: Transform Stress into Success: Aging Gracefully with Self-Trust

Introduction: Why We're Revisiting This Conversation About Stress and Burnout

Gloria Grace Rand: The holidays are here, a time for joy and laughter and for many people, stress. That's why I thought it would be a perfect time to present an Encore episode of my conversation earlier this year with career and leadership coach Jesseca Tighe about stress, burnout, and why taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's sacred. So stick around because I also have some exciting news to share before we dive into the interview.

I am Gloria Grace Rand, founder of The L.O.V.E. Method and author of the number one Amazon bestseller, Live, Love, Engage, How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Being Yourself. In this podcast, we share practical advice from a spiritual perspective on how to live fully, love deeply, and engage authentically so you can create a life and business with more impact, influence, and income. Welcome to Live. Love. Engage.

Exciting Podcast News: Live. Love. Engage. Becomes Design Your Life, Your Way

Gloria Grace Rand: Namaste. The holidays are here and as Jesseca Tighe taught me earlier this year during our conversation, stress isn't just an annoyance to push through, it's a gift. It's your body's way of saying, hey, I need you to pay attention to me.

So that's why I'm taking a break from recording a full episode this week before my body starts to complain. And it's also giving me a chance to prepare for January 2026 when this podcast will return with a fresh new identity. Live, Love, Engage is becoming Design Your Life Your Way, a show dedicated to empowering women over 50 to boldly live life on their terms and on purpose.

So pour yourself something warm, find a cozy spot, and let's revisit this conversation about choosing yourself, especially during a season that often asks us to do everything but that. And remember, I'll see you in the new year with Design Your Life Your Way, where we'll continue exploring how to live fully, love deeply, and engage authentically on your terms. So now let's jump into my conversation with Jesseca Tighe.

Understanding Stress: Why It's Actually a Gift That Can Help You Heal

Gloria Grace Rand: You said that stress is actually a gift that can help us heal. So that may sound counterintuitive to a lot of people. So I'm wondering if you could explain what you mean by that.

The Science Behind Stress: Your Body's Built-In Warning System

Jesseca Tighe: Yeah, yeah. So stress is really a low-grade fear response. It's a low-grade survival response.

So when we talk about or when we think about our ancient ancestors, cavemen running from the saber-toothed tiger, and they had this fear response because that told them, hey, this saber-toothed tiger is after you. This is affecting your life. You need to fight or flee or freeze. That's another one. But you need to do something in order to save your life. Stress is actually a low-grade fear response.

So it's telling your body and it's telling you that something's not right. That something's not right. You can't live like this. You can't do this anymore. You're way too stressed out. But we ignore it. And instead of thinking, okay, something doesn't feel right. Something is wrong here. I'm really under too much stress. We think of it as something to overcome. We think of it as something to just ignore. And it's something that's annoying. And it's this existential threat out there. But really, stress, it causes a toll on the body, on your health, on your mental health, and we really need to take it seriously. And so that's what I help people do.

Stress as a Wake-Up Call: The Annoying Cousin in Your Basement

Gloria Grace Rand: So it's really sort of, I guess, a wake-up call to start paying attention, it sounds like.

Jesseca Tighe: It is. It is. Yeah. It's the annoying cousin in your basement that comes up every once in a while and knocks on your door going, hey, I'm still here. This isn't good for us. This isn't good for you. You have to do something different. And we say, no, whatever. I can get over it. It's fine. And then years down the road, we end up with stress-related conditions and we end up with mental health conditions. We end up with substance abuse conditions. It wreaks havoc on our body internally, which is completely invisible and we don't see it. And because it's not the saber-toothed tiger right there in front of our face, it's this essential threat out there. It's really coming up and saying, hey, in 15 to 25 years, you may or may not have a heart-related condition. And we're like, whatever. I got work to do.

And we need to take these things seriously because we have a lot of research now on what stress is, what it does to the body, and why it's so important that we manage it. And we are still stuck, most of us are still stuck in a work culture that doesn't provide those resources or even worse, actively tries to destroy our health and well-being.

From Healthcare Burnout to Coaching: A Personal Story of Transformation

Gloria Grace Rand: Yeah. Now, I know that your background is in healthcare. So were you, because it sounded like I'm trying to remember now from reading your bio, you certainly were seeing how other employees were affected by stress, but was that something you were going through as well? And is that kind of what led you to make this transition?

Working Yourself Into Illness: When Burnout Becomes a Health Crisis

Jesseca Tighe: Yeah. Yeah, it was. So my path, my story is, it's not a linear path, like most people. So I have a PhD in psychology. I practiced as a mental health therapist for about 10 years, and then got an opportunity to work in administrative positions in healthcare and mostly in senior living, which was great. I really loved it at first, but living through COVID, living through just the industry changing into more of a corporate structure, it really, really affected me. And I got burnt out, you know, when, especially in healthcare, it's always do more with less. It's always work harder, faster, longer. There are no holidays. There are no breaks. It's 24-7, 365. You're getting calls on vacation. And I just, I was not doing well. I really worked myself into illness where I got COVID and E. coli poisoning at the same time, and I could not get well. It was really terrible. And I just, I knew that I had to make a change and I had to do something.

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: Starting a New Business From the Couch

So while I was laid up on the couch for two months, I decided, well, I might as well use this time productively. And so I'd always wanted to work with people again individually. I always knew I was going to go back to that. So I thought, well, why not now? So I decided to hang out a shingle as my dad would say, and start my own business. And here I am, and I'm loving it. And I'm so glad that I made the switch. But while I was working in healthcare, I did have some tips and tricks and techniques that I did with my team to reduce turnover, reduce stress, to build resilience, build a cohesive team so that we all had time back in our day so that we could manage it

As a new year approaches, it's not unusual to start pondering what your next chapter will look like - especially, if there's a quiet longing inside you to stop pushing so hard, and start living in a way that actually feels like you again. In this solo episode, I invite you to imagine meeting the "true you" of December, 2026. This is not about pressuring you into another list of goals, but to reconnect with what your soul truly wants next.

Show Notes | Transcript

Join me as I share a tender, honest moment about grief, self-judgment, and the kind of coping many of us recognize. Then, you'll be gently guided towards a new way with aligned intentions rooted in worthiness, support, and trust in Divine timing. You'll also experience a practical mini-workshop using my L.O.V.E. Method, a simple, heart-centered framework to help you let go, open up to receive, value what makes you uniquely powerful, and embrace the truth of who you are... especially in midlife, when your priorities shift and your spirit starts asking for something more.

Key takeaways:

Recognize the difference between pressure-driven resolutions and soul-led aligned intentions that restore self-trust.

Learn how to vision your next chapter without shrinking into practicality too soon, so your dreams have room to breathe.

Discover why “less is more” in midlife. How choosing a few core intentions can create real momentum (without burnout).

Create one simple daily/weekly practice that turns your intention into a lived experience - especially around boundaries, energy, and ease.

Midlife has a way of clarifying what’s real: what you’re willing to keep doing and what your body and spirit are done tolerating. If this episode speaks to you, listen all the way through, and then share it with a friend who’s navigating her own reinvention after 50.

And if you’re feeling that nudge: the one that says “I’m ready for clarity, I’m ready to come home to myself,” consider reaching out to explore a next-step clarity session with me, where you can name what you’re releasing, what you’re receiving, and what you’re building now... with support.

Resources:

Learn more about the Good Grief Women's Retreat: goodgriefretreat.net

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - New Year, True You: Visioning Your Next Chapter

Introduction: Envisioning Your Future Self

Namaste. Imagine meeting the you of December 2026, one year from now. What is she doing? How is she being and what would she. Thank you.

So as I mentioned, a year from now is December. Well, because this is December right now. And yeah, it's. That end of year is rapidly approaching. I mean, as I, I'm recording this, it's like we're already past a week into the month and it's going to be Christmas and New Year's or whatever holiday you celebrate, like in a blink of an eye, it seems like.

And I know that a lot of time people are doing things like setting goals this time of year or they're doing vision boards about what they want to create next year. Thinking about doing a vision board myself. I have one that I've been looking at all year long and thinking I need to update it.

So I also wonder if how much of what you've been doing, maybe you have been setting goals and things like that, that it's related around other people, maybe your family, your clients, your community.

So if that is the case and you've been putting yourself last or nearly last, stick around. Because today we're not going to be doing resolutions. We're instead creating a vision for 2026 that's rooted in your soul, supported by your higher self and designed for the wise, radiant woman you are right now.

Welcome to the Podcast: Empowering Women Over 50

But first, if you're new to the podcast, if you happen to have stumbled upon us, welcome. I'm so glad you're here. I am Gloria Grace, midlife empowerment guide and self love advocate for women over 50 who want to boldly live life on their terms.

And I, yeah, I know all about the setting of goals and not necessarily having them work out because that happens sometimes. You know, I know I've certainly done that in the past in my business. And in fact, a couple, you know, a couple years ago I actually had, I bought this whole, it was like four volume set to use throughout the year of planners. They were one for each quarter of the year. And I started with all the good intentions and filled it out for like the first quarter.

I think I did good. I think I did the whole first quarter. Second quarter started slipping back and wasn't doing it so much anymore. And, and then as often happens, those goals didn't materialize because what you focus on expands and conversely, what you don't focus on, well, maybe it doesn't necessarily contract, but it certainly doesn't expand very well if you're not paying attention to it.

My Personal Weight Loss Journey: Breaking the Yo-Yo Cycle

And I know also, and now that's for, you know, certainly in my business, but also even in my personal life. Now I've. If you have been someone who has actually subscribed to the podcast on YouTube and you've been watching episodes of me over the last few years and in fact, I've been doing this podcast now since. Well, we. This is our December marks the seventh anniversary.

And I. I didn't actually call this season seven because. Well, I'm going to tell you about that a little bit later. Why. But anyway, so you're just going to have to keep tuning in to listen. But anyway, yeah, I started this in December, this podcast, this version in December 2019.

And as I said, if you have happened to. And even if you haven't been subscribed on YouTube, go back in and go to my YouTube channel at Gloria Grace Rand R A N D and go ahead and look at my transformations over the last six years because you will see my face balloon and then get smaller and then balloon and, you know, and the rest of my body too, and then get smaller again because I have had a terrible habit of putting on £40 or so and then taking them off the next year because I'm realizing that, oh, I can't fit into my clothes anymore. I don't like this. I have to wear bigger sizes. I'm sure many of you out there could probably relate to this, right?

And, you know, you start it off and. And the last time I did this was summer of 23, I believe. Yeah, I think it was the summer 23. And I actually went to a hypnotist and. And it worked for a while and I was releasing weight.

And then over the holidays and Christmas time, I started indulging and put the weight back on. And then so by last, in the fall of 24, I was back up to where. Where I didn't want to be again, let's put it that way, a weight I didn't want to be. And I was miserable because it's like I was really, I think, beating myself up a little bit about the fact that how many times have I done this, Gloria? And really, I would say it's even gone back to like 2015, 2015.

I got rid of a lot of weight. I was on a different program at the time and did really well. And then in 2016, my sister passed and I gave myself permission to eat my grief. So I did. And so this started this, this yo yo thing where it was like every year I was either putting weight on or taking it off, putting it on and taking it off.

Finding What Works: The Post Diabetes Solution

Well, thankfully the universe sent me a wonderful LinkedIn connection last year. A lovely gentleman who, you know, we, we connected a few times and he happened to mention in one of the last calls we had, last zoom calls, that he had discovered this book and he had gotten rid of a lot of weight and was feeling so much healthier. And so he suggested it to me and it's called Post Diabetes. And I got the book and I read it one week at a time, I should say, because it, the, the authors of the book don't want you to go ahead because it includes, it's basically a nine week plan to move you out of diabetes to so that you can be post diabetic. Now, I'm not.

I have never been thankfully diagnosed as diabetic, but I knew the way I was going I could be really heading towards type 2 diabetes and I didn't want to do that. So I followed this program and the weight came off and it was pretty easy too. It was not challenging, really challenging at all. And so by this past spring, I'd say by March or April, I had actually released almost 50 pounds and I put a few of those back on. But I can still safely say that from compared to last October, October of 24 to now, which is December 25, I still have £40 off and I have released those pounds.

I'm now putting them back on again. And I've been a little indulging this last week again. And I decided this morning that no, let's go back to eating good food. I don't need to do that anymore. It's like I still would like to release a few more, but heck, even if I stay somewhere within the this like a 10 pound range, pretty darn good.

And it really feels good to know that I'm not going to go back because I'm, I'm not the person I was even a year ago. I'm not. I've grown a lot, personally and professionally. I've been. I worked with someone this summer on my branding and that's why I call myself now a midlife empowerment guide.

You probably noticed again, if you've been subscribed to this podcast for any length of time, that I've sort of changed my titles over the years, over the years. But this is the one that's sticking because this is the one that really feels finally aligned and it feels good. So, all right, hopefully you see a little bit. Well, this is a little bit of my journey....

December is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” as the old song goes... but what happens when your heart just isn’t in the holiday spirit? In this solo episode, I invite you into an honest conversation about grief, loss, and the pressure to feel merry when your soul feels heavy. I share my own personal stories of navigating Christmas without family, discovering that grief doesn't follow a timeline, and it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong either. We explore the many faces of grief: death, divorce, empty nests, lost dreams, changing identies, and the quiet ache of what might have been.

Show Notes | Transcript

In this episode, you'll get practical, tender advice on handling gatherings, managing the pressure of “holiday happiness,” and giving yourself grace. You're reminded that it’s okay to grieve, to feel joy and sorrow together, and to do the holidays in whatever way feels right this year.

Key insights include:

Understand why the holidays can intensify grief, from traditionals and family gatherings to cultural pressure to "be happy"

Discover the power of self-compassion, boundaries, and saying “no” as acts of self-love during the holidays

Remember that you can feel grief and joy at the same time—laughing, smiling, or enjoying a moment doesn’t mean you’ve “moved on” or betrayed anyone

Hear how community, retreats, counseling, and support groups can offer steady ground when the waves of grief feel too big to handle alone

As you finish this episode, take one slow breath, place a hand on your heart, and ask yourself: What is one small, loving thing I can offer myself today as I walk with my grief?

Resources:

If this episode speaks to your experience of grief - whether from death, divorce, transition, or lost dreams - you’re invited to take one small step of support:

Download my free PDF "How to Respond When You're Grieving" guide: https://gloriarand.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/How-to-Respond-When-Youre-Grieving.pdf

Learn more about our upcoming Good Grief Retreat: goodgriefretreat.net

Take what resonates and leave the rest. No pressure. I'm just offering an open door if your soul is nudging you toward more support.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Grief, Holidays & Healing After 50: You’re Not Broken

Welcome to Live, Love, Engage

Namaste. The holiday season is upon us. Joy to the world and all that, right? Well, not necessarily.

The sad truth, I guess, is that it's also a time when grief can rear its ugly head. And that's what I want to talk about today. So sit down, if you're not already, pour yourself a cup of tea, maybe a glass of wine, or a glass of water, because we're going to have a heart-to-heart talk about this subject, because it is one that's near and dear to my heart.

So first, in case this is your first time here, or you happen to have stumbled across the Live, Love, Engage podcast, welcome. I am Gloria Grace. I'm a confidence catalyst and self-love advocate who empowers women over 50, through my love method and energy healing, to boldly live life on their terms.

Why the Holiday Season Can Amplify Grief

And as I said, you know, this year, this time of year, it's, you know, it's supposed to be joyful, you know, and everybody's supposed to be happy and gay. Okay, not that, nevermind, you know what I mean. I'm showing my age when that word meant joy.

And you know what? I think for some people, it still does. But anyway, if you've experienced a loss in the past year, maybe even the past five years, whether it's death of a friend or a loved one, or even a beloved pet, it can be tough to feel merry and bright. And I know firsthand what that's like.

My Personal Story: Losing My Sister Two Days After Christmas

It's nine years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. My sister, older sister Michaela passed two days after Christmas. And yeah, and I tell you, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I like, I could feel the end was near.

And so, yeah, it was not easy. And it was not easy in the several years after that, you know, when Christmas would come up, and this time of year. And even now, still, I mean, even now, it was like little tears are coming up as I remember.

Gosh, yeah, it's amazing. You know, our brains and our emotions are really powerful things and how they hold on to memories. Even, you know, things, and in fact, I even, you know, I could even go back farther and remembering where I was and when I heard about my older brother when he passed.

How Holiday Memories Can Trigger Grief Unexpectedly

So, and then, you know, when you come up with the holidays, it's like, and especially if you do happen to lose someone at this time of year, it's like every year, you know, even when you've gotten past, you know, that initial really tough stage of grief, and you're into the acceptance, it can still trigger things. In fact, I remember actually, last year, now that I think about it, last year at this time, I was driving somewhere, and I don't know, something happened. I just started tearing up, but I let the tears flow.

And, you know, and then it passed, and I was okay again. But it was just that, those memories. But it's not even, you might not even be, that might not be what you're grieving.

Grief Goes Beyond Death: The Many Types of Loss

It might not be actually death of a person, specific person. It could be grieving your identity. Maybe this is your first year as an empty nester, and maybe your kids even, maybe they're away at college, and they're not able to come home for the holidays.

Or maybe, like my daughter who lives in Europe, so thankfully she was home a couple months ago, but she won't be home for the holidays. I haven't spent Christmas with her for five years, and I've had to deal with that. Sometimes it might be that you're grieving, maybe the business you poured your heart into didn't make it.

Or, you know, or some other dream that you had has died. Maybe a friendship ended this year, that one that you, maybe a long-held friendship, and for whatever reason, you know, it's over. Could be a marriage ending as well.

So all of these things, all of these things can cause grief. And then the volume, the volume, I'm thinking ahead, it got ahead of me. The holidays can pump up the volume, as it were, on it.

You're Doing Better Than You Think

So, you know, loss and loneliness and longing for what was or could have been. So if any of you listening to this or watching on YouTube can relate to this, do what I did just then. Take a breath.

Because here's the thing. You know what? You're doing better than you think. And you know how I know that? You're here.

You're listening to me talk on this podcast right now. So that shows that, yeah, you're hanging in there. You're even looking for support.

And we're going to talk more about that in a little bit. So pat yourself on the back right now. You know, go ahead.

Say, yes, I'm here. I'm surviving. And I, this too shall pass, let me tell you.

Why Grief Feels So Much Harder During the Holidays

But so why does this time of year feel so much harder when you're grieving? Well, you know, there's the songs. Actually, I was just at a concert last night. And I don't think they did this song.

But you know, it's the most wonderful time of the year. No, what is it? It's the most wonderful time of the year. There we go.

I knew the song would come back in my head. Well, sure. Yeah, for lots of people.

The Pressure of Holiday Cheer When You're Struggling

But hearing all those songs about, you know, joy, like I said, joy to the world. And you know, all of these happy, wonderful songs. It can, you can start feeling some pressure from all that.

And it can be quite exhausting. So guess what? You don't have to fake happiness. Because the people who love you are going to be able to handle your real feelings.

Holiday Traditions and Rituals Can Bring Up Painful Memories

Now, the holidays are also, it's all about, maybe not all about, but it's a lot about rituals and traditions, you know, the, maybe it's that holiday meal that you serve, or it's a religious service that you attend, or, you know, it's, you know, and no matter what religion you are, there's, there's a lot of holidays that come around this time of year, you know, not just Christmas, I'm, that's when I celebrate, but there's Hanukkah, there's, I know Kwanzaa, there's, there's, there's lots of them. So with all of those, there are traditions, like I know for Hanukkah, there's what the menorah, you like the menorah. And, and let's say if it is someone that you spent time with, you know, whether it was a loved one, or whether it's your spouse, or whatever, and they're not, you're not going to be spending the holiday with that person this year.

You know, it's going to bring up memories, like, like, like, for me, when my sister was going through cancer, and I was out there, before Christmas, I was with her while she's going through treatments. She wanted to bake Christmas cookies. And that's something we always did in our family, is we every Christmas, my mom would go crazy sometimes, when I was really little, baking all these different, different kinds of cookies.

The Pecan Crisps Story: Cherishing Memories Through Grief

But my sister had a particular favorite, which is also my favorite. And they were these lovely, basically a sugar cookie with pecans sprinkled on top. So good.

Just thinking about it now, I actually, actually made them for my daughter when she was here. So she would kind of kind of celebrated the holidays a little early with her. But anyway, so, so she wanted the cookies.

I was like, okay, I'll bake, I'll bake these Christmas cookies for my sister....

What story do you tell yourself when things don't go as planned? Self-compassion for women over 50 isn't about lowering your standards. It's about releasing the grip of perfectionism that keeps you stuck. In this episode, I share the mortifying moment I almost ghosted three women who registered for my workshop... all because I made the fatal mistake my mother warned me about: assuming no one was there! What happened next reminded me why showing up matters more than showing up polished. And how my L.O.V.E. Method helped me move from self-criticism to self-grace in real time.

Show Notes | Transcript

This episode offers a real-world example of what self-compassion look like in action. Whether you're running a business, navigating a transition, or simply trying to silence that inner critic, you'll learn that self-compassion is a practice you can return to whenever things threaten to fall apart.

What you'll take away:

Why assuming silence means rejection is a limiting belief worth examining

A simple way to notice when self-criticism is running the show, and how to gently interrupt it

How to apply the L.O.V.E. Method when you mess up (without spiraling)

The gift of showing up imperfectly for yourself and those waiting for you

If you've been holding back because you're not "ready enough," this episode is for you. Sometimes your greatest teaching moments come wrapped up in your biggest mistakes.

Finding purpose after 50 starts with grace. Midlife reinvention begins when you stop waiting for perfect.

Resources:

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Self-Compassion for Women Over 50: From Self-Criticism to Self-Grace

Introduction: What Self-Compassion Really Means After 50

Namaste.

On the day of my awakening your inner light workshop, I almost ghosted three women who wanted to explore my love method. Not because I didn't care, but because of one tiny notification setting and a big story I was telling myself. So today I am sharing what really happened and what it taught me about perfection and self trust and how you can use the love method the next time you mess up in your own life or business. But before we dive into all that, I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage. I am Gloria Grace, confidence catalyst who empowers women over 50 through my signature love method and energy healing to boldly live life on their terms.

The Story Behind the Almost-Ghosted Workshop

So if you, if you're a regular subscriber to the podcast and you've listened to the last couple of episodes, I think I mentioned, or especially the last one, I think you I mentioned that I was doing this workshop and I was really excited because I had done it in person here in Florida, I guess almost two months ago now, and, and it was really lovely and I thought, well, if I could do it in person, why not do it online with Zoom and we can have breakout rooms and all that fun stuff. So that's what I did. I, you know, decided I picked a date and, and set up the event and, you know, posted about it. And I wasn't getting any emails from Zoom about anybody registering. And in fact, even right up until I know a lot of, lots of people wait until the last minute.

And so I was doing some last minute promotion as well. And the day before the workshop, I, I'm checking my email, you know, searching for Zoom, and it's like, nothing. I'm like, no. Oh, well, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. And I went about my day and, and then the morning of the workshop, you know, again, I checked again to see if anybody had registered and you know, you know, again, there were no emails from Zoom.

When Limiting Beliefs Almost Won

You, you may be guessing where this is going already, right? So it got to be about, I don't know, maybe 10 minutes before 2 o'. Clock. I was going to do this at 2 o' clock in the afternoon, I think Eastern time. So, but I don't know, 15 minutes or 10 minutes before I, for whatever reason, my higher self was telling me, go log on to Zoom.

Log on to Zoom and check and just double check to see if anybody had registered. And so I did. And when I logged on, I saw that three people had registered.

I'm. For those of you who are listening, I'm doing my home alone impression of, oh shoot. What was, what was the character's name that Macaulay Culkin played? I forget. Oh God, I should know it.

But anyway, I'm doing my best, you know, or, and it's also the, what is it? The Munch painting of the. Oh, so holy. Holy moly. I'm like, okay, I've got three people that are expecting me to do a workshop in like a few minutes.

Showing Up Imperfectly: What Happened Next

So I like hurriedly went around my office trying to find the notes I had. I had like these like, I don't know, three by five cards or maybe even five by seven cards that I. Index cards that I had put together for the, the in person workshop that had all my lovely notes about everything. And so I still never found them. I don't know where they went.

One of these days they'll show up, I guess. But thankfully I also knew before I created the cards that I had put an outline together on Google Drive. So I went to Google Drive, found that, printed it out. I was like, okay, all right. It's like.

Because I, I knew in general what I wanted to do, but I also wanted to refresh my memory and so, so I did that. So I got, so I got my notes and I, I went into the Zoom and there was one woman, someone I, I know actually I knew all three people who had signed up as well. So they, they weren't complete strangers, which was very fortunate for me. So, so this one woman was there and, and she showed up and, and I said, you know, I'm so sorry. I like explained the whole thing to her that I didn't get any notifications and I didn't know anybody had signed up and, and, and, and she was the only person there.

Now it was already about couple minutes after the start of the workshop and so she's like, well, maybe you should check with the other people. And I'm like, yeah, I think that's a good idea. So, so I left the room and went and sent emails out to the other two ladies and, and then came back into Zoom. And then sure enough, within a couple more minutes they both came in and now I'm going to breathe. Ah.

Because that's what I was able to do then is to breathe and apologize and say, and to thank them for showing up and, and I went into the workshop what I wanted to share and it wasn't as polished as I had intended it to be.

The Power of Done Over Perfect

And I know I had. Yeah, I didn't quite do things in exact order that I wanted to do them either, but I did get all the we. I did the explanation of what the love method stands for. We did some experiential exercises. They got to do some, you know, reflections back and forth.

We did some sharing, they did some journaling. And all in all, it turned out lovely. And they gave me some wonderful testimonials, which I just realized that I didn't. I was going to look them up before I started recording this podcast to tell you what they are. So you know what?

I'm going to pause for one quick second and find them and then I'm going to come and then I'll continue the recording so I can get them. Because I can do this. I have control. Haha. So I'll be right back and you won't even notice how long I've been gone.

What the Workshop Participants Said

I love technology because, see, I'm right back and I have, I have their feedback forms. So I'm going to share with you a little bit about what they said. So one of the comments said, thank you for a delightful workshop. The processes you shared were simple to grasp, very meaningful, and showed exciting originality. I recommend it to anyone seeking fresh tools for enlightening their life.

And let's see, the other next person said, yeah, the workshop was simple, interactive, personally fulfilling and informative. I'm open to this information and appreciate your personal guidance. And I also shared some light language and she loved that as well. She hadn't heard that before. And let's see.

And then the last person said that, yeah, what, what they liked about the workshop was that it teaches you to listen to your inner intuition and to trust in God. And she loved breaking in, you know, doing the breakout rooms. And yeah, so I felt, I felt so great reading these, this feedback and knowing that showing up, showing up, that's, that's, that's one of the lessons learned here is that it's important to show up. And, and the, the first lesson, actually. Well, one of, one of the lessons that came to me also was I should have heeded my mother's warning.

Never Assume: Lessons Learned from Tech Mistakes

She always taught me to never assume. You know why? Because you make an a-s-s out of you and me. And so I just assumed that, that everything was right, set up with, with zoom, and that, you know, maybe it was some fault of theirs that they didn't send me notifications. Well, joke's on me because it was operator air.

I am the person who didn't set up the notifications so that it would let me know when someone registered. So I put a note on my notes for the workshop that the next Time I run it when I set it up in zoom to check, check and make sure that I have those notifications on. Ah. Oh, my goodness.

What. What an interesting.

What an interesting experience. So what does all this mean for you? Well, before I get into that, I just want to take a moment. Hopefully you're not turned off so far, but I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't

What if the most powerful CEO move isn't fixing yourself, but befriending the dark side of yourself you've been hiding? In this revealing episode, I get real about the shadow side of entrepreneurship. Drawing from my own journey as a people-pleasing copywriter to a confident midlife guide, I share how our deepest wounds (control issues, perfectionism, conflict avoidance) secretly run our businesses. Instead of another self-improvement pep talk, you'll get something radical: permission to stop fixing and start feeling.

Show Notes | Transcript

Discover:

The 4 Personal Power Archetypes—and which shadow patterns are quietly sabotaging your success

Practical ways to apply the L.O.V.E. Method to transform your CEO mindset

Why your "broken" parts are actually strategic advantages waiting to be embraced

Ready to make peace with your shadows and lead from your whole self? Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear a light language transmission designed to help you reconnect with what matters most.

Resources:

Discover your Personal Power Archetype: bit.ly/PersonalPowerQuiz

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - Stop "Fixing" Yourself - Start Leading from Your Dark Side

The Confidence Catalyst's Confession

I'm curious about all of you business owners who are listening or watching to this podcast today. Who's really sitting in that CEO chair? Your highest self or your shadow self? Well, no matter how you answered that question, I've got good news for you. Because today we're going to be talking about, well, I should say, actually, we're not going to be talking about fixing what's quote unquote broken.

Instead, we're going to talk about how to make friends with the parts of yourself you'd rather keep hidden. But before we get started, I want to welcome you to Live Love Engage. I am Gloria Grace, confident confidence catalyst, who's having trouble speaking today. But that's okay. Hey, you know, we're not perfect.

What the heck? Let me try it again. I am Gloria Grace confidence catalyst who empowers women over 50 through my love method and energy healing to boldly live life on their terms.

Operating from Shadow Self vs. Highest Self in Business

So, yeah, being the CEO. Hmm. Are you the, Are you, are you operating from your highest self or is it your shadow self? You? And for me, I know I've definitely operated from that shadow self in my career as, as a business owner or entrepreneur or even just starting out as a freelance SEO copywriter.

When Hiring Help Triggers Control Issues

The. You know, I've talked about this on the show before and I know if you were a business owner, you've probably, probably heard this many times from lots of different people that if you want to grow your business, eventually you can't just be the sole person in your business. You need to hire help, you know, even if it's just on a part time basis. And I reached that point in my business where I realized that if I wanted to be able to continue serving my clients at a high level, that I needed to get help with managing like social media marketing, for crying out loud, and emails and all of that. And so I decided to hire a virtual assistant.

Great, right? You'd think, except that I started getting very frustrated with her because she wasn't doing what I wanted her to do and she wasn't communicating with me very well. And I finally gave up and said, you know, this isn't working and I'm just not going to need your services anymore. Even though I really did need her services, the problem was not really with her. Now, first off, I should, I should have backed up and said that I had been really reluctant to hire someone for a long time because when you start your business and it's your baby, you know, you, you don't like turning over control, especially because, and, and this was Part of my issue with her is that I felt like she wasn't doing as good a job as I could do in some of these areas.

And where it was take, maybe it was taking longer. I don't know. This was a long time ago now, but it was just really frustrating. I think it was mostly that she wasn't doing things the way I would have done. And because I wanted.

Setting Clear Expectations: The Key to Delegation Success

I have this idea of how it was supposed to be, and that's kind of a control issue. But as I said, it really wasn't her fault necessarily. She was doing what she thought was right. The problem was I didn't set expectations at the beginning. I did not give her a clear, even instruction on how I wanted things done.

I didn't, you know, do like. Like nowadays I could do a nice screen capture, you know, and go through how I do things. And then I could have just given her that video and said, okay, this is how I do it. I'd like you to do it this way. Unless you have a more efficient way of doing it, which is.

I'm also open to. And. And I should have said that I want to hear from you on, you know, Fridays or, you know, and so we can over what you did during the week. And then these are my plans for the following week, which the next time I decided to hire someone. That's what I did.

And we had a much better relationship. Even when at one point she messed up and with something with my email, I remember, and she was so apologetic. She was so sorry. And it was like, you know, it's okay. You know, you're human, you make mistakes.

We fixed it and, you know, it was okay, but we had a much better relationship because I set up expectations. And then I also, you know, made. Made peace with that part of myself that want to be in control. And I allowed her to come up with some better ways to do things, because not everybody is gonna. Somebody might have experience in an area that maybe I. I did, but she might have a more efficient way or a more efficient way that works for her.

Honoring Different Working Styles and Personalities

Yeah, let me. Let me clarify that because, you know, I think two people can attack a problem in a certain way, and they may think that this is the best way. Sure, it is for them. It's for their personality, and that's why it works. But somebody else would look at, say, that's crazy.

I'm never going to create graphics that way. Are you insane? You know, as an example, that's going to take me too long to do. No, I'd much Rather do it this way, and because that's their personality, that's their experience, and that's how they've learned to do it, and it does work for them. So we have to be able to let go.

We got to let go of that, that. That tendency to control. And where does this come from?

The Roots of Control Issues and Shadow Behaviors

Well, you know, wanting to be in control for me certainly came up growing up in a home where a lot of stuff was out of my control. There was a lot of family dysfunction.

Growing Up with Alcoholism and Family Dysfunction

You know, my dad struggled with alcoholism, and then my mom was trying to deal with that and keep. Keep a roof over her head. You know, she. She had to wound up taking a job. You know, she was working in the 70s.

So we had two income families way back in the 70s. I know now it's, you know, much more common, but it wasn't necessarily that common back then. And I think one of the reasons was, is she couldn't necessarily rely on my dad. So she decided to take another, take a job.

And. And some of these shadows also. So. So that's definitely one of my control issues, because I didn't. I would come home for school and not know, you know, what condition was dad going to be in, you know, and so in my life, wherever I could have control, I wanted to have control.

People Pleasing and Perfectionism: The Good Girl Syndrome

And that also led to other shadows that might show up in our. Not only in our personal lives, but in our business, which is things like people pleasing and perfectionism. Because also I was. I was the baby of the family. So I had.

I had two older siblings. I had an older brother and an older sister. My older brother was 14 years older than me, and my sister was 10 years older than me. So really I was like truly the. The caboose, my mother liked to say in the family.

So because they were so much older, and especially as I was growing up, they. My sister was a teenager. And so, you know, there's a lot of angst that goes on in those teenage years. And so I would see the fights that my sister and my mother had. My brother had joined the Navy.

He left the house. He was like, I'm out of here. So I didn't even really get to know him that much as a kid, which is a great regret of mine. However, I decided that I was going to be the good girl in the family. I was going to do my best to not arouse the ire of my mother because she had a really good, quick, explosive temper, and I didn't like that.

How Shadow Behaviors Show Up in Your Business

So. So again, this led to things like being conflict, avoidance, and as a being in business, boy, you know, And I wrote about this in my book, Live Love, Engage how to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Being Yourself. Because these things showed up in my business. These. These shadows that I had of, well, wanting to be in control, for one thing, but also conflict avoidance, where.

Conflict Avoidance and Pricing Your Worth

I know I've probably talked about this on the. On the show before, but one of my first steady clients was with a web designer for home builders, and she would have me write blog articles for her different clients....

What does finding grace look like when you've checked every box, built the life and business you were supposed to want, and still feel like something's missing? In this intimate solo episode, I talk frankly about the quiet ache of achievement without fulfillment. Through personal stories and scientific research, you'll be reminded why gratitude is not just about saying, "thank you." It's about building a life practice that brings more abundance, joy, and resilience.

Show Notes | Transcript

Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's a necessary ingredient to living boldly, especially for women over 50. This episode highlights the mental and physical benefits of gratitude, and offers practical tips for fostering more gratitude in your life. You'll also learn about upcoming changes to the podcast, plans for a transformative retreat in June, 2026, and an invitation to attend my Awakening Your Inner Light online workshop.

You'll discover:

Why complaining becomes a habit (and how gratitude breaks the cycle)

A simple nightly practice that strengthens your connection to something greater

How to write gratitude letters that heal—even to those no longer here

If you're ready to stop performing and start feeling again, this episode is your permission slip. So, grab a cup of tea and let's get into why gratitude truly is the "spice of life!"

Resources:

Attend the "Awakening Your Inner Light" workshop on Nov. 20, 2025: bit.ly/innerlight2025

Learn about the upcoming Good Grief Retreat: gloriarand.com/good-grief-retreat

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT - Finding Grace When You've Done Everything Right (But Feel Empty)

Welcome: The Power of Gratitude Practice for Women Over 50

Namaste. What are you grateful for today? Have you thought about being grateful for anything today? I hope you have. I'm grateful that you are here listening and or watching on YouTube. And that's what we're gonna be talking about today. We are talking about the power of gratitude, finding grace in gratitude, just appreciating gratitude for gratitude's sake, all of that. And what that has to do with living life with purpose and living life fully and loving deeply and engaging authentically and all the wonderful things that we've been talking about on this podcast for, can you believe, the last six years? Yeah, it's hard to believe that it's been that long. I can't believe it. But anyway, yeah, we're gonna get into all that in just a second. But for those of you who seem to have just stumbled onto this podcast today, I wanna welcome you and introduce myself. I am Gloria Grace. I am a confidence catalyst who empowers women over 50 through my love method and energy healing. to boldly live life on their terms.

 

Finding Purpose Through Daily Gratitude

And this is such a big topic for me, living life boldly and doing it with gratitude. Sorry, my eye just moved to, I have a vision board up on my wall, and in the middle of the vision board it says, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And that's really what it's all about, isn't it? I know life can be, challenging sometimes we all have our ups and downs when we're trying to grow our business when we're trying to just live life and especially this time of year as I'm recording this it is the middle of November and it's actually my daughter's birthday today as well. Happy birthday Allison and It's, this is the time of year where things just start getting really hectic, you know, with holidays and end of the year planning. And we've talked about that on this podcast a little bit. And I know we've talked about gratitude as well, but since Thanksgiving is coming up in a couple of weeks, I figured let's talk about it again because gratitude is the spice of life is what is coming to me.

 

Why Gratitude Matters for Living Authentically

Well, yeah, I guess you could say that. I think. If you're not grateful for being alive, if you're not grateful for whatever you have, even being grateful for things you don't have. Without that expression of gratitude in your life, Life can be pretty lonely and unpleasant even, and expressing gratitude It just gives us more to be grateful for. I mean, plain and simple. And like I said, I know I've, I probably talked about this when I was doing, earlier this year, I was doing these Wisdom Wednesday videos on LinkedIn. And I know that I definitely talked about gratitude on there. So if I haven't talked about it on the podcast, you might want to. check me out on LinkedIn and see if you can find those old recordings somewhere. I'm sure if you search my name and then you search gratitude, maybe search Wisdom Wednesday as well, I'm sure it'll come up.

 

How Gratitude Improves Mental Health and Well-Being

So why is gratitude so important? Because I'll tell you, for me, for one thing, it makes me feel good. I bet it makes you feel good too. When you start thinking about things that you are so happy that you have, or the people in your life that bring you joy, or the clients that you have, or maybe just being grateful that you get to get up in the morning and you know, kiss your spouse, or you get to play with your cats. I have cats, or your dog. But just to be so appreciative of whatever it is that you have. It can wipe away any bad mood that you have, because let's face it, things happen in our lives that knock us off balance or certainly you know you pick up the phone and look go scroll through social media or go to your news website and you're bound to look at something that could make your blood pressure rise. Well that's no way to be folks.

 

Living Fully and Loving Deeply: The Connection to Gratitude

I, we've been talking about here, we've been talking about for the last six years on this podcast about how to live fully, love deeply and engage authentically. And gratitude plays a role in all of that. If when you're not grateful, for what you have. When you go around feeling miserable and complaining, and I know people like this. In fact, I was raised by someone like that, God rest her soul. My mom, she was a lovely lady in so many ways. She taught me, I mean, she taught me how to read when I was three years old for crying out loud. And she fostered in me a love of reading at an early age, because we used to go to the library, take out books all the time. She also fostered in me a good sense of justice and being able to, you know, to know right from wrong. And the importance of taking care of people who don't have as much as we have.

 

Learning Gratitude and Compassion Early in Life

I don't know if I've talked about this before, but I remember one Halloween and maybe I was, I don't know, seven or eight years old possibly. Maybe even a little bit older probably because You know i'd already spent several halloween's going out and collecting candy you know saying trick-or-treat as we do here in the united states and you get candy well one year i remember that. I didn't go trick-or-treating for candy. Instead, I went trick-or-treating for UNICEF, the organization that helps children all over the world, helping them to be able to have enough food and, I think, medical treatment and things like that. I don't know exactly what their mission is, but I know that that's what I did. I remember carrying some little probably a cardboard container or something and going to my neighbor's houses and saying trick or treat for UNICEF. And I don't remember feeling like that was a burden. I was happy to do it. And I think that's, again, that's what I'm grateful for is that my mom taught me that it's important to think about others who are less fortunate than you are. I could always have, we have plenty to eat, and she could always get me candy some other time, so I could do this that time instead.

 

Breaking the Cycle of Complaining vs. Practicing Gratitude

And I know I was starting to say that she did also like to complain. And I remember we would go out to eat at a restaurant and she would complain about her meal. And, and that happened frequently. And I think that because that just sort of became a habit that that's, she always seemed to have something to complain about. So, all right. So, so yeah. So when you're complaining, like I said, I love my mom, but this was a bad habit that she had of, instead of being grateful that we had money to be able to go out to eat to a restaurant, that she had a job that supported us, she would complain instead.

 

How Focus and Visualization Shape Your Reality

And I do believe that being grateful for the things that we have in our lives just brings more to us. Because the converse is true. You know, what you focus on expands. And if you want to focus on having things to be grateful for, then be grateful for what you have now. And even express gratitude for things that you don't have. Because you can get into visualizing and I've got, oh, okay. I've got cats in the background that were, one had been sitting on a chair for a very long time and the other cat decided, it's my turn. So I'm grateful that I have cats that amuse me, even while I'm trying to record a podcast like this, but it's okay. okay where am i going with this all right let's focus focus sorry i'm letting the cats distract me i don't know or maybe not you know um oh i know what i wanted to talk to you about about gratitude so This is gonna be a shorter podcast than normal.

 

Life Transitions and Reinvention: What's Coming in 2026

...

What if approaching the year-end for your business wasn't about goals or grind this time around, but grace? In this solo episode, I invite you to pause before the holidays and honor the year that’s been. Not through metrics or resolutions, but through meaning. Drawing from my L.O.V.E. Method™ (Let Go and Let God, Open Your Heart to Receive, Value Your Uniqueness, and Embrace Your Divinity), I share five powerful year-end rituals to help you release, reflect, and realign with your higher self.

Show Notes | Transcript

Through stories of self-doubt, surrender, and quiet revelation, including a deeply personal reflection from my son’s wedding, you'll be reminded that alignment isn’t strategy, it’s surrender.

You'll discover:

How to turn reflection into a sacred, soul-soothing ritual.

Why “letting go” clears the way for true prosperity.

Five practical rituals to complete your year with love and intention.

If you’re ready to lay down the weight of what didn’t happen, and remember that you are already enough, this episode is your permission slip to rest, release, and reconnect with what matters most.

Resources:

Register for the Awakening Your Inner Light Workshop: bit.ly/innerlight2025

Join the Soulful Women's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulwomensnetwork

Receive daily inspirational email messages: bit.ly/LoveLightNotes

Need support? Go to engagewithgloria.com to schedule a call.

Connect with Live Love Engage:

Send Gloria Grace a message

☕ Support the podcast

❤ Love this episode? Leave us a review and rating

LinkedIn: Gloria Grace Rand

Facebook: Gloria Grace Rand

YouTube: Gloria Grace Rand

TRANSCRIPT

Year-End Rituals for the Soul - Not the Spreadsheet

A Reflective Conversation on Letting Go, Renewal, and Self-Love

️ Finding Peace Before the Holidays

Namaste.

If you found your way to this podcast today because you needed a few minutes of peace before the holidays swallow you whole, I'm so glad you did.

Today we're going to be talking about year-end rituals—not the kind that involve complicated spreadsheets or aggressive goal setting that give you knots in your stomach. There's plenty of time for that.

No, today we’re talking about the kind of ritual that soothes your soul.

The kind that whispers, “You did it. You're still here. And that matters.”

So let's take a breath together, shall we?

And let me officially welcome you to Live Love Engage. Especially if it's your first time, I am Gloria Grace, confidence catalyst and self-love advocate. I empower mission-driven women over 50 through my signature L.O.V.E. Method and energy healing to boldly live life on their terms.

A Personal Story of Self-Doubt and Alignment

How One Moment at a Wedding Sparked a Lesson in Self-Worth

Before we dive into year-end reflection, I want to tell you a story.

A couple of weeks ago, I went on a two-day road trip from Florida to Virginia with my husband and daughter to attend our son’s wedding. It was the most time I'd spent with my husband since we separated three years ago—a deeply enlightening experience that brought up a lot of old, disempowering patterns of thinking.

Hours before the ceremony, a makeup artist worked her magic. I looked in the mirror… and heard that old, stupid voice whisper:

“Who do you think you are to feel beautiful?”

For a moment, I almost let that voice steal my joy. That’s how sneaky self-doubt can be—it shows up right when life invites you to shine.

But love called me back—in my son’s embrace, my daughter’s smile.

Their presence pulled me out of my head and back into my heart.

That’s when I remembered:

Alignment isn’t another strategy. It’s a surrender.

When you shift from fear to trust, everything you’ve been chasing begins to meet you halfway.

Setting Down the Weight of the Year

A Guided Reflection for Women in Transition

Before we do any year-end reflection, can we just set down whatever weight you’re carrying?

Maybe it’s shame about what didn’t happen this year.

Or guilt about the clients you didn’t sign.

The content you didn’t create.

The version of yourself you thought you’d be by now.

Put it down.

Right here between us.

I’ll hold it with you for a moment—and then we’ll leave it there.

Let’s breathe again.

And now, answer from your heart, not your head:

What if nothing went wrong this year?

What if every pivot was actually a course correction from your higher self?

What if the exhaustion was your body whispering, “Something needs to change”?

✨ Reflecting Through the L.O.V.E. Method

Spiritual Business Rituals for Year-End Clarity

Let’s move through these reflections using the L.O.V.E. Method:

L — Let Go and Let God

What were you trying to control this year that the universe was already handling?

O — Open Your Heart to Receive

What came to you when you stopped chasing?

Where did support show up that you almost missed?

V — Value Your Uniqueness

What made you different that you tried to ignore this year?

Where did you compare yourself into paralysis?

E — Embrace Your Divinity

When did you feel most aligned, even if you were tired?

What reminded you that you are love—not just doing loving things, but being love?

Take time later to journal your answers.

Because this—not your follower count or revenue—is what your year was truly about.

Ritual 1: The Bonfire Letter

Releasing What No Longer Serves You

Write a letter to the year you’ve just lived.

Thank it for the lessons—yes, even the painful ones.

Start with honesty:

“I’m angry this launch didn’t work.”

“I’m frustrated that things didn’t turn out the way I hoped.”

Then shift:

“Thank you for teaching me patience. Thank you for showing me what needs to change.”

Burn it safely in a fireproof container—or shred it.

Let those ashes symbolize transmutation.

This is your way of letting go and letting God.

Ritual 2: The Completion Conversation

Creating Authentic Connection with Your Business

Have a heart-to-heart with your business.

Ask:

What did you need from me this year that you didn’t get?

What did I give you that nourished us both?

Treat your business as a sacred partner—because it is.

Ritual 3: The Sanctuary Day

Reconnecting with Your Inner Wisdom

Pick a day before the year ends.

No strategy. No planning. No content creation.

Just be with yourself.

Turn off your phone. Don’t journal. Don’t produce.

Think of it as a mini spiritual retreat.

Be still. Listen.

Because your higher self already knows what your next step is.

Ritual 4: The Soul Review

Reflecting on Growth and Integrity

Ask yourself three questions:

When did I feel most alive this year?

When did I betray myself—and what can I learn from that?

What does my future self want me to know?

These questions are not about fixing—they’re about remembering.

️ Ritual 5: The Permission Slip Jar

Giving Yourself Grace in Midlife Reinvention

Find a small jar.

Write three notes and place them inside:

I give myself permission to rest without guilt.

I give myself permission to pivot midstream.

I give myself permission to not have it all figured out.

Keep this jar on your desk.

Let it remind you that you are enough, even in the becoming.

December Doesn’t Owe You Clarity

Slowing Down to Receive Spiritual Guidance

December doesn’t owe you a perfect plan.

It offers rest. Integration. Space between the exhale and inhale.

You don’t need to be new on January 1st.

You just need to be more you.

Ask yourself:

Who do I want to become?

How do I want to feel?

What do I want to be known for—not by others, but by my own soul?

Embracing Prosperity and Purpose

Choosing a Word of Intention for the New Year

Instead of resolutions, choose a word of intention—a feeling word.

Something like Spacious. Courageous. Prosperous.

For me, it’s Prosperity—in love, friendship, health, and purpose.

Light Language Transmission

A Sacred Closing Ritual for Healing and Alignment

I always close my solo episodes with a Light Language message.

Light Language is an energetic communication that speaks to your soul.

You may not understand it with your brain—but your heart will.

So if you’re driving, pause.

Find a quiet space.

Close your eyes.

Set the intention:

“May this message serve my soul’s highest good.”

Then receive:

Kama Shaka Shak…

Let it wash over you.

Closing Reflection

Living Fully, Loving Deeply, Engaging Authentically

Thank you for being here—for trusting yourself enough to listen to the voice that says:

You are enough. You are love. You are exactly where you need to be.

Until next time, be gentle with yourself.

You’re doing better than you think.

Go out and live fully, love deeply, and engage authentically.