Ever wonder why the empty nest hits so much harder than anyone prepared you for? One minute you're cheering your kids on, feeling proud and excited for their new life chapters… and the next, you’re staring at their empty bedrooms wondering how your heart can feel full and broken at the same time.

In this heartfelt episode of Mind Your Midlife, I get real about the emotional roller coaster women over 40 and 50 experience when their kids grow up and move out. Whether your adult kids live across the country, down the street, or boomeranged back home for a while, the empty nest season brings a complex mix of joy, sadness, pride, grief, and yes—self-doubt.

Using my own story, real client experiences, and practical mindset shifts, we’ll walk through what’s normal, what’s healthy, and what actually helps you move through this transition with confidence, connection, and compassion for yourself. 

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

✔ Why midlife women experience BOTH joy and grief when their kids leave
 ✔ How your own experience of leaving home shapes how you see your kids’ choices
 ✔ The real reason comparison makes the empty nest feel harder (and how to stop doing it)
 ✔ A simple way to love your kids in THEIR love language—not yours

🎯 OMG Moment: Your kids living their own lives isn’t a rejection—it’s proof you raised confident humans who know how to fly.

Take Action

This week, reflect on this question: How does my child love to be loved?

Use their “love language” as your guide—whether that’s words, phone calls, small gifts, quality time, or simply a long hug when you’re together. Just one small shift can completely change how connected you feel in this new chapter.

Check out the book Moms Never Stop Momming as well!

Why This Episode Matters

Midlife women are carrying all the things—menopause, aging parents, career pivots, relationship shifts, and now the empty nest. This episode helps you understand your emotions, release the guilt, stop comparing your family to others, and honor the woman you are becoming in this new phase.

Your identity isn’t disappearing.
It’s evolving.
And you deserve to feel supported, grounded, and proud of the life you’ve created—and the children you raised to thrive on their own.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Ever feel like you’ve been doing all the right things at work—but somehow, you’re still not being seen? You’re showing up, doing great work, but the next opportunity just isn’t coming? You’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone.

In this powerful episode of Mind Your Midlife, I sit down with Mary Tribble of the Wake Women Podcast and Tiffany Tate, CEO of Career Maven Consulting, to talk about leadership, visibility, and confidence for midlife women who want to grow in their careers. We explore how to move past the “invisible ceiling,” why kindness and authenticity matter in leadership, and what it really takes to be seen, heard, and valued in your work life.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

✔ What the “invisible ceiling” is and how it quietly holds back midlife women at work
 ✔ Why being visible—and not just good at your job—is the key to career advancement
 ✔ How to lead from where you are, even without a big title
 ✔ The truth about kindness in leadership (and why it’s not weakness)
 ✔ How to find support and community when leadership feels lonely

🎯 OMG Moment: You don’t need a fancy title to lead—you just need to start where you are and make your work visible.

Take Action

Ask yourself: Who in my organization knows about the great work I do? If it’s just your boss, it’s time to expand that circle. Build relationships sideways and diagonally—connect with peers, mentors, and leaders who can help amplify your visibility.

Connect with Mary on Instagram. 

Connect with Tiffany and Career Maven Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Why This Episode Matters

Midlife women bring wisdom, experience, and emotional intelligence to the workplace—but too often, we're overlooked. This episode is a call to step into your leadership mindset, advocate for yourself, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear.

🎧 Hit follow now and join me next week as we talk about empty nesting—and what happens when your

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Body image — it’s one of those topics that every midlife woman can relate to, yet few of us talk about honestly. Why does it get so hard to like what we see in the mirror in our 40s and 50s? And what can we do about it?

In this episode, Cheryl gets real about body image in midlife — where our insecurities come from, why they’re so hard to shake, and how to start changing the conversation in your own head.

Spoiler: this isn’t about “fixing” your body. It’s about noticing the outdated stories that shape how you see yourself — and learning to replace them with gratitude and truth.

Cheryl shares how early messages, comparison culture, and shifting identities all play a role in how women see themselves at this stage of life. From perimenopause changes to social media filters, she unpacks why midlife can stir up old self-criticism and what it really takes to feel confident again.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How childhood comments and early experiences can shape your body image for decades.
• Why your brain holds on to old beliefs — and how to begin updating them.
• The hidden influence of social media and why most of what we see isn’t real life.
• How midlife transitions — career, relationships, parenting — can change how we feel about our appearance.
• Why “anti-aging” culture is a problem.

OMG Moment
Your body has carried you through 40, 50, or 60 years with strength and resilience. It’s not your body that needs fixing — it’s the way you see yourself. Gratitude and self-compassion are the new beauty secrets.

Take Action

•  Join Cheryl for a brand-new four-part private podcast mini-series on body image — how we got here, how to shift what we see, and how to finally feel comfortable in our skin again. Subscribe at cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes or on Apple Podcasts.
• Listen to the MYM episode on the comparison trap here.

 

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Intermittent fasting — it’s one of those topics that lights up every group chat. Is it healthy? Is it safe? Does it even work for women in midlife? In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Integrative Health Practitioner Adrian Mamikonian to get real about what intermittent fasting is and what it isn’t.

Spoiler: it’s not about deprivation or starving yourself — it’s about understanding how to support your hormones, gut health, and metabolism during this season of life.

Adrian shares how fasting can help regulate blood sugar, reduce bloating, and improve energy — when done the right way. She explains why your body needs both feasting and fasting, how to find the right eating window for your lifestyle, and why nutrition (especially protein!) has to come first.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What intermittent fasting really means — and why it’s not a diet.
• How fasting supports gut health, insulin sensitivity, and hormone balance.
• Why sleep, stress, and nutrition must come before fasting.
• How to break your fast for optimal energy and digestion.
• The truth about protein needs for women in midlife.
• Why lifting heavier weights (and eating more food) might actually boost your metabolism.

OMG Moment

Adrian reminds us that change doesn’t have to be drastic. Whether it’s fasting, lifting, or improving your nutrition, lasting progress comes from small, consistent steps — not all-or-nothing overhauls.

Take Action

• Join us in Mind Your Midlife on Patreon or Substack for Adrian’s 5-day meal plan and our bonus conversation about what to actually eat in a fasting window.
• Connect with Adrian on Instagram: @livingwellwithadrian or on her website
• Continue on this theme with Mind Your Midlife episodes on sleep and on hormone balance!

If you’ve ever tried intermittent fasting and felt awful, or if you’ve wondered whether it’s even safe for women over 40, this conversation will help you un

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Part 4: 

((How to subscribe: go to cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes or subscribe on Apple Podcasts))

You’ve worked through the emotions, calmed your nervous system, and started shifting your mindset. Now it’s time to take action.

In this private Mindset Deep Dive episode, we’re focusing on practical next steps after a job loss you didn’t want. From collaboration and networking to finding new opportunities and building confidence in your next chapter, this episode will help you move forward with clarity and calm—without rushing the process.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

✔ Simple, realistic ways to start exploring new career directions
 ✔ How collaboration and partnerships can open unexpected doors
 ✔ Why networking (in-person and online) is one of your most powerful tools
 ✔ How to stay calm, creative, and focused while figuring out what’s next

🎯 OMG Moment: You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to stay open, connect, and keep moving forward one step at a time.

Take Action

Choose one way to connect this week—join a local women’s networking group, send a LinkedIn message, or invite someone for coffee. Every conversation builds confidence and clarity for what’s next.

Why This Episode Matters

When you’ve lost a job you didn’t want to lose (or faced some other change in life that you didn't want to face), it’s easy to freeze or panic. But action—especially small, meaningful steps—restores your confidence and momentum. This episode helps you blend mindset with movement so you can start rebuilding your next chapter with purpose and self-belief.

🎧 Join me next time for the final episode in this series, where we’ll focus on rebuilding self-trust and creating your future with intention.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

 One of the biggest challenges we face in our 40s and 50s is knowing what feels right—and letting go of what doesn’t. In this episode, Cheryl breaks down the idea of “resonance”—why it matters, why it’s not woo-woo, and how it can guide your decisions about work, relationships, habits, and life in general. 

You’ll learn how to recognize when something no longer fits, how your body and brain signal alignment or dissonance, and what steps you can take to move toward a life that truly resonates with you.

AFTER LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL KNOW:

• Why making choices that resonate with you is not “woo-woo,” it’s science.
• How your nervous system and subconscious brain influence the decisions you make and how you feel about them.
• Practical ways to notice dissonance in your life without judgment or self-blame.
• Why staying in situations that don’t align drains your energy and increases the risk of burnout.

Your subconscious beliefs can limit your ability to achieve goals if they don’t match your self-image—think of it like a thermostat for success.

Recognizing and responding to dissonance doesn’t mean failure—it means your life or situation has changed, and it’s time to make intentional adjustments.

TAKE ACTION:

• Notice, listen, and reset using the tips shared in this episode.
• Grab the Story Cycle resource at cherylpfischer.com/storycycle. 
• Explore coaching with Cheryl: cherylpfischer.com/coaching
• Subscribe to the Mindset Deep Dive: cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes
• Listen to the episodes on tapping and breathwork

Midlife is your time to take even a little bit better care of yourself—on the inside and the outside. Small shifts, mindful choices, and aligning with what resonates can make a huge difference.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Part 3: 

((How to subscribe: go to cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes or subscribe on Apple Podcasts))

When a job loss happens—especially one you didn’t choose—it can feel like your confidence and direction vanish too. But once the shock starts to settle, it’s time to begin something powerful: your mindset shift.

In this private Mindset Deep Dive episode, I’ll help you take the next step after grief and grounding—moving from “Why did this happen?” to “What do I have going for me right now?” You’ll learn how to use your strengths, skills, and even your dreams to begin climbing out of uncertainty and into possibility.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

✔ How to identify and reconnect with your current strengths and skills
 ✔ Why understanding your financial situation can calm your brain and reduce fear
 ✔ How curiosity, creativity, and self-trust guide your next career chapter
 ✔ Four categories—skills, finances, interests, and dreams—that help you shift from hopelessness to momentum

🎯 OMG Moment: You don’t have to know your next step to start moving forward. You just need to see what’s already working for you right now.

Take Action

Set aside quiet time to journal through the four categories—skills, financial assets, interests, and dreams. Don’t overthink or judge what comes up. You’re gathering clues about what’s next, not making decisions yet.

Why This Episode Matters

Job loss can shake everything you thought you knew about yourself. But it can also be a reset—a chance to rediscover what lights you up and where your confidence lives. This episode will help you shift your mindset from loss to opportunity, and start seeing that even in uncertainty, you already have what you need to rebuild with clarity and calm.

🎧 Be sure to join me next time for Part 4 of our series, where we’ll explore how to rebuild self-trust and take your first practical steps forward.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

What if midlife wasn’t the time to slow down—but to get stronger, happier, and more confident in your body than ever before? In this first episode of our Changemakers series, Cheryl talks with Inessa Love, founder of Sassy Silver Surfers and advocate for active aging. Inessa discovered surfing at 50 and says it completely transformed her life—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

She’s now helping women all over the world see that it’s never too late to start something new, get stronger, and have more fun than ever.

What You'll Learn After Listening:

• Why your self-definition about what you “can” or “can’t” do is often the biggest barrier
• The surprising benefits of learning something new in midlife
• What surfing can teach us about strength, joy, and resilience
• Midlife fitness tips to find your version of movement that you love (and why it doesn’t have to be “exercise”)
• The powerful connection between movement, confidence, and community
• How one 85-year-old cyclist changed Inessa’s perspective on aging forever

Take Action

• Don’t overthink it. Just start. Find something you love, do it with a friend, and keep going. “The more you move, the stronger you become.”
• Follow Inessa Love and her community of midlife surfers on Instagram at @sassysilversurfers or join their private Facebook group for women 50+ who surf (or are surf-curious).

About the Changemakers Series

Changemakers celebrates midlife women who are reinventing themselves—personally, professionally, or both—and inspiring others to do the same.

If you’ve made a big pivot or created something new in midlife, Cheryl wants to hear from you! Click the link below to text Cheryl and let her know.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

Find out more information about The Paper Cleanse and/or sign up by Nov. 23rd at www.cherylpfischer.com/thepapercleanse.

Support the show

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative. Every week I'm adding new success strategies for midlife women.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Part 2:

((How to subscribe: go to cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes or subscribe on Apple Podcasts))

Career shock hits like a wave—loud mind, tight chest, and a story that says you’re too late to start over. We’re here to offer something steady: a set of simple, science‑backed practices that help you honor your feelings, regulate your body, and get your thinking brain back online so you can make your next move with confidence.

We start by going straight at the hard stuff using EFT tapping. You’ll follow a guided round that names the real emotions—frustration, grief, fear about money and identity—then transition into a grounded positive sequence that reinforces worth, competence, and momentum. 

No toxic positivity, no pretending; just a practical way to lower the intensity so ideas can surface. 

From there, we lean into meditation that actually fits real life: a five‑minute breath count, legs‑up‑the‑wall for nervous system calm, and a sensory practice you can do on your porch or during a short walk. If sitting still isn’t your thing, you’ll still get the benefit by anchoring in sight, sound, touch, and breath.

As the noise eases, creativity returns. You remember your wins, see options you missed, and trust yourself to act. 

We also clarify when to bring in extra support: therapy to process deeper patterns and trauma, coaching to build forward momentum with tools, structure, and accountability. Both can work together; the right choice depends on what you need today. 

By the end, you’ll have a repeatable routine—tapping, breath, and sensory grounding—that turns emotional chaos into a calmer body and a clearer plan.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with someone navigating a job change, and leave a quick review so more people can find these tools. And tell us: which practice are you starting tonight?

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

Part 1:

((How to subscribe: go to cherylpfischer.com/bonusepisodes or subscribe on Apple Podcasts))

The ground can vanish overnight—a layoff, a closure, a firing—and what floods in isn’t clarity, it’s noise. 

We open this mini-series on unwanted job change by giving you something stronger than pep talks: permission to feel, language for what’s happening inside, and two practical tools that bring your nervous system back within reach.

We start where most advice skips ahead—naming the messy middle. Anger, jealousy, fear, and grief are not character flaws; they’re signals. You’ll learn how to catch the “why me?” and “it’s not fair” loops without shaming yourself, and why those comparisons feel like quicksand. 

What to do?

We walk you through a five‑minute venting journal that contains the storm without letting it run your day, and a simple 4‑4‑4 breath with hand over heart that downshifts your stress response so you can think again. No complex routines, no jargon—just small, repeatable steps that help you move from shock to steadier ground.

Along the way, we talk about the difference between thoughts and feelings, how a more precise emotions vocabulary unlocks better decisions, and why processing discomfort beats white‑knuckling it. 

Whether you’re a midlife professional facing a layoff or an entrepreneur blindsided by a client loss, these practices help you reclaim attention, protect relationships, and choose the next right action. 

Resource: Grab the free Story Cycle with an emotions wheel to support this work, and keep this episode handy for the days that feel heavier than the rest.

If this helped you breathe a little easier, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a steady voice today, and leave a quick review—tell us the one feeling you’re naming right now.

Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!

🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow Gen X women navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and/or self-confidence!

🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.

💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?

• Join the collective by subscribing on Patreon or grab the bonus episodes!
• Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching

Let’s talk midlife body positivity, self-talk, and redefining aging for women — without the “midlife crisis” narrative.

Connect with Cheryl, Midlife Coach: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website