Rebranding Middle Age

We grow into the wisdom, bravery, and strength that we need for each new season. We don't need to worry forward, compare, or judge ourselves for not knowing all the answers for our whole life.

Not everything – not every core dream – is for today or this season. Not every task on the weekly to-do list must be checked off Monday morning (something I actually had to learn!). We are not in a race. Western culture gives us a sense of always being behind or in competition with each other.

There is incredible rest, peace, and joy in pulling our hearts and minds back to this day and the work of this season.

Three Core Dreams For My Soul-Honouring Life | A Life In Progress

In the True Rest Resource, I’ve provided a description of some common challenges and invitations of each season of midlife (autumn or your 40s, winter or late perimenopause through the menopause transition, second spring or your 50s, and summer or your 60s into your early 70s).

Then I provide one page per season of examples of the different types of rest you most need in that season. You might want to play with different types of rest as you move through the seasons of each year as well as through the seasons of your life.

Get the free True Rest Resource: True Rest Through The Seasons: Free Resource | A Life In Progress

I share a practice that is essential for befriending and growing into your True Self and walking in freedom, wholeness, and joy.

It also supports your resilience and helps you practice hope-in-action.

I'd love to hear what comes up for you. You can reach out at [email protected].

Three Core Dreams For My Soul-Honouring Life | A Life In Progress

What Is Hope? And How To Practice Hope-In-Action | A Life In Progress

How To Handcraft A Soul-Honouring life Step-By-Step | A Life In Progress

Read to work together? Coaching for Midlife Women Seeking Freedom, Wholeness, and joy

My guest Heidi Barr is a writer and wellness coach whose work is founded on a commitment to cultivating ways of being that are life-giving and sustainable for people, communities, and the planet. She lives with her family on Dakota land in rural Minnesota. Her ninth book, a poetry collection called Church of Shadow and Light comes out in April, 2025. Connect with Heidi at https://heidibarr.com/ or Ordinary Collisions: Intersections of Nature & Culture | Heidi Barr | Substack.

None of us are immune to struggle or challenging seasons of life. 2024 was one of the hardest years ever for my guest and her family.

Heidi shares some of the simple things that keep her feeling anchored, and what brings her joy or lights her up. We talk about how she is makes space for her creative work amid the messiness of life. And Heidi shares a couple of her poems with us.

What are some tiny, intentional practices that feel life-giving to YOU in this season?

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One of the biggest issues I see when people set goals or have a dream but struggle to bring it to fruition is that they don’t have the basic scaffolding in place to support them in their day to day. They may know WHAT they want and even WHY they want it (though this is less common).

But they struggle with HOW to translate a dream or goal into practical action.

On Feb 19 I'm offering a workshop to help you craft a soul-honouring weekly rhythm. This week only $17 (increases each week).

Connect with me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/alifeinprogressca and https://www.facebook.com/rebrandingmiddleage/

Connect with me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/a_life_in_progress/

Or come on over to my website to do some reading/exploring: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/

12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life by Heidi Barr and Ellie Roscher

Turning toward or facing our wounds, fear, pain or struggle can lead us into healing and growth. But it can also reveal our deepest gifting, our light, some of the most beautiful and valuable aspects of our who we are.

In this episode I share with you 5 habits that helped me live rooted and resilient through crisis and personal challenge - but that also help me in the day-to-day of being human in a messy world.

Identify how you want to FEEL in your body and life: How Do You Want To FEEL In Your Body And Life?

Identify your core values: How To Figure Out Your Core Values |

The Goal Setting Workshop: Goal Setting Workshop | A Life In Progress

Live On Purpose Workshop: Live On Purpose Workshop: Free Until Jan 18/25 | A Life In Progress

Sign up for the Monday morning Hope Map: Sign Up For The Monday Morning Hope Map | A Life In Progress

The messiness of life is not only to be tolerated or managed. It is the pathway to greater freedom, wholeness, and joy. It is the pathway to growing into and learning to love your True Self and to thriving in every season.

In this episode I share 3 characteristics of wise and brave 'beginners' - or qualities that help us show up with strength when life is challenging.

I also offer the reminder that a healthy (flexible, adaptable, resilient) nervous system is forged through some stress, stretching, and even harder life experiences.

The Four Tendencies quiz: The Four Tendencies Quiz | Gretchen Rubin

What is hope-in-action: What Is Hope? And How To Practice Hope-In-Action | A Life In Progress

Sign up for my Monday morning Hope Map: Sign Up For The Monday Morning Hope Map | A Life In Progress

I said I enjoy long podcast episodes but this is a first, even for me;)

Today I chat with guest Amy J Brown. We talk, among other things, about parenting kids with "extra needs" (or invisible disabilities) and how common it is to feel shame and judgment (external and internal) when parenting is challenging. We also talk about honouring our boundaries and using our gifts in the "empty nest season." And we discuss perfectionism and being Enneagram Type Ones and how we learned quite different coping mechanisms as young kids.

I met Amy when she hired me as a coach. We worked together 1:1 for 18 months and then she spent a year inside my Brave + Beautiful Community. She shares a bit about what she learned or life-giving benefits from our work together. Learn how we can work together: Work With Me | A Life In Progress

Amy J. Brown is a writer, mentor, and co-host of the podcast Take Heart. She is the author of the book “The Other Side Of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, and Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom.” Amy has a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership. She shares honestly about adoption and parenting children with mental health issues and trauma. She is the mother of six children. She lives with her husband in Michigan. You can find more about Amy at her website, www.amyjbrown.com.

Tomorrow is the final day to get the New year Goal Setting Workshop free as part of your membership in the Brave + Beautiful Community: Join the Brave + Beautiful Community For Midlife Women | A Life In Progress

Why you need to practice soul-care in winter seasons: Why You Need To Practice Soul-Care In Winter Seasons | A Life In Progress

Winter Mindfulness Journal: https://amzn.to/3DcDlgj

Seasonal Transition Call: The Seasonal Transition Call: Step Into Winter A Life In Progress

Join winter session of the Brave + Beautiful Community: Join the Brave + Beautiful Community For Midlife Women | A Life In Progress

Join by Dec 20th and you'll get this workshop free: New Year Goal Setting Workshop | A Life In Progress

No.8 in my list, of how I'm practicing honouring my wiring and capacity, may just save my marriage;) Let me know how YOU are practicing!

New Year Goal Setting Workshop (half price for 2 more days!): New Year Goal Setting Workshop | A Life In Progress

Shift out of all or nothing mindset: Just Choose All or Something | A Life In Progress

Seasonal Transition Call: Join The winter Solstice Call: Dec 11

Bonus episode: I decided to share day 3 of the Quiet the Noise Challenge with you because It aligns with the topic of honouring our wiring and capacity.

Join me on January 3/25 to for a New-Year Goal Setting Workshop. Come set your values-aligned life and business goals and start mapping them out for the first quarter.

This workshop is free for all returning and new Brave + Beautiful Community members who join before December 20th.

Or you can buy the new year goal setting workshop for just $97 the week of Nov 25-29! 🌟

Western culture promotes a linear, constantly productive, ‘more and faster is better’ way of being. it makes us live like we’re in a race: if you win, I lose. If you’re accomplishing good things then I must be behind.

This way of being not only leads to burnout, illness, increased risk of suicidality, emotional and spiritual dissatisfaction, and constant self-judgment. But it blames the individual for not measuring up and keeping up.

As such, it leaves many of us feeling never good enough or fundamentally bad, wrong, or broken if we’re unable to sustain this unrealistic and unhealthy standard.

In this episode I talk about the importance of diversity and flexibility to individual and Communal resilience. And I share 13 ideas to help you practice honouring your wiring and capacity in this season.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Last day to sign up is Friday, Nov 15: Join The Quiet The Noise Challenge: Nov 18-22 | A Life In Progress

Be proud of yourself: 3 Important Questions To Add To Your Evening Routine | A Life In Progress

The 13 ideas: Why You Need To Honour Your Wiring And Capacity | A Life In Progress

No Bad Parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model , Richard Schwartz: https://amzn.to/4hLx5vy

Why the World Doesn't End: tales of renewal in times of loss, Michael Meade: https://amzn.to/4hKbGmz