“You’re not too late, and you’re not too old — your midlife is your moment to rise.”

In this episode of The BraveHearted Woman Podcast, I am with Deborah Weed, a creative visionary and founder of The Self-Worth Initiative. Together, they dive into a transformative story of resilience, self-discovery, and rediscovering purpose in midlife.

After years as a high-powered branding executive, Deborah’s life took a drastic turn when a medical misdiagnosis left her bedridden for three years. But what could have been her breaking point became her breakthrough. Through faith, creativity, and courage, Deborah found her way back — not just to health, but to her authentic self-worth.

Deborah shares how understanding the difference between self-esteem and self-worth changed everything, and how she now helps midlife women reclaim their power through storytelling, creativity, and heart-centered living. From her award-winning book If Only to her upcoming musical Paisley’s Fashion Forest, Deborah reminds us that it’s never too late to rise, reinvent, and live with purpose.

If you’ve ever felt out of alignment, lost your voice, or wondered whether your best years are behind you — this inspiring conversation will reignite your confidence and remind you that your second act can be your best act.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Guest Intro

2:03 - The BraveHeart Story of Deborah Weed from corporate success to 3 years bedridden

6:42 - The penny that saved her life

9:22 - Self-esteem VS self-worth

10:59 - How creativity transformed Deborah’s life

13:36 - The story behind her creative works

20:00 - Deborah’s #1 tip for midlife women

Quotations:

“Self-esteem is what you do; self-worth is who you are.” – Deborah Weed

“When you can’t do anything, that’s when you discover your true worth.” – Deborah Weed

“Creativity is the bridge between pain and purpose.” – Deborah Weed

“Failure means you tried and planted a seed. Regret means you never even let it grow.” – Deborah Weed

“God is the water — just step out of the way and watch what blooms.” – Deborah Weed

“Your second act can be your best act yet.” – Dawn Damon

Resources:

🌐 Follow Deborah at paisleysfashionforest.com

📚 Get a copy of Deborah's books at Amazon

📲 Connect with Deborah on Instagram @deborah.weed

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👩🏻‍🏫 The BraveHearted Transformation Course

💌 Email your braveheart story to me at [email protected]

 📞 Book a FREE 15-minute strategy call with Dawn: https://www.braveheartedwoman.com/book-a-call

Connect with your BraveHeart Mentor, Dawn Damon:

💞 Email me at: [email protected] 

💞 Website: https://braveheartedwoman.com/ 

💞 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravehearted_woman 

💞 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braveheartedwoman 

💞 Podcast: https://the-bravehearted-woman.captivate.fm/listen

Download the full transcript here.