Redefining Yourself A New Starting Point

After major shift happens in our lives (leaving a long time job or, relationship, or losing your loved one) it is normal to feel afraid & confused. Many people are so disheartened that they simply stop looking for a new path.  Change means an opportunity to reinvent yourself.

The beauty of being human is that each one of us is unique. How could anyone be happy following the same formula as everyone else when we are all so very different? If you change the numbers in a math problem, the answer comes out differently. You have been given the incredible gift of redefining yourself. What do you identify with? Do you think of yourself as a no-BS, independent woman? Are you are dreamer, thinker or doer?

The average life expectancy of woman today is 84, up from 51 in the late 1800s. Age isn’t a factor: to be a successful self-reinventor, understand that you have time, as long as you’re willing to be a beginner all over again.

We all have different equations and answers to the question — what will make me happy as an individual?

It’s in our nature, for example, to spend our energy primarily on today’s immediate concerns, to hold a distorted perception of our future, or, even if we’re future-focused, to keep chasing after what turn out to be the wrong dreams. Too often, we give up just when we need to push harder, and persist when we actually should quit. Yet without a more clear-eyed assessment of our present and our future, and a more effective approach to setting, pursuing, and achieving goals, we can end up with a future we really don’t want—in which we are sick, broke, lonely, or just plain unfulfilled.

The best place to start is your mental health.  This is much more than a diagnosis. It’s your overall psychological well-being—the way you feel about yourself and others as well as your ability to manage your feelings and deal with everyday difficulties. And while taking care of your mental health can mean seeking professional support and treatment, it also means taking steps to improve your emotional health on your own. Making changes will pay off in all aspects of your life. It can boost your mood, build resilience, and add to your overall enjoyment of life.