FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️: APPRECIATE YOUR UNIQUE LIFE JOURNEY

In midlife and beyond, you have a varied collection of stories, lessons, and growth experiences. Every step of your life’s journey so far—every triumph and challenge—has given you wisdom that’s uniquely yours. 

In this episode, I share 3 meaningful ways to practice self-gratitude related to your life experience.

🎧 Listen to add another layer to your self-gratitude practice.

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Transcript

FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️: APPRECIATE YOUR UNIQUE LIFE JOURNEY

Every twist and turn of your life, every triumph and every challenge, has brought you right here to where you are today. 

How often do you reflect on your life journey to notice and appreciate your experiences?

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Welcome back to FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️. I'm Karli Newman, and before we go any further, I want to express my deepest gratitude for you, my friend.

You give me a gift every time you show up to listen, share your thoughts and ideas with me, or embrace the suggestions I share in my episodes. You are a light in this world, and I am so grateful to have you here in this community.

If you aren't receiving my free emails yet, I invite you to visit flipsideofmidlife.com. There you can choose the emails that match your interests. Boost your well-being further when you immerse more deeply in this community. Join my monthly ELEVATE membership, attend events, and consider working with me one-on-one.

 Okay, now back to today's episode. 

You are the only woman in this universe who has experienced life like you have. Your journey is unique, my friend. 

In midlife and beyond, it's only human to think of things you wish you'd done differently, or question the reasons behind hard times in your life. You may seek guidance to process and work through those thoughts and experiences, or you may find acceptance on your own.

Either way, your life is filled with growth and resilience and you own a unique perspective. 

On the flip side of those regrets and tough times are the choices you made that led to beautiful results and the easier times. You grew and learned and added to your unique perspective through these life experiences, too.

All of this is fuel for a self-gratitude practice. You are one-of-a-kind and your life, the life you lived, and the life you continue to live, are worthy of appreciation. 

As this year winds down, I encourage you to express self-gratitude for your unique life experience and all you've gained along the way.

You may want to grab your journal, notebook, or favorite app here, my friend. I have three suggestions for you, and you may want to jot down some notes.

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Here are three meaningful ways to practice self-gratitude related to your life experience. 

First, look back with pride. 

Start with the hard stuff. Think of a time when life really challenged you. It could be a major life change, a personal loss, or tough circumstances you navigated. Write down the full range of emotions you felt during that challenging time.

Fear and anger may be on your list. Hope and relief may be there, too. Get all of those emotions onto the page.

Now reflect on how you moved forward. What did you tap into inside yourself? Did you courageously move past shame or guilt to talk to others or ask for help? Was it resilience that enabled you to pick yourself up when you fell? Might your feisty side be a reason you didn't give up? 

Notice the qualities you demonstrated when life was not easy. 

Finally, write down this prompt:

'I'm grateful for this experience because...' and keep on writing, my friend. Play with the forms of writing you use. 

For example, try writing a stream of consciousness where grammar, complete sentences, or coherent thoughts are irrelevant. Or maybe you write a letter to your past self. Give her advice or tell her how proud you are of her for getting through the experience. 

This exercise helps you look at challenging times through a different lens. It isn't about celebrating your hardships. It's about seeing and appreciating the growth, wisdom, and hidden gifts they brought into your life.

Another way to express self-gratitude for your life experience is to honor the lessons learned. 

Inevitably, your life has moments you'd redo if you could, and moments you wouldn't change in any way, shape, or form. Each may come with perspective-changing lessons. 

Think about one of these moments. Write down why you would redo it if you could, or why you wouldn't change a thing.

Now write about what you learned from this moment. The lesson may not have appeared right away. Maybe it's taken until now to see that lesson within. Reflect and write for as long as it takes. It might be helpful to revisit this exercise at different times over a week. And when you feel ready, write this beneath your writings:

'I am grateful for the lessons I've learned throughout my life.' 

This exercise helps you see where the gems of wisdom exist in your life. 

And a third way to practice self-gratitude is to celebrate your unique outlook on life.

The woman you are now has a deep understanding of what truly matters to her. Because of your life experiences and the lessons learned along the way, you navigate the world differently than anyone else. 

Reflect on an example of how your life perspective has shifted over the years. Write about how your priorities changed or what you thought you knew, but now you understand more deeply.

Now write about how those insights have impacted you. Are you more compassionate? Is it easier to set boundaries? Do you worry less? 

When you feel your writing is complete, add this sentence below: 

'I celebrate my unique perspective on life and am grateful for how it helps me thrive.'

This exercise helps you see how your outlook on life has shifted and notice the gifts you've received because of it. 

These three exercises have a long shelf life. Revisit them regularly, my friend. After all, you continue to learn and grow.

In midlife and beyond, you have a varied collection of stories, lessons, and growth experiences. Every step of your life's journey so far, every triumph, every challenge, has given you wisdom that's uniquely yours. Practice self-gratitude for the experience that helps make you, you.

As always, I'm here cheering you on as you travel through midlife and beyond. I love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so please reach out at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com. 

Thanks for listening. I'll be back next week when I kick off my December episodes that help you reflect on the past year.

If the content you find here is valuable to you, please share FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE™️ with other women in your life. Copy this link or tap share on your listening platform to send it to a friend, colleague, or sister. And of course, I always appreciate it if you write a review or comment. Women supporting other women is exactly what happens here in this community.

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