Send us a text

Keywords

midlife, boundaries, self-care, achievements, workshops, Christmas, emotional well-being, personal growth, women empowerment, journaling
In this episode of Midlife Sparkle, Belinda reflects on the year 2025 and shares insights on navigating midlife challenges, particularly around the holiday season. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, recognizing personal achievements, and taking time for self-care. Belinda also introduces upcoming workshops aimed at supporting women in their midlife journey, emphasizing the need for community and connection during this transformative stage of life.


Takeaways

Belinda emphasizes the importance of community in midlife.
Setting boundaries is crucial during the holiday season.
Reflecting on achievements can boost self-esteem.
Self-care is essential, especially during emotionally charged times.
Workshops and retreats can provide valuable support.
Journaling can help track personal growth and achievements.
It's okay to feel a mix of emotions during the holidays.
Taking small moments for oneself can make a difference.
Belinda encourages women to embrace their journey in midlife.
The next chapter can be a positive and fulfilling experience.



Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Midlife Sparkle
01:01 Navigating Midlife Challenges
02:58 Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
04:46 Reflecting on Achievements and Self-Care
In this episode of Midlife Sparkle, Belinda reflects on the year 2025 and shares insights on navigating midlife challenges, particularly around the holiday season. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, recognizing personal achievements, and taking time for self-care. Belinda also introduces upcoming workshops aimed at supporting women in their midlife journey, emphasizing the need for community and connection during this transformative stage of life.

takeaways

• Belinda emphasizes the importance of community in midlife.
• Setting boundaries is crucial during the holiday season.
• Reflecting on achievements can boost self-esteem.
• Self-care is essential, especially during emotionally charged times.
• Workshops and retreats can provide valuable support.
• Journaling can help track personal growth and achievements.
• It's okay to feel a mix of emotions during the holidays.
• Taking small moments for oneself can make a difference.
• Belinda encourages women to embrace their journey in midlife.
• The next chapter can be a positive and fulfilling experience.

Send us a text

In this solo episode of Midlife Sparkle, I dive into one of the most common and quietly painful experiences for women in their forties, fifties, and beyond - losing our sense of identity.

For so long, we’ve worn countless hats: mother, partner, school mum, business owner, team player, caregiver, organiser - the list goes on. But as life shifts - kids grow up, parents age, careers plateau or change - many of us find ourselves asking, Who am I now?

I explore the emotional and practical realities of this stage of life - the boredom, loneliness, and uncertainty that can creep in - and why rediscovering your values is the key to reconnecting with who you truly are.

Together, we unpack what values really mean, how they act as your inner compass, and how to start realigning your life around what matters most to you. Whether your values centre on family, freedom, creativity, or health, this episode guides you to reflect deeply and start finding your way back to yourself.

You’ll hear how I help my clients (and myself) identify what they value most, using practical exercises to gain clarity, confidence, and direction. By leaning into these truths, you’ll rediscover joy and purpose in your next chapter - because midlife isn’t the end; it’s the perfect time to begin again.

Key Takeaways

• Rediscovering your identity in midlife begins with understanding your core values.
• Your values act as a compass, guiding your decisions and helping you feel more connected to yourself.
• Reflect on when you’ve felt happiest, most fulfilled, or proud - these moments reveal what truly matters to you.
• Write down your values - with pen and paper - to deepen your self-awareness and accountability.
• Accept that values evolve; what mattered most in your thirties may shift in your fifties, and that’s perfectly natural.

Actions You Can Take Today

• Take 20 minutes to journal about a moment when you felt proud or fulfilled - what does it say about your values?
• Narrow your list of values to five that feel most important right now.
• Ask yourself, Am I living in alignment with these?
• Start making small changes that reflect what matters to you - whether that’s creativity, connection, or calm.
• Remember: midlife is your time to put you first.

If this episode resonated, I’d love you to share it with another woman in midlife who’s navigating her own sense of self. You’re not alone in this - we’re all rediscovering our sparkle together.

Send us a text

In this episode of Midlife Sparkle, I explore a familiar feeling for so many of us - anxiety. I call mine Anxious Annie, and she’s been with me most of my life. Annie has a way of showing up when things feel uncertain, whispering fearful thoughts about what might happen. She loves to predict the future, and in her world, it’s never good news.

I share how anxiety can take hold when we face change - whether it’s a new job, a big decision, or even closing a business, as I did. I talk about what it felt like to be consumed by fear and self-doubt, and how I learned to manage Annie’s voice with practical, grounding strategies that really work.

Through my own story and examples from my clients, I unpack how anxiety convinces us that disaster is coming - and how to gently challenge that thinking. We look at how to separate fact from fiction, bring ourselves back into the present, and use physical and mindset tools to calm our nervous system.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognise when anxiety is future-tripping and creating false stories.
• Use grounding techniques like deep breathing, shaking out your body, barefoot grounding, or immersing your hands in cold water.
• Calm your mind through humming, writing, or reflection.
• Challenge anxious thoughts by asking, “Is this 100 per cent factual truth?”
• Develop self-trust by doing the thing anyway - even when fear tells you not to.

I also share a client story that beautifully illustrates how our minds can spiral into worry when the reality is often far kinder than we imagine. By naming our anxiety voice, we create distance from it, and by accepting it with compassion, we regain control.

Key takeaway:
You are not your anxiety. When you name it, challenge it, and soothe it, you take back your power.

Action step:
Next time your version of Anxious Annie pipes up, pause and ask yourself: Is what she’s saying actually true? Then breathe, move, or write it out. The truth is always calmer than the story in your head.