I often tell clients that I like to turn conventional thinking inside out. This is one of my favorite things to do in life. What I’ve come to realize is that it comes naturally for me and it always did. It just wasn’t appreciated in my family of origin…or the educational system. I ask ridiculous questions. Or better put, I ask questions that seem ridiculous because the only way to change your life is to question what we believe is true.

When you’re brave enough to ask the ridiculous question, you might get an incredible insight. This is easier said than done because we all believe what we think for the most part. We think we’re just observing the obvious truth. Think again.

Like the client who is creating a business that she is very passionate about. She had been searching for examples of like businesses, you know, to get a sense of what’s happening out there. She couldn’t find any. Then, she consulted with lawyers to try and ease her mind. That didn’t work. She was looking for a safety net and she wanted to know ‘the rules’. While coaching I asked her a totally ridiculous question. “If this is your business, why don’t you make up the rules?” Silence…for a minute or two…then I heard, “I love that! Why don’t I make the rules.” She’s making great strides and she recently told me how excited she is about the future.  

In midlife, life can feel murky and uncomfortable. I get it. You’re asking questions like:

• Who am I now?
• What do I want for this next part of my life?
• Am I still valuable? (spoiler alert…yes, you always were and always will be 🙂
• What do I feel passionate about? What lights me up?
• I’ve worked hard to get here, “Is this all there is?”

Or, like this client, you know what you want yet it seems totally impossible right now.

Let’s be clear – these are natural questions from the middle of life. Period. Nothing’s gone wrong. Midlife is not a disease, or something to fear or ‘survive through’. This is an amazing time of transformation if you’re willing to lighten up about it and ask ridiculous questions. This is a time when you get to free yourself from social labels, small minds, limited thinking, and tired old ways of being. This is your time to flourish.

So, dear marvelous midlife woman, who are you and what do you want for this next part of your life? I invite you to write it down – in as much detail as you can – make it real, let it float out into the universal ear of fulfillment to be hatched into being. When the mind chatter begins – and it will begin – all the reasons you can’t or you shouldn’t or it’s impossible – start asking ridiculous questions. “What if I make the rules?” You can…and you’ll be amazed at where one ridiculous question can lead you!

From my wandering midlife heart to yours,