Are you feeling dissatisfied but unsure about what to do next in your life? Or do you need some inspiration to consider a career change, or to try mindset tools that will help you feel more confident and optimistic?
These are some of the things I discussed on a recent Reinvention Rebels podcast with host Wendy Battles, a powerhouse whose show inspires women of all ages to pursue their biggest dreams and desires. Wendy is a frequent speaker at women’s events and the creator of a Midlife Reinvention Course. If you’re not following her on Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube yet, start today!
Our conversation explored midlife career resets, reconnecting with your purpose, shifting your mindset, and redefining success on your own terms. If you’re searching for clarity, courage, or a fresh start in your 50s, this episode is a reminder that reinvention begins within—and it’s never too late to take the first step. (Coaching can help!)
PLUS, watch a replay of an Instagram Live that we did together chatting about tuning into your inner voice and midlife travel.
I’ve shared a few (lightly edited) quotes from our podcast conversation below in case you haven’t had time to catch up on podcasts lately…
On making bold changes in midlife
Wendy Battles: “Midlife can be a time for joy, purpose and a whole lot of fun. [Lisa’s] story proves that midlife is not a crisis—it’s a glow up with better boundaries and a passport.”
Lisa Murphy: “A lot of the midlife women that I work with, they just know that there is something off. They’re just feeling stuck. They want something new. They don’t really know what they want next. They feel frustrated, and trust me, they are not alone. So many fantastic, talented and wonderful women I know at this stage feel that way. And the gift of that is that when you feel it, then you’re able to make change happen.”
Wendy Battles: “What was it like to bet on yourself and take that leap [into coaching], especially when fear and self doubt were part of the journey?”
Lisa Murphy: “I had to work through those fears and self doubt by reminding myself that my goal was to help midlife women. Even though the fear and the uncertainty were there, if I weren’t going to go forward, if I didn’t take the leap, then I would be doing both myself a disservice, as well as the midlife women who I wanted to help. So, by coming back to that passion and that mission, it helped me work through some of the uncertainties and doubt.”
Wendy Battles: “That passion and mission, to me, is such a core of reinvention.”
On learning to move from external to internal validation
Lisa Murphy: “I realized that [in the past I was] pinning all my self validation on these external factors that I had very little control over. And so, I was doing the mindset work to realize I have a choice. I can actually choose to create my own validation. So, some of the mindset workday to day is just reminding myself, ‘hey, check out the progress that you made, however small.’ So, I’m able to make the shift from external validation to self validation—and that’s the springboard to what’s next.”
Wendy Battles: “Sometimes we are so self critical, and we do often look to external validation, but then we awaken to the amazingness of who we are and the gifts that we have. It’s a journey of self-awakening, of rediscovering who we truly are, of leaning into our gifts.”
Lisa Murphy: “Learning to self validate is a skill… it doesn’t mean that you’re vain or that you’re flattering yourself all the time. It’s about acknowledging your strength and then trusting in that. But it is a learned skill. It’s not like some people are born with it and others don’t have it. You have to learn how to do it, and let’s do it now. Let’s not wait any longer. Let’s learn those skills now.”
Wendy Battles: “If we put the work in around our self worth and building that self-trust muscle, it’s always possible… We can do this.”
On longer travel
Lisa Murphy: “It’s a big deal to decide to go on a [three-month trip]. It’s very unconventional. We’re always taught like, “Oh, I can’t break up my career, I have to keep going.’ But my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 62, so I really feel very strongly that we need to live our lives now to the best of our ability… Two years prior to the trip, we sold our house, we downsized. We were saving a significant amount, which you know, meant tightening our belts to some degree… Italy and Spain were on my bucket list. And Morocco, well we were like, hey, why not?… And what’s so fascinating, I think with travel, we’re often so worried about what could go wrong. And of course, despite my mindset work, I still had those worries as well. But I’ve got to tell you, not a single thing that I worried about happened.”
Wendy Battles: “You know, that is so true. We spend so much time in our heads about so many things that often don’t come to pass. I waste a lot of time taking up space in my head for things that often don’t materialize, and we can get into worst case scenario-ing, but maybe we should shift that and just think about what’s possible instead. Of what could go right.”
Lisa Murphy: “I love a good beach vacation, or an all-inclusive, just lying on a lounger for a week. But travel for months at a time is completely different. It’s almost like university… You’re exposing yourself to novelty. You’re learning history… and so it’s nice to make sure you schedule some just days where you’re just chilling and doing nothing, because otherwise it can start to feel like a lot of input.”
On redefining success
Lisa Murphy: “My definition of success [used to be] primarily about work. You know, what was my job title, what was my salary? How was I doing? And now my definition of success is about pursuing and feeling fulfillment in every aspect of my life. You know, learning and relationships, spending time with people and creating great experiences. And work is part of that, but it’s only one part of it… Don’t wait. Start dreaming. Give yourself the opportunity to think about what you’re passionate about, what you love, your joy, and then just start figuring out little things to help you get a little bit more of that, however small. Just day by day, adding more and more of the good stuff in.
Wendy Battles: “That’s right. It can make a big difference as we think about success, or redefine success, to look ahead to what that might look like at midlife. As things change, as our priorities change, how can we lean into the joy of what could be possible in new ways?”
Listen to the whole Reinvention Rebels episode today!
Learn more about how coaching can empower you to create change and feel good by booking a free coaching consultation with me. My clients can confirm that coaching can help you gain confidence, combat negative self talk and achieve goals that truly fulfill you. You’ll find even more information in my Frequently Asked Questions About Coaching section.
