Who are you becoming

Weeks 31 & 32, Midlife Journal Guide

I’ve become….. the kind of woman who swims in cold water. Who knew?

Under the Good Girl persona

Growing up, if you’re like me and are 40+, you were likely told specifically, or you gleaned generally that a woman had to be becoming. Becoming meant to be acceptable, suitable, appropriate. That meant be happy (but not too loud), helpful (but not looking for recognition), kind and generous (to a fault please, to a fault - the gaslighting thing about this is that women’s kindness expectation is a bottomless pit), nurturing (while curbing any natural wild, spirited qualities). Smile love. Always give us a smile.

But now, in this glorious era where we understand that that was never about us evolving as individuals but supporting a system that needed us to be compliant in support-roles only, we can change the meaning of becoming into a guide for evolving and growing and thriving.

Part of your adventure into self-discovery is the recognition of all that you have become, and all that you are still becoming. By midlife, at whatever age and stage you are at, means you have learned so much about life and yourself since you first set off into adulthood with that Checklist for Success. By default and design you have become so much more than you imagined. So let’s have a look at who you are now, and who you are still becoming (and want to become).

There’s a phrase I like to use for myself and suggest to my coaching clients. Whenever I do something hard, or pleasurable or new or brave, I say to myself, “I’m the kind of woman who……”

Ten years ago I hated cold water. Viscerally. And now? I’m the kind of woman who revels in the shocking plunge that makes me feel alive (that’s me a couple of days ago in a beautiful (cold) lake in Monaghan.)

When I face something challenging, I remind myself I’m the kind of woman who has done hard, hard things.

When I get imposter syndrome I tell myself I’m the kind of woman who has done brave, wonderful things.

Becoming

Becoming is about knowing yourself with compassion, curiosity and courage and dancing the dance between self-acceptance and self-improvement.

It’s about remembering who you really are. And creating guiding lights for who you still want to be.

For those of you newly following me on Your Midlife Matters (thank you for being here!) I’ve already explained how this year-long Midlife, redefined Daily Journal Guide adventure with yourself will work in Power is in Your Hand. You can start this journalling guide at any time of the year because it’s not date related: The daily prompts from Weeks 1 to 30 are here.

In this year long adventure with yourself, this opportunity to spend a few minutes every day (or as many days a week as you can) thinking about yourself will transform your relationship with yourself and to matter more in your own midlife and to build self-knowledge and empower yourself to live life for you.

For ALL my lovely subscribers there is my free Midlife Daily Journal Template in my previous post here which you can use as a guide each day - and what I personally use every day.

For just €5 per month, this Midlife Daily Journal Guide (and lots of other content and discounts on coaching) is for my paid subscribers.

So let’s get into the prompts for Week 31 and 32 of your journaling journey.