Hey Beautiful Soul,
Can we just pause for a second and take a breath? Because the fact that you’re even here, reading this, tells me something about you. It tells me that you’re ready. Or at least thinking about being ready. And that’s a big deal.
If we’re being real, I know what it feels like to lose yourself. I mean really lose yourself. I’ve been there—not just once, but multiple times. The first time was in my 30s, then again in my 40s. That second time it was gut-wrenching. I started over from nothing. No car, no job, no money, no home to call mine. All of it ripped away from me by someone who said they loved me. How’s that for love?
But you know what? I picked myself up. And now, as I step into my 50s, I feel something I never thought I would again—I feel free. Free to fully be me. And oh, friend, it feels GOOD.
But how do you even begin to find yourself when your world feels like it’s crashing down? That’s the hardest part, isn’t it? Figuring out where to even start. For me, it looked a little like this…
Step 1: Focus on the Good
I know this one might feel impossible when everything is so heavy, but it’s also the thing that saved me. I started a simple practice of keeping a gratitude journal, and honestly, it changed my life. Every morning, I wrote down three things I was thankful for. Then, at night, I’d write down three things that had gone well in my day, no matter how small.
At first, my lists felt kind of silly. “I’m thankful for my coffee” or “I didn’t cry today.” But you know what? Those little things added up. Slowly, they helped me see that even when everything felt like a mess, there were still bits of good. And when you can hold onto those, even the smallest pieces, you start to feel a tiny flicker of hope again.
If you try anything, try this. It doesn’t take long, and I promise it makes a difference.
Step 2: Treat Your Body Like It Matters (Because It Does)
Here’s something I had to learn about myself during the hard times. When life gets messy, my appetite disappears. Food becomes the last thing on my mind, and honestly, I could go all day without eating if I wasn’t careful. But the thing is, not eating wasn’t helping anything. My body needed fuel to handle all the stress I was under.
That’s when I made an intentional choice—I started focusing on eating healthy food, even when I didn’t feel like it. I learned what foods supported my health and energy levels and made a conscious effort to choose those over junk. It wasn’t about drowning my sorrows or using food as comfort. It was about feeding myself because I deserved to be healthy.
This realization wasn’t easy, but looking back, it made such a difference. I didn’t just feel better physically—I felt like I was taking control of one small thing when everything else felt out of control.
Step 3: Keep Moving (Even When You Don’t Want To)
I’ve always been someone who struggles to keep going with workouts during tough times. Life throws curveballs, and the first thing I’d want to skip was exercising. But what I eventually learned was that movement is exactly what I needed during those moments of chaos.
I had already started to love working out before my life got turned upside down, but it was hard to hold onto that love when everything felt heavy. Instead of giving up, I found programs that I really enjoyed. For me, it was lifting weights. There was something empowering about feeling strong, like I was taking my power back one lift at a time.
Yoga, on the other hand, wasn’t something I naturally gravitated toward. It didn’t click with me right away, but once I gave it time, something shifted. Yoga became about more than stretching or breathing. It helped me slow down, listen to myself, and reconnect with my body in ways I hadn’t before. Over time, it felt less like a workout and more like a way to center myself and hear what my heart and my guides were trying to tell me.
Working out, whatever form it takes for you, isn’t just about fitness. It’s about creating space to feel stronger inside and out. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Step 4: Feed Your Mind With the Good Stuff
This one took me a while because, honestly, I used to roll my eyes at the whole idea of personal development. I thought it was cheesy. But friend, it’s not.
When I was at my lowest, I started reading and listening to things that were uplifting. I discovered people like Brené Brown, and they got me thinking about my own life in ways I never had before. I learned how to set boundaries and show myself grace. I learned that I wasn’t stuck and that my life could change if I wanted it to.
That’s the magic of personal development. It’s not about “fixing” you—I hate when people make it seem that way. It’s about showing you what’s possible. About reminding you of the strength that’s already inside of you.
Step 5: Give Yourself Grace
Can I be honest? Healing is messy. There were days when I felt strong and hopeful and like I had it all together. And then there were days when I didn’t want to get out of bed. That’s just the truth of it.
But on those hard days, I learned to give myself grace. To remind myself that I was human and that it was okay to feel stuck sometimes. When you’re rebuilding your life, it’s not about perfection. It’s about taking one small step at a time and forgiving yourself when things don’t go perfectly.
Step 6: Live for You
It wasn’t until I was nearing 50 and chose to move into this new year mindfully and with intention that I really stopped and asked myself this question: What do I want?
Not what someone else wants for me. Not what society says I should want. What do I want?
It was terrifying at first because I didn’t really know how to answer that. But once I started listening to my gut and trusting myself again, everything began to shift. I stopped trying to please everyone else and started building a life that felt good to me.
And you know what? That’s the most freeing thing you can do for yourself. To stop living for others and start living for YOU.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the middle of a big life change right now, I want you to hear me when I say this—I’ve been there. I’ve sat in the rubble, unsure if I could put the pieces back together. But I can promise you, you can. Not just because I did it, but because you have everything you need inside of you already.
And if you’re ready to take that next step, I’d love to guide you through it. My one-on-one coaching program, The Empowered Confidence Blueprint, is a 90-day transformation designed to help you break free from self-doubt and fear, reclaim your voice, and step powerfully into the confident woman you were meant to be. Together, we’ll work to silence the inner critic, set boundaries without guilt, and give you tools to carry your confidence forward into every area of your life.
You’ve waited long enough to invest in YOU. Now is your time.
With so much love,
Your biggest cheerleader
Your biggest cheerleader
Angela
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