Refinding myself

Now that I'm over the stress of reaching my forties (just in time to face my fifties!), I'm starting to calm down, relax and accept.

I no longer feel the need to accelerate my career, in fact, to be honest, I don't want a career. It's a relief to admit that my work doesn't have a lot to do with money-acquisition.

I need to do my work to be happy, and I need to acquire money, but the two are not necessarily related. I have no interest in climbing a career ladder or defining myself by my job title.

I'm also relieved by giving up the need to get ahead - the never-ending quest that so preoccupied my thoughts when I was career-oriented. I wanted more money, more power, more respect.

By finding respect and rewards within myself, as I matured, I also gave up the need for external validation. In Wayne Dyer's words, I gave up the need for the good opinion of others.

Freedom from social and career pressure makes me so much more relaxed! I now work when, where and how I want, wear what pleases me, and don't worry what the neighbors say.

I think being able to give trying to please others is one reason mid-life women are so relaxed! We've followed our dreams to the end of their rainbows, found success in one form or another, and learned to depend on ourselves. All the people-pleasing that seemed so important in our twenties and thirties now falls away as learn to please ourselves.

The magic of liberation!