Over the past few years, I’ve been unpacking a lifetime of communication habits—most of them shaped by survival, not connection.
I was the fixer. The peacekeeper. The one who held everything together.But I’ve come to understand something powerful: being strong and being present aren’t always the same.
As I’ve practiced setting energetic boundaries, releasing the need to fix, and truly holding space—for myself and others—I’ve discovered that communication can feel lighter, kinder, and more authentic.
To make this shift it takes self-awareness , time and a deep willingness to change habits that have lived in us for decades.
The signs were there—I just didn’t recognize them for what they were:
- “You don’t really listen.”
- “You always try to solve it.”
- “I feel dismissed.”
- “Why is this about you now?”
They were hard to hear—but they were also invitations. Each one nudged me toward a new level of presence.
This shift has been especially important in how I relate to my adult children and younger people in general—many of whom communicate with emotional clarity and boundaries I was never taught. I’ve learned to listen differently, pause more often, and stay open instead of getting defensive.
And unexpectedly, I’ve also found conversations with people my own age more challenging. I now see just how deeply we were conditioned to avoid emotional truth—and I often find those interactions frustrating, constrained, and emotionally distant.
Now, I choose presence over performance.I respond instead of react.I listen without rushing to fix, explain, or justify.
And it feels so much better.
This is the deeper work we explore in Rethink Midlife—because change begins with self-awareness, and healing starts with how we communicate.
If this resonates, know you’re not alone.The language of connection is not only learnable—it’s transformative. And it’s never too late to reclaim your voice, your truth, and the way you relate to the world.
I’d love to support you on that path.Explore upcoming workshops and offerings at rethinkmidlife.com—and join a community of women who are ready to communicate with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
