How To Recognize The Right Timing For Making A Change

For many of us, midlife is about the time that we begin to question our life.  Those questions might include…What have I accomplished?  What is my life’s purpose?  What am I going to do with the years that I have left?  Is it time for a big change in my life?  With all of these questions swirling about in your head, how do you know when the time is right to create the changes that midlife can invite? You might seek those answers from other people, but you’d be better off if you take the time to look inward for the answers.

I’ve worked with a lot of clients who are asking these exact questions. They start off knowing that something needs to change, but they don’t quite know what it is. Then as they begin to dig deeper inside themselves for the answers, any past unresolved issues such as a previous trauma will come out as well. This gives my clients the chance to understand how they got where they are right now and to deal with any unresolved issues before they try to create a shift or change in their life.

Midlife is full of change!

It’s no wonder that so many people make big changes in this time of their life.  If you are a parent, then that role is probably changing. If your own parents are still alive, then you might be involved in their care as well. Your own body might be going through hormonal changes and your career might be either stalled or not going in the direction that you expected. All of this might have been something that was forced upon you by circumstances such as age or timing. This can lead to that unsettling feeling of dissatisfaction with your life.

Change can be intentional too!

On top of all of these things going on during midlife, what if you want to create intentional changes in your life too?

Where do you start? 

What do you change? 

What do you keep the same?

These are all great questions! 

I’m a firm believer that you already have these answers inside of you.  You just need to take the time and space to listen to your own inner wisdom in order to connect into those answers. 

Maybe you’re ready to change careers now that the pressure of raising your children has eased.  Maybe you’re ready to take on a hobby that you’ve not had time for in the past, or, maybe you’re ready to make new connections with other people. 

Even though you might feel that your choices are limited sometimes, there are usually many different paths that you can take at any given time of life. This is true at midlife as well. The key is to know when to take a path and when to pass and continue on to your next opportunity.

It’s personal.

I’m currently in this stage too!

Can I answer all of those midlife questions right now?  No, not really.  I’m not sure where my current path is leading me but I do know that I want to keep on it.  I’m in a stage of creating intentional change while other changes happen around me. Yes, I have to deal with both what I start and what others start, and that’s all okay.

I feel that as I’ve entered this period of my own life, my own goals have changed rather drastically as well.  In my midlife, I no longer have to spend so much time raising kids & I can now devote that time to other interests such as helping other people take better care of themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally.   I feel very fortunate to be entering this period with a general idea of what I want to do and accomplish.

Change can be scary!

Unfortunately, not everyone has an idea of what’s next for them and that can be incredibly difficult to navigate. You’re dealing with a lot of past experiences (this might include a traumatic event or two) that have made you who your are. You’re also dealing with all the changes that are happening around you. Finally, you’re also dealing with a desire to make the rest of your life meaningful.

This period of life can be scary for people who don’t know their next direction or their next goals.  Not knowing where you are going or what you’re doing next can leave you feeling very uncertain.  It’s that uncertainty that has you trying all kinds of different things to fill up your life. 

When you know that you need to make an intentional change but you don’t know what it is, when to do it, or even how to do it, then life can be very uncertain and unsettling. This can lead to snap decisions that you might regret later. This is the quintessential ‘Midlife Crisis’ that we often hear about.

You can learn to recognize when the timing is right for change.

So how do you begin to decide on the changes that you need or want to make in this time of life? 

Well, I always say that you need to go back to your body.  Ask it what it needs or wants, and then actually listen to the response. I’ve often heard people talk about a ‘gut feeling’ that told them to do or not do something. I’m sure you’ve felt this at one time or another.

The question is this… did you listen to what your gut said?

Your body talks to you all the time. It tells you when you need to move out of an uncomfortable position. It also tells you when it’s time to create a change in your life.

You hold so much wisdom in your body.  You just need to listen to it more often so you can allow that internal wisdom to help guide you during midlife. This is a choice that you can make each and every day.

The more you do this, the more you develop this skill of listening and interpreting what your body is saying. Your body will absolutely help you recognize when the timing is right for you to create changes in your life.

Listening inward is something that I do each day. I ask my body what it needs and what I can do to support it.  Sometimes those answers are expected, but sometimes those answers are completely out of the blue.  Both types of answers have value & learning to listen to my body gets me closer to a path that is right for me.

You can do this too!

I know this is a skill that isn’t taught in schools. I know that it’s a skill that a lot of people in midlife haven’t used in awhile if ever. The good news is that you can learn this skill at any age. You can even try it right now. Simply by stopping, taking a deep breath, and noticing your own body.

Listen inward and you too will know when the time is right to make intentional change in your life!

If this sounds like something that you need, but you aren’t quite sure how to do it, set up a free 15 minute chat with me. Let’s talk about how listening to your body can help you recognize when and how to create changes in your life.

And remember, it’s never too late to live healthier & happier!

Becky is a Yoga Therapist & has been teaching yoga since 2006. She loves to match people with a yoga practice that helps them to feel better every day & believes that there is a yoga practice for everyone. Click here to sign up for her mailing list & get all of the important news & tips first!