5 Ways to Rekindle Your Personal Spark and Redefine Who You Are
Women are hardwired to nurture, comfort, and take care of others—it’s in our DNA. For a significant chunk of our lives we are deeply engrossed in the rearing of our children, something that, while a beautiful blessing, can become all-consuming. The person we were prior to becoming mothers somehow gets shelved for a spell as our kids demand increasing amounts of our time and energy. Many women manage to hold down the dual vocation of motherhood and a job, depleting any hope of carving out any “me” time to reflect on our future aspirations and dreams.
After the last child has launched, many of us feel completely rudderless. Having had our role as mothers clearly defining us for many years, women can feel a sudden loss of purpose following the childrearing years. Compounded by menopause and maybe even some marital boredom—or even divorce—women after age 50 may struggle with depression and the absence of a sense of self.
What if I told you that this particular phase of life is actually a launch pad? Here are 5 ways to rediscover yourself as the amazing person who God created, and redefine your life’s purpose after raising kids.
- Parenting usually involves financial sacrifice and sometimes curtailing opportunities to travel for many years. Exploring this beautiful world is in itself exhilarating, as you learn about different cultures, including domestic travel and the vast differences of our own people across the land. Get out of your comfort zone at home and see the amazing gifts of nature, art and architecture, customs, and people in our country and our world.
- Feed your soul. Allow yourself to think back to your own youth and what things inspired you. Revisit old passions and get back in touch with your own essence. It can be taking up dance, going to see live theater productions, volunteering at the local charity, growing vegetables, getting involved at church, or learning how to play the piano. Tune in to your soul again.
- Grow and learn. Many women decide to launch a new business or make a career change after the kids are raised. Or, take a class at the local community college and become tech savvy. If you have always had an interest in writing a book or learning how to speak a second language, there are classes, podcasts, and YouTube videos to show you how. Grow into the best version of you.
- Get strong. We often neglect our physical health while raising families, so now is the time to reclaim your physical wellbeing, and benefit psychologically in the process. Even just taking a 30 minute brisk walk 4 times a week will net huge benefits. Or, take up hiking with a Meetup hiking group, join the local Zumba class, or give yoga a spin.
- Rekindle your creative juices now that you have some spare time in your schedule. Learn to make crafts or jewelry—even set up an Etsy shop online and sell them! Or, take up photography and share your amazing shots on your Facebook page. Take a painting and drawing class at the local college, or sign up for a poetry class. Creativity is a source of self-expression, so express who you are through the arts. Or take a master class such as the Marvelous Life for Women Master Class or go on a Marvelous Life Retreat produced by DeLores Pressley.
In no time at all, you will experience a renewed resurgence of curiosity, a newfound love of learning, and boundless energy all fueled by taking these empowering steps to discover who you really are.
