Episode 138: The One Where I Pressed Pause

What happens when something you once loved starts to feel like just another thing on your to-do list? What if you're allowed to let it go, change your mind, and make space for something new?

In this episode, I'm sharing why I'm pressing pause on the podcast for a little while, what I'm learning about letting go of things that no longer fit, and how we can move into our next chapter with less regret and more trust.

Because sometimes the things we wanted at one point in our lives aren't the things we want anymore. And that doesn't mean we made a mistake. It might simply mean we're ready for something different.

You're allowed to let things go

When I came back from summer break, I told myself I would give myself permission to skip an episode whenever I didn't feel like making one. Last week, with the kids off school and life happening, I just didn't have the desire to record. So I didn't.

And I let that be okay.

This podcast has always been something I've done because I enjoy it. When something that's supposed to be fun starts feeling like another obligation, it's worth asking whether you still want to do it.

I'm also thinking about this as we try to sell our cabin. It was a dream we had, and we were able to make it happen. But we don't use it enough anymore, and holding onto it doesn't make sense for our lives right now.

It's easy to look back and wonder why you made a particular decision or feel regret about how things turned out. But I keep reminding myself that the cabin was a dream at the time. We got to experience it, and now we can release it with love and move on to the next adventure.

You can appreciate something for what it was without needing to keep it forever.

And you can change your mind.

What do you actually want in this season of life?

I think a lot of women are experiencing some kind of identity shift in their 40s and beyond.

The last several years have brought so much change. Maybe you've reached a milestone birthday, your hormones are shifting, your kids are getting older, or you simply don't have the same drive to do as much as you once did.

Maybe you still want to feel strong and healthy in your body, but you're less concerned about the number on the scale. Maybe you want more peace, more calm, and more time to enjoy your life.

And yet, you might still be operating from the belief that you need to do more to be worthy of success, abundance, money, or love.

I've been separating those two things in my own life.

I can want to feel good in my body without adding a dozen new things to my schedule. I can want financial freedom without needing to have every step figured out. I can want an amazing life without believing I need to work harder every single day to deserve it.

Sometimes, the first step is simply getting clear on what you want and how you want to feel.

Then you can decide what actually supports that desire and what you might be ready to take off your plate.

A journaling practice for gratitude, abundance, and manifestation

One of my favorite practices is sitting down and writing, “I'm so grateful for…” and then scripting out what I want as though it's already happening.

Rather than focusing only on a specific outcome, I write about how I feel and what that experience means to me.

For example, instead of writing, “I hope I eventually feel financially secure,” you might write about how grateful you are for the freedom, peace, choices, and experiences that financial security brings into your life.

What do you really want the money to give you? What would you do with more freedom? How would you feel if you trusted yourself and your future?

There are some fascinating psychological principles behind this practice. When you repeatedly focus on what matters to you, you may begin noticing opportunities and possibilities that previously went unnoticed. Imagining a desired future can also help you clarify what you're working toward and how you want to experience your life.

And when you connect that vision with the feelings you want to experience, you can begin practicing some of those feelings before your external circumstances have changed.

You don't have to wait until everything is perfect to experience a little more peace, gratitude, freedom, or joy.

I also believe there's an energetic component to this. For me, there's something meaningful about releasing regret, letting go of the things that feel tangled up in obligation, and creating space for what I genuinely want next.

You don't have to know exactly how everything will happen. You can start with the vision and let yourself become available to the possibilities.

You don't always have to take more action

For those of us who are used to being driven, setting goals, and filling every minute of the day, slowing down can feel uncomfortable.

We want the plan. We want the steps. We want to know what to do next.

But sometimes, you don't need another plan. Sometimes you need a moment to breathe, reconnect with yourself, and let things settle.

That doesn't mean abandoning the things that make you feel good. For me, movement is still one of the things that helps hold my life together. I love how I feel during and after a workout, and I know that walking, strength training, and Pilates help me feel strong in my body.

Meditation, slow breathing, and reminding myself that I'm safe and that things can work out are also important practices for me.

The goal isn't to do nothing forever. It's to recognize what genuinely supports you, stay consistent with the things that matter, and give yourself permission to release the rest.

You can take care of yourself without turning self-care into another overwhelming list of things you should be doing.

It's okay to walk away and choose something fun

Something I've been reminded of through my daughter and her experiences with extracurricular activities is that it's okay to walk away from something that no longer feels right.

We can let ourselves find things we enjoy. We can try something, learn from it, and decide we want something different.

The same is true for the commitments we make as adults.

You don't have to keep doing something simply because you've always done it. You don't have to stay attached to an old version of yourself. And you don't have to prove your worth by how much you can accomplish.

You deserve to feel good in your body. You deserve to enjoy your life. You deserve to create a life that feels good to you, not just one that looks good on paper.

So take a moment to ask yourself: What do I really want in this season of my life? What makes me feel good? What am I holding onto out of obligation, regret, or the belief that I should?

You might be surprised by what becomes clear when you give yourself permission to pause.

What's next?

This is my last podcast episode for a little while, as I'm making space for another project that I'm excited about. I don't know exactly when I'll be back, and I'm allowing that to be okay, too.

The heart of Trusting Dorothy has always been about encouraging you to listen to yourself, trust yourself a little more, and create a life that feels aligned with who you are.

That message isn't going anywhere.

If you'd like to continue working with me, you can still explore my Lift Library workout membership, Within: A Return to Self, and my one-on-one intuitive coaching and mentorship.

Thank you for listening, for being here, and for allowing me to share these pieces of my life with you.

And if there's something in your own life that you're ready to release, maybe this is your reminder that you can let it go with love.

You can be grateful for what was, trust yourself in the present, and stay open to what comes next.

Sometimes, pressing pause is exactly what you need.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Giving yourself permission to pause and change your mind

• Releasing regret about past decisions

• Navigating identity shifts in your 40s and beyond

• Getting clear on what you want and how you want to feel

• Gratitude journaling, scripting, and manifestation

• The psychology of focusing on the future you want

• Finding peace without constantly doing more

• Keeping the habits that make you feel good and letting go of the rest

Connect with Yourself

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