Redefining yourself after age 50 involves making a change
The definition of REDEFINE according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: To reformulate, reexamine, and reevaluate with a view to change.
I think CHANGE is the operative word here.
Why would we want to make a major change in who we are and how we see ourselves after age 50?
Perhaps the identity we have been living with for many years no longer fits at this age. Maybe we feel the need to break out of old ways of thinking and behaving and try on new ways of being.
Redefining yourself after age 50 is an exciting but somewhat daunting prospect!
It requires us to move out of our comfort zone to discover who we really want to be at this stage of our lives./https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creating-new-identity-marshall-goldsmith/
What is your identity and why change it?
Your identity is what you tell yourself and others about who you are.
Do you describe yourself as a career woman? a stay at home mom? a single mother? a widow? a divorcee? a grandmother? a retiree? A school teacher? A business owner? The list is endless.
These titles all identify you and give people an idea of how to relate to you.
If you are married and have children your identity might revolve around being a “wife” and “mother”. That puts you in a slot and there are certain expectations that go along with that.
Being married also carries expectations of being a couple and the obligations that go along with it.
What happens to your identity when your children grow up and leave home? What happens if you divorce or become a widow? What happens when you retire? These life events cause big changes that require redefining and reevaluating your life in many ways.
Even if you don’t go through a major upheaval in your life after age 50 you may become tired of the role you have taken on for so many years and crave a new YOU!
Ask yourself: Does this identity still define me or am I feeling the need to make some changes in how I see myself and how others perceive me these days?
Redefining Yourself After Age 50:
If your current identity doesn’t fit with how you see yourself then you are at the stage where “change is in the air”!!
What do you want to change and how do you go about redefining yourself ?
Think about it! Who do you want to be and how do you want to be identified now and in the future?
If it feels uncomfortable to think about redefining yourself after age 50 at this stage of your life, that’s a normal reaction, but read this quote from Jamie Lee Curtis that sums it up nicely: “If not now, when? If not me, who?”
There will never be a better time to become the person you want to be. I saw Jamie Lee interviewed recently and she stated that she is “pro aging instead of anti aging, and she advocates for natural beauty and natural aging with grace and dignity.”
Now that is a goal we can all take comfort in!
Who do you want to be? The sky’s the limit!
Most of us don’t believe this because we are encouraged to not take too many risks at this stage of life!
Creating a new identity is daunting for most of us who have stayed in our comfort zone for most of our lives!
You are in charge of your own life and your own destiny, so you get to decide who you want to become and what identity you want to embrace going forward.
The list of choices is very long and I believe each of you has an obligation to find out what is the best identity for YOU!
Give it a try! You will be amazed at what new goals and ideas for living you come up with.
Ideas for redefining yourself after age 50:
What have you always wanted to do or become?
Learn all you can about what is available to you.
Continue to be curious and embrace new ideas.
Be interested in other people.
Be an interesting person yourself who others want to get to know.
Be Playful and discover that side of you that’s waiting to be rediscovered.
Be willing to try new and unfamiliar things
Be open to all the things you don’t understand.
Figure out in what ways you are unique and how that can help in determining your new identity.
Try out several different ways of being and new ideas for this next stage of life.
If you embark on this journey of discovery you will find the person and the identity that fits you now and you can pursue your dream of who you want to be in this second stage of life.
I wish you all the blessings that this wonderful life has in store for you!
Needing help and encouragement along the way?
If you find it a bit daunting to recreate yourself and redefine yourself after age 50, I will be happy to connect with you to discuss how Life Coaching can be of help in your journey of discovery. Contact me for a FREE phone consultation to talk about the possibilities for our working together to help you reach your goals for a more satisfying and productive new you!
https://www.livingbestlifeafter50.com/contact/
