Are you anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead in the second half of your life journey? If so, you’re not alone. Midlife transition could be challenging and somewhat daunting for many; however, with an experienced coach by your side, this transition could be a great opportunity for self-rediscovery, passion reignition and a purpose-driven life to be realized.
Whether you’re considering a career change, seeking personal fulfillment, or simply wanting to make the most out of this transition, mid-life transition coaching can provide the support you need. On this blogpost, we will explore what midlife transition coaching is, the benefits of it, and other midlife transition coaching related topics.
Understanding midlife transition
A major change of life happens between the ages of 40 and 60; factors such as mundane life routines, empty nest, career stagnation, or loss of loved ones take place during this time period. Life events may make you question about your identity, priorities, relationship, values and purposes in life.
Some people refer this period of life as “midlife crisis,” but I believe it doesn’t have to be a crisis if you are aware of the change factors and knowingly and mindfully take on the transition before it becomes a crisis.
The challenges of midlife transition
The challenges of midlife transitionNavigating through any transitions could be challenging, and midlife transition can be extra daunting because it’s involved in various aspects in life.
First of all, your physical health. Metabolism slows down and your body has changed as you have been busy with family and career without paying much attention to your own physical needs. Before you know it, you’ve gained a few pounds, and your doctor advised you to start exercising and cut down food intake to shed some weight off and reduce that bad cholesterol number on your annual report.
Another challenge is the change of family dynamics. You may be dealing with aging parents, and/or adult children becoming independent and moving out of the house. Oftentimes, you find that words are so limited, and you have hard time sharing your emotion and stress mixed with grief with others.
Money is always a big topic, and at this stage of life, it could be a huge stressor if you don’t see your financial security. “Do I have enough savings for my kids’ college?” “Do I have enough to start planning for my upcoming retirement?”
You’ve worked so hard to support your family but realized you are tired of what you do. You’ve lost your passion and you no longer know the meaning and purpose of your life is after all. You feel lost. You know you need to make a change, but you are afraid and don’t know where to start.
Benefits of midlife transition coaching
Making changes, pursuing growth and preparing for the next stage of your life can definitely be overwhelming and daunting. Midlife transition coaching empowers you to navigate through this transition with confidence and clarity, and it supports your vision for your 2nd half of life with passion and conviction.
1. Clarity:
Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and uncover your true and innermost desires and aspiration.
2. Priorities:
Priorities shift, so should your plan. Coaching helps you identify your goals, values and priorities and set direction for the new.
3. Purpose and meaning:
Life isn’t about making a living at this stage, but utilize what you’ve gained; wisdom, experiences, finances and network, to live a life with purpose and significance.
4. You:
You’ve worked so hard to support your loved ones, it’s time to bring “you” back into the picture of your own life. Whether it’s for your growth, your dreams, your health, your relationships, or your fear, it’s time to look at your life story and plan out what you want to accomplish in the future.
5. Accountability and support:
Your coach is your unbiased partner and cheerleader who will encourage you to take consistent effort toward the life you desire.
Common areas of focus in midlife transition coaching
As mentioned earlier, midlife transition involves a wide range of aspects in life. Below are some common areas of focus that midlife transition coaching can offer you.
1. Career
What you do now is no longer purely about money; this transitional period is a great opportunity to reevaluate your career path as an experienced professional and align or realign it with your values and passions. A life coach not only helps you explore different possibilities, but also identify your transferable skills and strategies to achieve them.
2. Retirement planning
It is critical to assess finances and plan for retirement to avoid any last-minute surprises. Midlife transition coaching offers you an objective and holistic perspective as you plan for the next chapter of your life.
3. Relationship change
Whether it’s dealing with aging relatives, adult kids moving away, friendship shifts or loss of loved ones, a coach can support you in managing change and adjusting to the new phase of life.
4. Physical health
It’s time to focus on your health, set health-related goals and develop healthy habits.
5. Money management
When is a better time to review, reassess and plan for your financial security other than halftime? Coaching will help you look at your books objectively, make realistic and informed decisions and ensure your financial well-being.
6. Stress management
Clearly said, help you manage stress as you continue on life journey.
7. Legacy
Whether it is your relationship with your loved ones or living a purpose-driven life of yours, it’s about legacy and significance that you want to leave behind. A coach can help you identify and support your purpose and fulfillment.
Steps to embrace change and rediscover your passion
To seamlessly navigate your midlife change and transition, here are the steps worth your consideration.
1. Awareness
First thing first, if you are not aware of the need for change, you wouldn’t start looking for an answer or a solution.
2. Open mind
Change is inevitable in life. As challenging as the change may be, you might as well have an open, curious and courageous mindset to deal with the change; open to change and open to try new things and meet new friends.
3. Introspection
It’s about reflecting on your values, beliefs, experiences, achievements and passions. What matters to you and what brings you joy as you move forward?
4. Intuition
It’s about you, so allow yourself some quiet time/place and pay attention and listen to your own inner voice, or sixth sense.
5. Set goals
SMART goals will help you break your big goals into smaller chunks and increase the opportunity of realizing your dreams.
6. It’s okay not to be okay
It’s about stretching yourself and getting out of your comfort zone. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and try out unfamiliar activities.
7. Never too old to learn
Keep learning; may it be reading or learning new technologies, sports, or hobbies.
8. Connect with others
What is a better way than connecting and learning from others’ experiences and getting insights into how they navigate through their journey!
9. Be kind to yourself
It’s a brand-new journey in life, so be sure to give yourself plenty of grace as you move forward.
10. Celebrate each win
Celebration acknowledges your effort and each milestone you achieve, which in return will fuel your motivation forward.
11. Seek support and accountability
Having a professional life transition coach on your side will not only provide guidance but also encouragement and insight.
The role of a midlife transition coach
An experienced life coach helps you navigate the changes, challenges and uncertainties during this important phase of your life. The role of the coach is not to tell you what to do, rather, is to facilitate, inspire, guide and support you forward with self-discovery, passion and goal alignment, goal setting, actions and celebrations in a safe and confidential space. Ultimately, the role of the coach is to empower you to embrace change with courage and live a life with purposes and fulfillment.
How to find a qualified midlife transition coach
It’s crucial to find a qualified coach to provide the necessary guidance and support for your journey. And as I always tell my clients, it’s equally important to find the “right fit” for their needs and style.
Below are a few suggestions of mine as how to find the right coach.
1. Your own needs and goals
The first step is to define and determine your needs, challenges and goals you want to get out of the coaching relationship.
2. Research and/or ask for referrals
Research coaches who specialize in transitions or ask friends, family, colleagues who may have worked with a transition coach for reference. Furthermore, remember to check coaches’ background, coaching approaches and experiences.
3. Certifications and/or credentials
Coaching industry is loosely regulated. It’s a thoughtful act to check if the coach has gone through proper training and abide by professional standards and guidelines, as well as experiences.
4. Clients testimonials
Be sure to ask for clients’ testimonials. What clients said will provide great insight about coaches’ coaching style and the results they have achieved.
5. Consultation
Many coaches offer free consultation. I call mine, “Discovery Call.” Utilize this opportunity to meet the coach, ask questions and assess if you connect well and if you are the right fit for each other.
6. Packages and cost
Fees vary depending on coaches’ experiences and the duration of coaching engagement. It’s essential to know what’s involved in your financial investment and commitment.
7. Interview your potential partner
When you are on the initial consultation call, be sure to ask questions. While coaches interview you, it’s also your opportunity to interview your partner for your transition planning.
8. Comparison
I always encourage clients to talk to a few coaches to make sure they pick the one they are comfortable working with. After all, coaching relationship could be quite intimate, and you want to make sure you can open up to the coach.
In the end, finding the right coach is really a personal preference and decision. Do your homework and choose someone who makes you feel comfortable, heard, and understood, someone you are willing to openly share and work together as partners toward your goals.
Conclusion and final thoughts
Midlife transition is like halftime for a basketball game. We don’t see it, but I tend to believe so much happens in that locker room during the halftime break. Beyond taking a break physically, I believe the coach and team also talk about the game; what went well, what went wrong, what could have been done better and what the strategies for the 2nd half of the game shall be.
Similarly, midlife transition allows you to take a pause, look back to reflect where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished, and give you an opportunity to look through the lenses of your life to rediscover and realign your life mission. Coaching, used as a tool, offers invaluable guidance and support helping you embrace changes and navigate the challenges to live a purposeful life.
You don’t have to do it alone as you journey through this pivotal time of your life. The right transition coach will come alongside you to support you and cheer you on, and you will have the confidence and conviction to take control and march toward your desired life, realize your dreams and visions, and make an impact around those who you love and care. The future chapters of your life are in your hands to be created. The question I have for you is, how are you going to write them?
About Faye Weng
Your Online Life and Career Coach
Faye Weng is an expert life and career coach who works with clients to take back control of their lives by rediscovering their passions, living/working with a clear purpose, and becoming people who can positively impact the communities around them. As your life and career coach, Faye will help you minimize noises and distractions, focus your effort and attention on the right things, execute a clear plan of action, and celebrate alongside of you when each milestone is reached. Click here to book a complimentary session.
Photo by: Ryoji Iwata, Estée Janssens, Holly Mandarich, Lindsay Henwood, Paul Skorupskas, and krakenimages on Unsplash
