Learning to Stop When You Feel Driven to Go

Your Time to Shine, Not Fade Away

This is your time to shine, not to become invisible. You may be asking yourself questions like: Is this the person I want to grow old with? What kind of work do I want to do? Which friendships do I want to nurture? What’s my role as a parent of adult children? What responsibilities do I have as a grandparent? How can I better care for my aging body? How do I want to spend the rest of my precious life?

Embracing Change After 55

At this stage of life, we’ve gathered a wealth of experiences to guide us. We’ve faced challenges, learned valuable lessons, and gained insight and wisdom. However, we may also be navigating the process of healing from personal losses—death, divorce, infertility, unemployment, trauma, changes in our living situation, or lifestyle adjustments.

The Common Challenges of Aging

There may be unfulfilled dreams, physical changes, or health issues—musculoskeletal pain, changes in appearance, or the loss of certain abilities. Here’s the truth: Growth requires change, and change inevitably involves loss. To grow, we must learn to let go.

This is the perfect time to heal from past losses, find peace with what happened (or didn’t happen), and intentionally choose how to move forward into this next chapter with as much joy and ease as possible. If you want to thrive, I encourage you to explore the healing possibilities available to you.

The Healing Power of Mindfulness

Creating space for healing starts with learning how to stop. For now, let go of the idea of making resolutions, setting new intentions, or striving to manifest anything. Forget about losing weight, seeking a soulmate, or planning your next adventure. Let go of the pressure to achieve or check items off your list.

Instead, I invite you to focus inward. To see more clearly and reveal your authentic self. This is how you’ll begin to create a life filled with meaning and purpose. Studies suggest that embracing mindfulness later in life offers tremendous benefits, not just for well-being, but for overall vitality.

How to Take a Purposeful Pause

To begin this process, we must first learn how to stop. Stopping is a skill and a practice. Think of it as a purposeful pause—an intentional moment of focus where you pay attention to your breath and simply be present in the moment.

I know that asking you to stop when you feel the urge to keep going might seem counterintuitive. There's always something on the 'to-do' list begging to be checked off. We often stay busy to avoid feeling uncomfortable emotions, and our busyness is often tied to our self-worth.

But taking a purposeful pause reduces stress by shifting our body chemistry from fight-or-flight mode to a state of rest and recovery. Over time, you’ll learn how to slow down, create space for reflection, and develop a deeper understanding of your actions and motivations.

I encourage you to try my 5-minute Befriend Your Breath meditation, where I guide you in pausing, gathering yourself, and calming both body and mind. I’d love to hear what you discover through this practice!

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Be well and thrive on!

Cheryl