Tag Archives: personal growth and interior design

What to Let Go of in Midlife

In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Natalie addresses midlife women feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to fix and manage everything alone. She offers insight into how hyper-independence and the fear of abandonment can contribute to burnout and midlife struggles—and most importantly, how self-love can help rewrite these patterns.


Key Topics:

  • The emotional toll of hyper-independence in midlife women
  • The neurochemistry of pursuit and addiction to dopamine hits
  • Childhood experiences shaping adult patterns of fixing and pleasing
  • Recognizing and interrupting the spiral of justification and validation
  • The importance of self-love as an antidote to burnout and scarcity mindset
  • How fear of abandonment fuels hyper-independence
  • Practical steps to love yourself through mistakes and vulnerabilities
  • Moving away from rescuing everyone and focusing on personal peace

Time Stamps

00:00 – Addressing hyper-independent women in midlife

02:09 – The neurochemical roots of pursuit and addiction to dopamine

03:34 – How the chase reinforces the cycle of burnout

04:33 – Personal stories of controlling or fixing others

05:58 – Childhood patterns influencing adult need for approval

06:53 – Recognizing the spiral of justifying and validating

08:22 – The pain of not being liked or validated

09:04 – The risks of over-investment in work and relationships

10:30 – How derailments in pursuit reveal deeper patterns

11:56 – The spiral of self-justification in times of stress

13:20 – The link between childhood chaos and adult control issues

14:19 – Self-love as the key to breaking free from cycles

16:41 – The importance of loving yourself despite mistakes

19:34 – Understanding the fear of rejection and scarcity mindset

20:03 – Letting go of blame and the need for approval

21:01 – Managing relationships without spiraling into chaos

22:24 – Embracing age and experience for self-compassion

23:21 – The power of loving your story, including dysfunction

24:19 – Sharing this message with other midlife women

25:17 – Letting go of the cycle of justification and abandonment fears

26:15 – Finding peace and building inner self-worth

Resources and Links

Connect with Dr. Natalie:

Website https://LearnToLoveYourStory.com⁠⁠
Facebook facebook.com/learntoloveyourstory
Instagram instagram.com/dr.nataliemarr
Linked In linkedin.com/in/natalie-m-marr-psy-d-lp-6a9298147
Tik Tok tiktok.com/@doc.natalie

DISCLAIMER:

The content in this podcast and video is not a replacement for therapy and is not clinical, medical, or mental health treatment. Dr. Natalie Marr is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota. Her work with ⁠⁠(⁠LearnToLoveYourStory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠, ⁠(⁠⁠⁠⁠NatalieMarrCounseling.com⁠⁠⁠),⁠ and all affiliate social media entities is educational and coaching based ONLY. She IS NOT offering therapeutic services of any kind on these mediums.

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please use the following crisis resources (this is not an exhaustive list of available resources):

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or CALL 988

Crisis Text Line: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.crisistextline.org/ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Text HOME to 741741

The Great Unlearning: Reclaiming Self-Worth in Midlife

Summary
In this episode, Dr. Natalie explores the concept of ‘The Great Unlearning,’ a transformative journey that challenges the societal belief that doing everything right leads to a fulfilling life. She reflects on her personal experiences, particularly during midlife, where she realized that striving for perfection and external validation often leads to burnout and disillusionment. Dr. Natalie emphasizes the importance of self-worth and the need to reclaim it from within, rather than through external achievements or approval. Through poignant anecdotes, she illustrates how the pressure to conform to societal expectations can lead to a double life and emotional turmoil, ultimately advocating for a shift towards self-love and acceptance.

Dr. Natalie introduces the metaphor of the tugboat versus the lighthouse to illustrate the difference between exhausting oneself in the pursuit of perfection and standing firm in one’s self-worth. She encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives, identifying where they may be sacrificing their well-being in the name of doing everything right. The episode serves as a powerful reminder that true fulfillment comes from within, and that midlife can be an opportunity for profound personal growth and self-discovery.

Keywords:
midlife, self-worth, personal growth, self-love, great unlearning, emotional well-being, tugboat lighthouse metaphor, reclaiming self-worth, Dr. Natalie

Takeaways:
​The version of you that you’re most proud of may be blocking your actual life.
​Midlife can be an invitation to examine the mess of our lives and love it as it is.
​Reclaiming self-worth from the inside out is essential for true fulfillment.

Sound bites:
“What if I told you that the version of you that you’re most proud of… is in the way of your actual life?”
“Today we’re gonna talk about the great unlearning.”
“You do not need to fix yourself. You just need to find yourself.”

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to The Great Unlearning
03:49 A Holiday Dinner Reflection
10:20 The Tugboat vs. The Lighthouse
18:10 The Power of Self-Love
23:39 Reflecting on Your Journey
JOIN the https://LearnToLoveYourStory.com⁠⁠ Mailing List! Join my newsletter and receive my FREE video and workbook, “Freeing Yourself: A Guide for Letting Go of Other People’s Opinions”

SIGN UP on the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/762561/109840834025752017/share⁠⁠⁠⁠ DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and video is not a replacement for therapy and is not clinical, medical, or mental health treatment. Dr. Natalie Marr is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota. Her work with ⁠⁠(⁠https://LearnToLoveYourStory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠, ⁠(⁠⁠⁠⁠https://NatalieMarrCounseling.com⁠⁠⁠),⁠ and all affiliate social media entities is educational and coaching based ONLY. She IS NOT offering therapeutic services of any kind on these mediums. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please use the following crisis resources (this is not an exhaustive list of available resources): National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠
CALL 988Crisis Text Line: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.crisistextline.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠Text HOME to 741741

Podcast 26 – Finding Inner Beauty: Empowering Women in Midlife Through Interior Design

“Women Empowering Women” Series Interview with Joanne Riley

Join host Dr. Natalie in a special podcast episode of the Women Empowering Women on “Midlife Crisis to a Centered Life Thriving” as she delves into the transformative power of interior design in empowering women during their midlife journey. Dr. Natalie invites renowned interior designer and advocate for mindful living, Joanne Riley, ASID, to explore how creating beautiful spaces can foster mindful awareness and empowerment for women in midlife.

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Natalie and Joanne Riley navigate the profound connection between our external environments and our internal well-being. They discuss the importance of finding beauty within our surroundings as a means to cultivate a sense of calm, balance, and personal empowerment during the transformative midlife phase.

Together, they explore various aspects of interior design that can contribute to a more mindful and centered life. Joanne shares her expertise to create spaces that not only reflect personal style but also enhance self-awareness and personal growth. Joanne talks about how beauty can curate an environment that nurtures emotional well-being and encourages self-expression.

Dr. Natalie and Joanne also dive into the unique challenges and opportunities that women face during midlife. They explore how the process of designing and redecorating living spaces can serve as a powerful metaphor for personal transformation and self-discovery. By intentionally creating spaces that align with their evolving identities, women in midlife can find a renewed sense of purpose and empowerment.

Throughout the episode, listeners will gain valuable insights and inspiration on how to leverage the principles of interior design to cultivate their own mindful awareness and empowerment during midlife. Dr. Natalie and Joanne Riley skillfully weave personal anecdotes, laughter, practical advice, and research-backed insights to guide listeners on their journey towards a more centered and fulfilling life.

Tune in to this special podcast episode of “Midlife Crisis to a Centered Life Thriving” and discover how interior design can become a catalyst for building mindful awareness, embracing personal empowerment, and finding inner beauty as a woman in midlife.

HOW TO FIND JOANNE RILEY, ASID AND HER WORK –

WEB: www.INTERIOREDGE.com . Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-riley-asid-48b83744/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theinterioredge/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interioredgedesign/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interioredgedesign/


Click the button below to download your Dream Big Workbook FREE gift!


This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Group-Coaching-3-1024x1024.png
FREE Group Coaching For a Year – Join ANYTIME!

Join us as we work together to help you design the life you have always wanted for yourself. No gimmicks! Just results! Dr. Natalie has nearly two decades of experience as a Clinical Psychologist and she is ready to help women in midlife break the chains of living in constant survival mode.

Please be sure to sign up. Even if you can’t join every month, you will also have access to online courses, workbooks, guided meditations, and get the video highlights sent out after each months group coaching event. It is well worth it!!! Make 2023 your year!!!


Community is how we gain and sustain our strength to be the remarkable women that we already are in this world. Having a bad day…check in and get support. Killing it at life…jump on and inspire your friends. This online Facebook community is where we all gather to love and support one another on our prospective journeys to live our best lives!


This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Copy-of-group-cch-1024x683.png

Don’t know if the Learn To Love Your Story could help you. Then take this quiz and see which Online Courses would best help you with your personal growth and development.

What Course Is Right For You?

So many of us get stuck at some point during our lives.  We know that we are not fully happy, yet we don't really know what's missing.  We just know that we thought it would feel better than this by now. So what gives?

Dr. Natalie's online courses are designed to help you build the skills you need not only to find out what seems to be missing in your life and keeping you stuck; her courses will help you liberate yourself from your past and starting designing the LIFE YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED.  

Take this quiz and receive an individualized recommendation from Dr. Natalie as to what course would be best for you and why these courses are specially designed to help you with what you need.

How To Work With Dr. Natalie

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Grey-and-Orange-Photography-Quiz-Instagram-Post-Blog-Banner-Facebook-Post-Landscape-720-%C3%97-720-px.png

Or maybe you already know that you want to work with Dr. Natalie directly and are interested in receiving your FREE 30 minute 1:1 coaching session with her right away. To register for your time, fill out the form below.

 

Keywords: Empowering women in midlife, Interior design and empowerment, Mindful awareness in midlife, Finding inner beauty, Centered life in midlife, Transformative power of interior design Mindful living and interior design, Cultivating personal empowerment, Creating beautiful spaces, Curating a home environment, Emotional well-being through design, Personal transformation and self-discovery, Women’s challenges in midlife, Redecorating for personal growth, Mindful awareness during midlife, Leveraging interior design principles, Renewed purpose in midlife Cultivating a fulfilling life, Building empowerment through design, Finding beauty as a woman in midlife