Awakening Through Divorce with Stephanie Raffelock
In today’s episode, we are joined by Stephanie Raffelock, an author on aging well and the creative surge that begins in midlife. Stephanie discusses the awakenings and transformation that come with getting older. We discuss what aging looks like in today’s society, where we live in a culture that values youth and beauty. We discuss how re-imagining and awakening go hand in hand with divorce. Stephanie talks about how thinking of doing divorce with an attitude of ‘what's in the next chapter?’ will enrich life in ways that couldn’t be done before. We close the episode by discussing how all women should tell their stories and how self-knowledge reveals all things. Tune in to learn how to embrace aging, divorce, and how going through something hard in life can change life for the better with some curiosity and gratitude.
In this episode:
[1:55] What led Stephanie to write books about aging. [4:40] Stephanie discusses how health & vitality are sexy and what opens up for us as we age. [5:55] She discusses the third act of one's life and how rewarding it is. [6:30] Stephanie talks about how her book and thinking can be applied to someone going through a divorce or a life-changing shift. [10:15] Why are people so afraid to age? [12:00] Stephanie's thoughts on empowerment and courage. [14:12] As we get older, how do we fit into this youth-oriented culture? [16:54] Journaling and how/why each woman’s story is important.
Key Takeaways:
- Aging is absolutely beautiful, it's the third chapter in life, and this final chapter is where all the incredible transformations happen.
- Divorce (and other complicated things in life) are an opportunity to restructure your life and awaken to the things you can do now that you were afraid to do while you were married. It’s a second chance at life and creating who you are.
- Use curiosity and gratitude to get through divorce. Have gratitude that you made it this far; you made it through the difficult situation, which means you can make it through anything! What can you learn and see with new eyes?
Quotes:
“Empowerment is really something that grows up from the center, from the gut, of the woman, I believe, and it's something that needs to be claimed, examined, and understood as not a polite and pretty process but a powerful process.”
“When you are healthy, there is a sexiness to it because there is a vitality to it, there's juice to it.”
Guest Bio:
Stephanie Raffelock is the author of Creatrix Rising, Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women. (She Writes Press in August, 2021). She also penned the award-winning, bestseller, A Delightful Little Book on Aging. A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, Stephanie was a contributor to The Rogue Valley Messenger, in Oregon. She’s blogged for Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com as well as SixtyandMe.com. A former i-Heart Radio host, she is now a popular guest on podcasts, where she inspires women to embrace the strength and passion of their personal story.
Resources:
Stephanie Raffelock's Instagram
