Self-Discovery in Later Life

When faced with the decision to retire from teaching after 47 years and move to Santa Fe to be closer to her children and grandchildren, Susie initially felt excited but quickly found herself consumed by fear. She feared losing independence and doubted her ability to create a new fulfilling life at the age of 72.

In her work in Mind/Body Foundations, Susie discovered how much she had struggled to find her true self throughout life, never wanting to disappoint-whether her mother, her husband, or her children. She learned to pretend interest in things she did not care about and kept her mouth shut when she did not have acceptable material to back up her point of view. Susie's people-pleasing strategy failed her when she caught her partner cheating. This experience and the subsequent breakdown of their marriage led Susie to feel lost and walled off from becoming close to others for fear of hurt.

Through her journey in Mind/Body Foundations, Susie was able to break free from the limitations of her past. She confronted the deep-seated pain of her husband’s betrayal, embraced her strengths, and learned to establish healthy boundaries. Susie learned to put her needs and desires before her daughters and discovered that her relationships with them could flourish. Susie's breakthrough came when she realized that her love of adventure and animals were not weaknesses as her mother had told her but strengths that made her who she was. She no longer felt the need to second-guess herself or sabotage tasks that would help her feel fulfilled.

With newfound confidence, Susie retired from teaching and made the move to Santa Fe. She ventured into dating, forged new friendships and pursued hobbies like ceramics. When Susie's daughters saw the transformation in their mother, they were inspired. They saw how her renewed sense of purpose and connection with her authentic self had allowed her to flourish in ways they had never seen before. Susie's courage to break free from her people-pleasing tendencies and prioritize her own needs and desires had a ripple effect on her daughters.

They, too, began to explore their own interests and passions and to set healthy boundaries. They saw that by prioritizing their own needs, they were better able to show up as their true selves in their relationships with their partners.

As a result of her journey in Mind/Body Foundations, Susie not only found greater fulfillment and joy in her own life but also inspired those around her to do the same. Her story is a testament to the power of embracing our authentic selves and living lives that are true to our own desires and passions.