Sometimes we know exactly what we want and what would make us happy but we just don’t see a way to turn our dreams into reality.

Maybe we are afraid of the changes that following our deepest yearnings would bring.

Maybe we don’t know how to balance what we want with the needs and wants of those closest to us.

Maybe we think that we don’t have the financial resources to make it happen.

Maybe we don’t trust that what we think we want is going to ultimately fulfill us and make us happy.

There are so many reasons that we give ourselves for not
stepping into a brighter, more authentic future.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been writing how the inner work post 40 is to:

1. SHED WHAT NO LONGER SUITS US.

2. CLAIM OUR POWER.

3. STEP INTO A BRIGHTER, MORE AUTHENTIC FUTURE.

A couple of weeks ago, I specifically focused on step 1: Shedding what no longer suits us. Healing what needs to be healed. Grieving what needs to be grieved. Letting go of what no longer suits us.

Then last week, I focused on step 2: Claiming Our Power. Claiming our power is about honoring who we really are at our authentic core. What we truly want. What makes us happy. Who makes us happy. What kind of activities make us happy.

AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY CREATING LIVES THAT REFLECT OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

I mean that once we have done step 2 and claimed our power and figured out what we think we want (And remember it doesn’t have to be a perfect plan. You just need a general direction), we have to use our mind to turn our plans into reality.

Sure, you will probably have to do mindset work, healing more inner child work, visualizing, setting your intentions, praying, dancing around your house naked… whatever helps you connect to your Powerful Inner Grownup.

And then you step into your brighter and more authentic future by… STEPPING.

And by stepping, I mean TAKING ACTION.

Let me give you an example from my own life just so you know that I get you and what you’re going through.

In brief, I spent most of my thirties birthing and nursing babies while fantasizing about traveling the world with my family and raising my kids to be citizens of the world. Warm weather was also a big part of living the dream.

I knew what I wanted. I craved it. I talked about it. I complained about not having it. And I also put my husband’s job satisfaction and the fact that he didn’t want to pick up and travel the world as a priority. I worried about the kids’ need for stability. I wondered if I was selfish to want so much. I worried that I may uproot the whole family and still not be happy. Plus, how would we make it all happened logistically?

And then as I was nearing my 40th birthday, my hormones kicked in and I said, “No more. I’m done spending seven hours a day in my kitchen being a short-order cook and making homemade organic baby food. I NEED to get out into the world.“

It was time to get into action. I:

And low and behold, less than a year later, we were living in a small town in the Colombia Andes, traveling the world for four months every year (sometimes with my husband and sometimes, just with the girls), enjoying the adventure, abundance, slower pace of life and, even somebody to cook for us.

You get the idea?

Now go out there and step into your own brighter future.

As always, I love hearing from you so feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch at natalie@nataliematushenko.com. I would love to know how you are feeling these days!