A New Life Story: Emotional Healing & Midlife Transformation for Women

47. Grief, Loss & Emotional Healing with Diandra Ford-Wing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310702/fan_mail/new] Some conversations find their way back to us exactly when we need them most. Recorded nearly a year ago during a season of major life transitions, this discussion resurfaced at a time when conversations around grief, emotional healing, layoffs, identity shifts, and resilience feel more relevant than ever. Speaker, storyteller, and author Diandra Ford-Wing [https://www.diandraspeaks.com] shares the deeply personal journey that began after the unexpected death of her mother — a loss that led her to step away from her corporate career and enter what she describes as a “sacred pause.” In the stillness of grief, journaling became a lifeline and eventually transformed into her debut book, Red Bird. Through emotional honesty and storytelling, Diandra reflects on losing her aunt in The Gambia, witnessing how unresolved grief shaped generations of women in her family, and learning how emotional pain silently follows us into our relationships, careers, leadership, and everyday lives. The conversation explores grief in midlife, workplace grief, emotional wellness for women, burnout, generational trauma, and the courage required to rebuild your identity after unexpected loss. Since this conversation was recorded, Deandra has experienced another major transition after being impacted by recent tech layoffs. Today, she has launched Diandra Speaks, where she helps colleges, corporations, and nonprofit organizations understand how grief and emotional loss show up in the workplace and throughout life. In this episode we discuss: * grief and bereavement * emotional healing after loss * midlife identity shifts * career transitions and layoffs * burnout and emotional overwhelm * workplace grief and emotional resilience * healing through journaling and storytelling If you are navigating any form of grief, this is a conversation of healing for you. WORK WITH LASHONDA Explore your emotions and uncover what drives your behavior?  Book a free discovery call today. In 20 minutes you’ll learn and practice simple steps you can take to begin your transformation process. Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com Website: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/ [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach] Buy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with Diandra Website: www.diandraspeaks.com [http://www.diandraspeaks.com/] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/diandrafordwing [http://www.linkedin.com/in/diandrafordwing] IG: www.instagram.com/diandrafordwing [http://www.instagram.com/diandrafordwing] Produced by Wowow Podcasts [https://www.wowowpodcasts.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com [lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Website [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach]

46. From Performance to Presence | Journal Prompts & Affirmations for Emotional Healing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310702/fan_mail/new] What if the version of you that everyone knows… is actually a role you were assigned in childhood? For years, you may have followed a script—being the strong one, the quiet one, the responsible one—letting that identity define how you show up in the world. But what happens when you start to question it? When you get curious about who you are beyond the role? In this episode, LaShonda Walker guides you through the powerful journey of unbecoming—releasing the identities, expectations, and survival patterns that no longer align with who you are today. You’ll learn how to begin rewriting your story by understanding the different parts of yourself, reconnecting with your truth, and trusting the adult version of you to lead with clarity and intention. This episode is for you if you’re ready to: * Let go of performance-based identity * Stop living on autopilot and start choosing consciously * Rebuild trust with yourself and your decisions * Step into a more aligned, authentic version of who you are LaShonda shares practical guidance, reflection prompts, and powerful affirmations to support your journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal growth—so you can feel grounded in the version of yourself you are becoming.  In this episode: * How childhood roles shape your identity and behavior * Releasing the pressure to perform and please * Learning to trust yourself and your inner voice * Creating a personal power statement rooted in truth  Affirmation to carry with you: I release who I had to be, and I trust who I am becoming. WORK WITH LASHONDA Explore your emotions and uncover what drives your behavior?  Book a free discovery call today. In 20 minutes you’ll learn and practice simple steps you can take to begin your transformation process. Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com Website: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/ [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach] Buy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Produced by Wowow Podcasts [https://www.wowowpodcasts.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com [lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Website [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach]

45. How Unconscious Beliefs Hold You Back and How to Shift Them

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310702/fan_mail/new] Life has a way of reminding you that there are still things stuck in you. In this episode LaShonda shares an unscripted reflection on how unconscious beliefs shape our decisions, relationships, and self-worth—especially in midlife. After noticing herself repeatedly rejecting a new opportunity and feeling a physical “block,” she unpacks how hidden beliefs formed in childhood can quietly run the show. In this emotional wellness episode, she guides listeners on how using the Adult Chair Model can help explain how younger versions of ourselves influence present-day reactions, triggers, comparison, and self-sabotage. She offers practical insight into recognizing these patterns and reclaiming control with intention and awareness. If you’ve ever felt stuck, questioned your worth, or struggled with self-doubt, this episode will help you identify and shift the unconscious stories holding you back. 💫 In this episode: • What unconscious beliefs are and how they impact your daily life • How childhood experiences shape adult behavior and emotional patterns • The Adult Chair Model explained for personal growth and healing • How to identify and challenge limiting beliefs and negative self-talk • Three simple steps to rewire unproductive beliefs and create emotional freedom This episode is for women in midlife seeking emotional healing, mindset shifts, and deeper self-awareness. WORK WITH LASHONDA Explore your emotions and uncover what drives your behavior?  Book a free discovery call today. In 20 minutes you’ll learn and practice simple steps you can take to begin your transformation process. Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com Website: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/ [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach] Produced by Wowow Podcasts [https://www.wowowpodcasts.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com [lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Website [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach]

44. Life Over 45: When Life Falls Apart & You Find Yourself Again with Christina Lopes

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310702/fan_mail/new] What happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would? In this honest conversation, LaShonda welcomes Christina Lopes of Life Over 45 (IG: @life_over_45 [https://www.instagram.com/life_over_45/]) to explore midlife reinvention, healing after heartbreak, and finding yourself again after loss. If you’re navigating divorce, identity shifts, emotional pain, or starting over in your 40s or 50s, this episode will feel like a real conversation with someone who understands. Christina shares the moment she left a 16-year marriage—and how one vulnerable post sparked healing, connection, and community for women around the world. Together, they talk about rebuilding your life with self-love, intention, and authenticity. 💫 In this episode: * Finding yourself again after loss or heartbreak * Letting go of shame and embracing healing * Romanticizing life while single * Using music and nostalgia for emotional wellness * The power of authentic connection and storytelling Midlife isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning. A chance to reconnect with who you are and how you want to live. If you’ve ever felt like you had to start over… this episode will meet you right where you are. If this episode resonated with you, follow, rate, and share A New Life Story with another woman navigating the powerful transformation of midlife. 💫 Listen to these episodes next: * Episode 01 [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/podcasts/02biaz6m0atdamc4j4d19ozkr13511] - The Adult Chair®: A Simple & Practical Tool for Your Emotional Healing Journey * Episode 3 [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/podcasts/a-hrefhttpssiteslibsyncom4817193-inner-child-work-with-joan-mwangihealing-and-understanding-your-inner-child-with-joan-mwangia] - How Understanding Your Inner Child Helps You Heal Emotional Wounds with Joan Mwangi * Episode 14 [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/podcasts/a-hrefhttpssiteslibsyncom48171914-release-the-pressure-of-resolutions-by-setting-intentions-that-align-with-your-authentic-selfrelease-the-pressure-of-resolutions-by-setting-intentionsa] - How to Align Your Intentions with Your True Self WORK WITH LASHONDA Explore your emotions and uncover what drives your behavior?  Book a free discovery call today. In 20 minutes you’ll learn and practice simple steps you can take to begin your transformation process. Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com Website: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/ [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach] Buy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Produced by https://www.wowowpodcasts.com/ Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com [lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Website [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach]

43. How Love Evolves in Midlife: The 7 Types of Love & What Women Truly Need After 40

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310702/fan_mail/new] Love evolves, especially in midlife and the nervous system support you need at 25 is often very different from what you need at 45. Many women in their 40s and 50s begin reassessing relationships, emotional needs, and personal identity. Midlife is not a crisis—it’s a rebirth of emotional clarity, where we begin asking deeper questions about connection, authenticity, and the relationships that truly support our well-being. This episode explores the 7 types of love—Eros, Philia, Storge, Agape, Pragma, Ludus, and Philautia—and how each one transforms during midlife. You’ll learn how emotional safety, nervous system regulation, boundaries, and self-love shape healthier connections in romantic relationships, friendships, family dynamics, and within yourself. If you’ve been feeling a shift in what you want from love, partnership, and connection, this episode will help you understand why—and how to move forward with clarity and compassion. In this episode, we discuss: 01:11 How Midlife Love Shifts how women relate to love 06:13 Eros Passion Reimagined 07:50 Philia and evolving Friendships 10:58 Storge and Family Dynamics 14:14 Agape and Unconditional Grace 18:54 Ludus and Playful Joy If this episode resonated with you, follow, rate, and share A New Life Story with another woman navigating the powerful transformation of midlife. 💫 Listen to these episodes next: • Episode 42: Midlife Burnout & Emotional Labor: 5 Ways to Stop Carrying the Mental Load • Episode 35: Nervous System Regulation — Where Inner Connection Begins • Episode 29: Protecting Your Energy: 5 Tips for Navigating Emotional Triggers WORK WITH LASHONDA Explore your emotions and uncover what drives your behavior?  Book a free discovery call [https://anewlifestory.as.me/schedule/868e1624/appointment/47278938/calendar/8160764] today. In 20 minutes you’ll learn and practice simple steps you can take to begin your transformation process. Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com Website: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/ [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach] Buy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Produced by Wowow Podcasts [https://www.wowowpodcasts.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bfuvfvi7hc] Connect with LaShonda Email: lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com [lashonda@anewlifestorycoaching.com] Join newsletter: https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/newsletter] Website [https://www.anewlifestorycoaching.com/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anewlifestorycoaching] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anewlifestorycoach]