169. "I Thought It Was Just Me": The Secret Relief of Finding Your People in Midlife

176. You Already Know the Answer. So Why Haven't You Made the Decision?

What would you do differently if you actually trusted yourself? Laurie is recording from the mountains this week, which means no studio microphone, slightly different audio, and zero apology about it. Some things you just roll with. What she did bring: a piece of paper with four transformations that become possible when a woman finally stops deferring to everyone else and starts trusting herself. Not the problem; we talk about the problem plenty. Today's episode is about the other side. What actually changes when you do this work. How it feels. What it looks like in your real life and your professional life simultaneously. This one will make you nod. Pay attention to which transformation makes you nod the hardest. Laurie wants to know...and there's an ask at the end about exactly that. What we cover in this episode * The question most midlife women have never been asked -- and why the pause when someone finally asks it tells you everything * Why you're not avoiding decisions because you don't know the answer -- and what you're actually waiting for * The gap between how you make decisions professionally versus personally -- and how personal leadership development closes it * Why the BEST LIFE Mastermind is where this work happens in practice — not in theory * An engagement ask: which of the four transformations resonated most with you? Quotable moments from this episode "The reason you haven't made the decision isn't that you don't know the answer. It's that you don't trust yourself fully to act on it. There's a difference." "You've been trained to trust yourself professionally — and trained to defer personally. Personal leadership development closes that gap." "The guilt often arrives before the desire to do the thing is even fully formed. We shut it down before we can fully feel it." "What you want for your life is not less valid than what you want for your career." "This work gets to the reason why you've been waiting — which is almost never about timing and almost always about fear." "There's a difference between knowing something intellectually and integrating it at a level where it changes your behavior." Resources + links mentioned → Apply for the BEST LIFE Mastermind [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] → Book a 15-minute call with Laurie  [https://calendly.com/laurie-reynoldson/best-life-mastermind-inquiry] Connect + engage Laurie asks directly: Which of the four transformations resonated most with you? Tag her on social or drop her an email — she's using your answers to shape future episodes. Instagram: @laurie.reynoldson Website: schoolofmidlife.com If this episode landed for you, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Laurie reads every review personally. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/the-weekly-best-life-list-sign-u] https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter] 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩  Email Laurie [ laurie@schoolofmidlife.com] 💻 Website [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife/] On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-reynoldson-b28b921a/] Work with Laurie [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/enroll]

175. Fewer Years Ahead Than Behind: A Radical Wake-Up Call for High-Achieving Women

Time to do something just for you. When is the last time you made a decision, chose a direction, or said "yes" to something that was entirely, completely just for you? Not for your family, not for your career advancement, and not because it fulfilled a decades-old obligation—but purely for yourself?  In this powerful episode, host Laurie Reynoldson challenges high-achieving women to step off the hamster wheel of external validation and confront a heavy midlife reality. If your life looks completely perfect on paper, yet you are still quietly asking, "Is this it?", Laurie reframes this unsettling question not as a crisis, but as a sign that you are finally paying attention.  This episode marks the official opening of applications for the Best Life Mastermind, a carefully crafted nine-month experience designed to help you stop performing, start living as one unified woman, and figure out what's next for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The High-Achiever’s Blindspot: How we unconsciously tie our self-worth to childhood patterns of performance and external approval.  * The "One Identity" Philosophy: Why trying to shape-shift into different people for your career, family, and community leads to bone-deep burnout.  * The Nine-Month Metaphor: Why real personal transformation cannot happen in a 30-day sprint or a 90-day quarter, and why it takes nine months to "birth" a completely new version of yourself.  * The Power of Group Hot Seats: Why listening to other accomplished women untangle their roadblocks serves as your ultimate personal board of directors.  * Bypassing the No. 1 Deathbed Regret: Confronting the reality that there are fewer years ahead than behind, and how to find the courage to live a life true to yourself right now.  The Big Takeaway: Stop waiting for a "perfect time" or postponing your life until retirement or an empty nest. We are no longer relegating the most important work of our lives to left-over weekend hours or late nights after everyone else is asleep.  Inside the Best Life Mastermind Container Applications are officially open for the founding cohort launching this September. This premium, intimate nine-month personal leadership experience is capped at just 10 women.  * Two Mid-Week Luxury Retreats: Immersive, all-inclusive, high-end intensives running Tuesday through Friday so you don't sacrifice your weekends.  * Sun Valley, Idaho (September): Focused on identity and core vision casting.  * Civana Wellness Resort & Spa, Arizona (February): Diving into boundaries, limiting beliefs, and roadblocks.  * Monthly Personal Leadership Calls: Two hours of real-time Q&A, group alignment, and dedicated deep-dive hot-seat coaching.  * A Private, Off-Social-Media Hub: A distraction-free, algorithm-free community platform built for genuine support and connection away from the digital noise.  Ready to claim your spot? Founding cohort members receive the highest level of direct access to Laurie at the lowest investment level the program will ever offer.  * Apply Now [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] * Book a Call [https://calendly.com/laurie-reynoldson/best-life-mastermind-inquiry] Got questions? Secure a direct 15-minute alignment call with Laurie via the link in the show notes.  * Learn More [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/] 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/the-weekly-best-life-list-sign-u] https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter] 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩  Email Laurie [ laurie@schoolofmidlife.com] 💻 Website [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife/] On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-reynoldson-b28b921a/] Work with Laurie [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/enroll]

174. Who Am I Now? The Silent Identity Crisis of Midlife Women During Graduation Season

The guilt that so many midlife women feel during graduation season It is officially graduation season! Across the country, high-achieving women are hosting big open houses, packing up dorm rooms, and celebrating incredible milestones. But beneath the festive surface and the proud smiles, many mothers are quietly navigating a profound, silent struggle: the bittersweet realization that their kids are moving on, and they are being left behind. In this deeply empathetic episode, Laurie Reynoldson shines a light on the hidden identity shift that graduation season triggers. When your primary job for the last 18 to 25 years has been mothering on a 24/7 basis, what happens to your sense of self-worth when those small humans no longer depend on you for their daily survival? This episode is a gentle permission slip to stop suffering in silence, acknowledge the grief of an ending chapter, and start looking at midlife not as a crisis, but as a beautiful, much-needed reset. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The Motherhood Paradox: The ultimate goal of parenting is to raise a human who doesn’t need you anymore—but actually reaching that milestone can leave you feeling completely untethered. * The "Grown and Flown" Reality Check: Why it’s normal to feel an overwhelming mix of intense excitement for your child and deep anxiety about the blank canvas of your own future. * The Pancake Marriage Concept: A candid look at the transitions of midlife relationships, why we settle, and why your tastes in partnerships change as you mature. * Redefining Midlife as a Season: Why midlife isn't a chronological number; it is a psychological phase that can trigger in your 30s when the choices of your 18-year-old self no longer fit the woman you are today. * Stepping Into Phase Two: How to transition into the next phase of motherhood without guilt, putting your own wild and precious dreams front and center. The Big Takeaway: You’ve spent decades doing the heavy lifting of keeping small humans alive. They are successfully launched. Now, it’s your turn to figure out who you are when you aren't first and foremost someone's mother. This second half of your life matters just as much. Special Announcement: The BEST LIFE™ Mastermind If you are standing on the precipice of this massive identity shift and wondering "What's next for me?", you do not have to figure it out alone. This September, Laurie is launching the BEST LIFE Mastermind, a nine-month personal leadership experience for high-achieving women ready to launch their own next chapter. * Intimate Community: Capped at just 10 women to serve as your personal board of directors. * Two In-Person Luxury Retreats: Immersive, soul-searching getaways in Sun Valley (September) and Arizona (February) to cast your vision and anchor your goals. * Continuous Structural Support: Monthly group hot-seat coaching sessions to keep you on the course you set for yourself when daily life tries to pull you back into old routines. * Applications Open June 1st: The waitlist is active now and waitlist members receive first-priority access. Get on the waitlist! [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/mastermind-list] 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/the-weekly-best-life-list-sign-u] https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter] 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩  Email Laurie [ laurie@schoolofmidlife.com] 💻 Website [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife/] On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-reynoldson-b28b921a/] Work with Laurie [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/enroll]

173. The Vacation Guilt Trap: Why High-Achieving Women Are Afraid to Pause

Have you ever noticed how we almost work twice as hard to get ready to leave for vacation? We pack our schedules with an endless to-do list, run ourselves ragged, and then carry the office right along with us in our pockets. In this rejuvenating episode, Laurie Reynoldson shares her reflections after returning from a completely offline, computer-closed "ass-sitting vacation" on a tropical beach. She explores the immense pressure high-achieving women place on themselves to remain constantly available, and why sacrificing our personal time to make others comfortable is a losing game. This episode is a masterclass in learning how to set boundaries, separate "trips" from true "vacations," and protect your life's most valuable asset: you. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The Pre-Vacation Trap: A look into Parkinson's Law and why we create massive 45-item to-do lists just to earn a few days away. * The Power in the Pause: The mental and creative breakthroughs that only happen when you step entirely away from technology and the daily hustle. * The Broken Client Boundary: Laurie shares a cautionary tale from her law firm days about the ridiculous extremes professionals go to hide the fact that they are taking time off. * Trips vs. Vacations: Why dynamic European itineraries are wonderful, but why you still need an absolute "do-nothing" reset on the calendar. * The Living Legacy: How prioritizing your own rest and dreams sets a critical behavioral example for your daughters and your sons. The Big Takeaway: You cannot run yourself ragged and expect to have sustainable energy for your life's work. If you don’t protect the asset, the asset won't be able to do the big things you are dreaming about. LINKS + MENTIONS: * The Best Life Planner [https://schoolofmidlife.com/planner]: Implement the daily "Morning 5-10-5" system Laurie used on the beach to ground her day in gratitude and vision. * Essentialism by Greg McKeown [https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137404/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KXJD01M9TERC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FWn-i6EEIxOCcEFv1Z3O8muStzfchnyIq6iHV1_wVlwva91OxIlDAQuhD_EpSzt4KRUuWdOoeVtheQkj12xsip-pbh6eJK3XHOj7HFgzuhBuCKf3-3Njebqh0bX_IT8ssueSXIZpwtIoPOHDr_nBlCe066WuNbHpCAQC9hv1Qqv3HxER98R8Jt0MDqW72ScBld1NCn2FAcgNfW4Gp-ZmXR8DOeZlPfCTARt5g4-Z57Y.huHyuzkYj0PlcD3SjRXsV0hsLj7eZghqJuUhMG2f8zU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Essentialism&qid=1779147525&sprefix=essentialism%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1]: The book behind the philosophy of "protecting the asset". * The Best Life Mastermind [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/mastermind-list]: Ready to get out of your everyday environment so you can focus on your life? Join the waitlist for the exclusive 9-month cohort starting this September. * Support the Show: If you enjoyed this reminder to rest, please follow the show, leave a five-star rating, and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/the-weekly-best-life-list-sign-u] https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter] 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩  Email Laurie [ laurie@schoolofmidlife.com] 💻 Website [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife/] On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-reynoldson-b28b921a/] Work with Laurie [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/enroll]

172. Bravery in the Pivot: An Honest Conversation with Annie Tevelin About Next Chapters, Personal Sovereignty, and Choosing Purpose over Pressure

What happens when a successful business owner makes a bold decision to change, but the community she serves isn't ready to let go? In this raw and deeply cathartic conversation, Laurie Reynoldson welcomes back Annie Tevelin, founder of Skin Owl, Daybreak Colour, and Gem Jolie. Annie recently announced the closure of her brick-and-mortar Skin Owl store in Boise, Idaho—a decision made from a place of vision and growth. However, the public reaction was a shock: ranging from invasive harassment to wild speculations about her health and finances. This episode explores the "underbelly" of being a public-facing entrepreneur and the incredible bravery required to stay sovereign in your choices when others project their fears onto your progress. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The "Entrepreneur Marathon": Why building a business is less about the product and more about the personal development journey that builds the founder. * The "Mean Girl" Underbelly of Success: How a lack of certainty in the public can lead to harmful speculation and why women must allow other women to be malleable in their lives. * The Concept of Sovereignty: Annie shares why her new focus is on "complete authority and independence" over her choices, even if those choices aren't understood by the majority. * Skin Owl 2.0: A sneak peek into why the next iteration of the brand will be better for both the founder and the community. * Living a Fluid Life: From gaining UK citizenship to dreaming of summers in London, Annie and Laurie discuss why staying open to new "chapters" is the ultimate privilege of midlife. "It is not my job to live at the length of your ceiling." — Annie Tevelin  Episode Resources & Links * Skin Owl [https://www.skinowl.com/]: Follow the journey into the new space. * Gem Jolie [https://gemjolie.com/]: Salad delivery sourced from Idaho farms. * Daybreak Colour [https://www.theboisecolourlab.com/]: Boise's premiere color analysis experience * Sable International [https://www.sableinternational.com/]: The firm Annie used for her UK citizenship process.  * The BEST LIFE Mastermind [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/mastermind-list]: Join the waitlist for this nine-month personal leadership experience.  📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/the-weekly-best-life-list-sign-u] https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter] 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩  Email Laurie [ laurie@schoolofmidlife.com] 💻 Website [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife/] On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-reynoldson-b28b921a/] Work with Laurie [https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/enroll]