Time to Challenge Yourself - Jane's Mindful Musings

Jane Witherspoon is a Canadian expat adventurer, yoga instructor and passionate rambler who recently relocated from Panama to Denia, Spain.

Midlife and beyond are transitional times for many women when they seek a new balance or alignment. It's a time of discovery and rediscovery as we explore what truly inspires us.

However, sometimes, it's hard to make changes we know will enhance our lives, and we are more comfortable resting in the status quo and watching from the sidelines as others generate excitement and novelty in their lives. It is essential to remind ourselves that one of the keys to living a fulfilling life, especially as we age, lies in motivating ourselves to create and embrace personal challenges that bring us novelty, thrills, and excitement.

Confronting our fears and stretching our boundaries is empowering and exhilarating. Of course, everyone is unique regarding their worries, fears, and comfort in pushing themselves to do something new. It might be challenging for some to summon the courage to join a Sole Circle and meet other like-minded women on a ramble. For others, it might be trying skydiving, adventure travel, or starting a new business or passion project.

Stepping out of my comfort zone has always been challenging for me. I am naturally shy and reserved and struggle in new social settings. I find it difficult to open up and show people my true self.

In fact, I find it very challenging to write these posts for the Rambler Café Blog —to be authentic and share my intimate and personal thoughts. It is daunting for an introvert like myself.

It is difficult for most people to embrace something new and scary. We all struggle with deeply personal internal challenges, which have been ingrained in us for decades and shape who we are. These are the stories we tell ourselves; many are rooted in our childhood experiences.

However, for many women, midlife and beyond are times of deep introspection, a time to let go of old narratives and create new ones. It's a time to start living the truth we've been denying ourselves. This is when we have the space, life experience, and motivation to explore our boundaries and chase forgotten dreams.

Challenging ourselves brings fun and excitement to our day-to-day lives. Doing something new and a bit scary is an excellent way to break free from feeling stuck or bored. Now is a time to reignite our childhood curiosities or interests and passions we lost along the way in the busyness of our adult lives. This is a time to remind ourselves of our pure joy when experiencing something new.

So, Sole Sisters, as you ramble through your week, look for opportunities to embrace new challenges in whatever form they arise.