Month: November 2025

Do you ever feel like your mind is on the spin cycle – racing in circles, worrying, and endlessly repeating the same “what if” stories?

If anxiety has you racing on a hamster wheel, you most likely feel:

• Stressed and overwhelmed
• Drained from lack of sleep
• Frantic and worried
• Knots in your stomach
• Obsessed with negative thinking.

But here’s a fact: you can stop your mind’s anxious spin cycle.

Picture what it would mean to be…

• Calm and peaceful
• Clear-minded after a good night’s sleep
• Free of hopelessness and fear
• In control of your thoughts and life
• Confident and composed.

This kind of anxiety-free life is possible – for you!

How do I know? I’m living it!

My Anxiety-Free Life

Several years ago, I was on the edge of despair. I was obsessed with anxious thoughts about a distressing family situation. I was drowning in worry and fear. My thinking was dominated by awful “what if’s” about the future. It was crushing me! I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I was miserable.

All I wanted was to calm down, be able to sleep, and get control of upsetting thoughts. I wanted to be able to think clearly and be myself again. I wanted to be at peace.

To stop this spin cycle, I made a decision: I am not going to live like this anymore. I will not let anxiety control my life.

That was the best decision I’ve ever made. I got help. Everything changed.

I learned how to manage my thoughts, calm my fears, get rid of “what ifs,” and reclaim peace.

The transformation was so life-changing that I became a certified anxiety coach so that I could help other women let go of anxious thoughts, too.

So, if you’re ready to stop the anxiety spin cycle, I’m here to help you.

3 Steps to Breaking Free from the Anxiety Loop

These are the basic steps I use with every client and went through myself.

Pinpoint Your Fears

Anxiety is often fueled by unspoken fears. Dare to pause and identify what you are afraid of. Be honest and intentional. Write them down or speak them aloud. Ponder these questions:

• What alarming thoughts keep looping in my mind?
• What “worst case scenario” do I keep imagining?
• What does my inner critic keep shouting in my ear?

Once you identify your fears, you can begin to face them. One of my clients learned that low self-esteem was the root of her fears both on the job and in family relationships. Accusing thoughts kept her stuck.

Turn Negative Thoughts into Positive Thoughts

Fears keep the spiral of negative thoughts going. Stop the out-of-control, fearful thoughts by interrupting them. Here’s how…

• Observe your thoughts.
• Catch negative thoughts in the moment.
• Notice a “what if” scenario and pause.
• Ask yourself: Do I want to keep this negative thought and its harmful effects? OR Do I want to think positive thoughts and experience hopeful, calming effects? It’s up to you!
• Choosing positive thoughts means reframing or shifting negative thoughts to affirming, hopeful thoughts.
• Say your revised positive thoughts aloud to yourself or write them down.

This isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about opening your mind to new possibilities, new energy, and an anxiety-free life.

One of my clients, a business manager, dreaded certain conversations with team members. Fears and “what ifs” clouded her thinking. Replacing negative, scary thoughts with positive affirmations enabled her to stay calm and lead with confidence.

Practice Reframing Your Thoughts – Every Day

This isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a new habit!

Here’s how lasting transformation happens:

• Decide to be as aware as you can to your thought life.
• Catch “what if” thoughts as soon as you become aware of them.
• Pause and reframe negative and “what if” thoughts to hopeful, positive ones.
• Do this over and over again. Practice, practice, practice.

Be patient and kind with yourself. Congratulate yourself for each time you catch and reframe a negative thought. Celebrate!

Over time, you will shift into a mindset that is truly anxiety-free.

Ready to Break Free from the Anxiety Loop?

I know from personal experience how awful anxiety can feel. I also know the freedom from anxiety that’s possible with support and commitment.

That’s why I created a FREE 10-minute video that walks you through these exact 3 steps in more detail.

Watch the video now. This could be your first step toward a calmer, worry-free life.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What anxious thoughts spin in your mind? Do you constantly find yourself in a worry cycle? What situations or relationships hold your mind captive?

Our skin undergoes numerous changes, some of which can leave us feeling less than our best. One of the most significant transformations is the decline in our skin barrier function, leading to trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). This phenomenon can leave our skin looking dull, dry, and prematurely aged.

In this article, we will explore effective strategies for fortifying your skin’s barrier, ensuring it remains resilient, hydrated, and luminous, no matter your age.

Understanding Your Skin Barrier and TEWL

Before diving into solutions, let’s demystify the concept of the skin barrier. The outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum, acts as a protective shield. It plays a crucial role in maintaining skin hydration by preventing moisture loss. TEWL occurs when water evaporates from the skin’s surface, leading to dryness and irritation. For women over 60, factors such as hormonal changes, environmental stressors, and decreased oil production can exacerbate this issue.

Signs of a Compromised Skin Barrier

Recognizing the signs of a weakened skin barrier is the first step in addressing TEWL. Look out for:

• Dryness and Flakiness: Skin that feels tight or rough.
• Increased Sensitivity: Reactions to products that previously posed no issue.
• Dullness: A lack of radiance and vitality in your complexion.
• Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Accelerated aging signs due to dehydration.

Strategies to Improve Skin Barrier Function

1. Hydration Is Key

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to combat TEWL is through hydration. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin plump and moisturized from within. Aim for at least eight glasses daily, and consider incorporating hydrating foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges into your diet or cutting up small pieces of fruit to infuse water into a delicious and healthy skin treat. 

2. Embrace Humectants

Humectants are skincare ingredients that attract moisture to the skin. Look for products containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera. These ingredients help draw water into the skin, effectively combating dryness. Apply a hydrating serum after cleansing, and seal it with a moisturizer to lock in the benefits.

3. Choose Occlusives Wisely

Occlusives are ingredients that create a barrier on the skin’s surface, preventing water loss. Opt for moisturizers containing shea butter, petrolatum, or beeswax, particularly during the colder months when moisture levels are lower. These products will help to reinforce your skin barrier and keep your skin hydrated.

4. Gentle Cleansing

Harsh cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils, compromising your barrier function. Instead, choose a gentle, hydrating cleanser free from sulfates and fragrances. Look for cream or oil-based cleansers that nourish the skin while effectively removing impurities.

5. Exfoliate with Care

While exfoliation is essential for cell turnover, over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier. Opt for gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or glycolic acid, which can provide the benefits of exfoliation without the harshness of physical scrubs. Limit exfoliating to once or twice a week, depending on your skin’s sensitivity.

6. Incorporate Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a vital role in protecting your skin from environmental stressors that can weaken your barrier. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea extract are excellent choices. Incorporate these into your skincare routine to help combat oxidative stress and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.

7. Consistent Routine

Consistency is key when it comes to skincare. Establish a daily routine that includes hydrating, nourishing, and protecting your skin. Morning and evening rituals should involve cleansing, hydrating, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen during the day to shield your skin from UV damage.

8. Mindfulness and Stress Management

Stress can have a significant impact on your skin’s health. Incorporate mindfulness practices such as yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises into your routine. Not only will this benefit your mental well-being, but it can also promote healthy skin by reducing stress-related breakouts and irritation.

The Power of Professional Treatments

For those seeking a more intensive approach, consider consulting with a dermatologist or licensed medical esthetician. Treatments such as hydrating facials, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels can help rejuvenate your skin, improve barrier function, and restore a youthful glow.

Celebrate the Beauty of Aging

Remember, the health and vitality of your skin is a reflection of your inner balance. By implementing these strategies to strengthen your skin barrier and reduce trans-epidermal water loss, you can reclaim your skin’s radiance and confidence. Embrace this stage of life with grace, knowing that your skin deserves the utmost care and attention. 

Let your skin tell the story of your journey by restoring a healthy skin barrier for a perfect skin glow. 

Join the Conversation:

How do you strengthen your skin barrier? Do you notice water loss in your skin? Do you maintain a ritual that helps you keep your skin hydrated?

When women tell me they’re “not good with money,” they don’t say it lightly.

They say it with the weight of decades behind it, stories of financial ups and downs, cultural messages about what women “should” be like, and shame that has quietly taken root over time.

But here’s the truth: being “good with money” isn’t real. It’s a myth that has held so many women back from building the financial confidence they deserve.

Jan’s Story

Jan, 69, spent her entire adult life believing she wasn’t “good with money.” Her husband had always handled the bills, the savings, the investments. She managed the household, raised the kids, and worked part-time, but when it came to anything with a dollar sign attached, she stayed on the sidelines.

When her husband passed away, she inherited not just their accounts, but a lifetime of doubt. She was intelligent, capable, and resourceful, but that old story played on a loop in her head: “You’re not good with money.”

She told me, “I feel like I’m already behind, like I should have known this decades ago.”

Sound familiar?

Where the Myth Comes From

The idea of being “good with money” is rarely about actual skill. It’s usually about:

Early Messages

Many women grew up hearing that men handle finances and women handle the home.

Cultural Narratives

For years, ads, banks, and workplaces sent the same message: “This isn’t your domain.”

Perfectionism

If you make a mistake, it “proves” you’re not good at it. But if you do well, it’s “just luck.” Add to this the idea that in order to be safe, we have to be perfect… it all adds up.

Lack of Safe Practice

If you were never invited into financial decision-making, how would you build practice and confidence?

This myth isn’t just wrong, it’s dangerous. It convinces capable, smart women to sit on the sidelines of their own financial lives.

Why the Myth Hits Hard After 60

For many women, their 60s bring massive financial transitions: retirement, widowhood, caregiving, downsizing, supporting adult children.

In these moments, old stories can feel louder than ever. Instead of seeing what they can learn and build now, many women freeze, because the myth whispers: “It’s too late for you.”

That voice is a lie.

You’re not “bad” with money. You’re simply new to parts of it you weren’t encouraged, or allowed, to touch.

How the “Good with Money” Myth Shows Up

You might not say the words out loud, but here’s how it often sounds in everyday life:

• “I’m just not a numbers person.”
• “I don’t want to mess it up.”
• “I wish I’d been better with money when I was younger.”
• “I can’t learn this stuff now.”

These aren’t signs of incompetence. They’re signs of internalized narratives.

The Real Skill That Matters: Trusting Yourself

The goal isn’t to become some flawless financial expert overnight. The real power lies in learning to trust yourself with money decisions.

That means:

• Giving yourself permission to ask “beginner” questions.
• Knowing you can learn new skills at any age.
• Believing your financial future isn’t defined by your past.
• Making choices that reflect your values, not someone else’s expectations.

A Simple Tool: Rewriting the Script

Next time you hear yourself say “I’m not good with money,” try this short, powerful exercise:

1. Catch the script: Notice the moment the thought shows up.
2. Name the myth: Say (aloud or in your head), “That’s the old story talking.”
3. Replace it with a truth: For example:
   • “I’m learning to trust myself with money.”
   • “I can learn new skills at any age.”
   • “I’ve done hard things before, I can do this, too.”

This isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about interrupting a narrative that isn’t serving you anymore.

Small Actions That Build Confidence

Confidence isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you build.

A few small steps that can help:

• Open and read one statement or bill you’ve been avoiding.
• Ask one question about something you don’t fully understand.
• Make one money decision, no matter how small.
• Talk openly with someone safe about your financial hopes or fears.

Each small act builds evidence that you can trust yourself.

Letting Go of “Good” or “Bad”

You don’t have to be “good with money.”

You just need to be in relationship with your money. To know where it is, what it’s doing, and how it aligns with your needs (or doesn’t).

The myth of “good or bad” keeps people frozen. Real power comes from curiosity, care, and courage.

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve carried the “I’m not good with money” story for years, or decades, you’re not broken, behind, or too late.

You’re just ready to write a new chapter.

Want to learn more about rewriting money stories and healing financial shame? Read more here.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What money myth have you been influenced by? Does it still resurface now and then? How do you counter it?

Is this actually the end?

Relocating after 60 is about much more than changing your address. It’s a journey of self-discovery, renewal, and embracing life with fresh eyes. Maybe you’ve chosen a quiet town in Latin America, a seaside village in Europe, or a bustling cultural hub in Asia. Each of these choices comes with beauty, challenges, and a simple but powerful question:

Are you comfortable in your own skin – and in your new surroundings?

Finding that sense of ease abroad doesn’t happen the moment your plane lands. It takes time. It’s about rediscovering who you are at this stage of life while opening your heart to new people, rhythms, and experiences.

Step One: Be Kind to Yourself

After decades of building a career, raising a family, and navigating life’s twists and turns, starting fresh can feel daunting. But remind yourself: you bring wisdom, resilience, and strength with you. You don’t need to reinvent yourself. You only need to embrace who you already are, fully and without apology.

There will be moments that test your patience. Perhaps you struggle with the local language, or you find yourself alone in a café while families laugh together nearby. These are not signs of failure. They are reminders that you are brave enough to step outside your comfort zone. Speak gently to yourself and allow space for mistakes. Growth often hides in the most humbling moments.

While many guides focus on reducing stress during a move, real comfort abroad comes not only from calmness, but from feeling at ease in who you are – no matter the setting.

Step Two: Learn the Local Rhythm

True belonging comes when you begin to feel the heartbeat of your new home. Go beyond the expat groups and practice living as the locals do. Notice the small details. Do people greet each other warmly on the street? Do they take long, lingering lunches, or move quickly through their days? How do they celebrate holidays, honor traditions, and welcome strangers?

Engage with curiosity. Shop at open-air markets. Join in at a local festival, even if you feel a bit out of place at first. Learn simple greetings in the local language – a smile and a few kind words can bridge gaps faster than you imagine. With each step, you’ll discover that respect and openness invite friendship.

Planning gets you there. But once the suitcases are unpacked, the deeper journey begins: settling into your own skin in a place that is both new and unfamiliar.

Step Three: Find Your People

At the same time, it’s important to find a few trusted souls who see the world as you do. These friends may be locals who share your values or fellow expats who understand the challenges of building a new life later in life. Don’t worry about the size of your circle. Sometimes two or three meaningful connections are more nourishing than a dozen casual ones.

Even if you move with a spouse, partner, or friend, there will be times when you are navigating new ground on your own. Feeling at home abroad begins with feeling at home in yourself.

These are the people who will lift your spirits when you feel homesick and celebrate your victories when you take bold steps. Together, you’ll weave threads of belonging that make your new life feel less foreign – and more like home.

Step Four: Balance Teaching and Learning

By the time you’ve reached this stage of life, you have gathered a lifetime of knowledge. But living abroad is also an invitation to be a student again. Offer your wisdom freely but balance it with humility and curiosity.

Perhaps you share your favorite recipe with a neighbor and, in return, learn to cook their traditional dish. Maybe you explain an expression in English while they teach you a local saying that carries layers of meaning. These exchanges create bonds that are richer than any sightseeing tour.

Step Five: Take Your Time

Adjusting to a new country takes longer than most people expect. It is not a race. Some days will feel easy and joyful, while others may bring tears or frustration. Allow yourself to move at your own pace. Celebrate small wins: a successful conversation at the market, the first time you navigate the bus system alone, or simply recognizing a familiar face on your morning walk.

Beyond visas, housing, and healthcare, there are softer truths we often overlook – the quiet moments of uncertainty, the need for belonging, and the courage to keep showing up until a place begins to feel like home.

The Heart of It All

Ultimately, feeling at home abroad starts from within. When you embrace who you are, treat yourself kindly, and open your heart to new cultures and connections, something shifts. You stop feeling like a guest and begin becoming part of the story.

Moving abroad after 60 is not only about geography. It’s about rediscovering yourself in a new light – confident, curious, and very much alive. And when you find comfort in your own skin, you’ll discover that home is not just a place. It’s a feeling that travels with you.

If you’re ready to explore the practical side of settling in abroad – with checklists, reflection prompts, and community tips – visit our guide for silver nomads and retirees.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Is relocation on your radar? Are you looking at moving abroad or somewhere closer? What’s most important to you when building a new life someplace new?