THE MIDLIFE RESET

Have you ever felt like you're running after a dream so hard, but somehow, along the way, you’ve lost sight of what really matters? If you're in your 40s or beyond, chances are, you're no stranger to this feeling.

Maybe you’ve built a solid career, raised a family, or achieved things that once felt like everything you ever wanted. But now, you’re starting to wonder… is this really it? Why do I still feel like something’s missing? Today, I’m going to talk about something I’ve experienced myself—losing direction, and finding clarity again. And I'll share some thoughts from a poem I wrote that might just resonate with where you are right now.

"If your dreams have coordinates

How near or far are you?

What sights and lands before you wait?

What hilltop comes in view?"

I want you to think about that for a moment. How close are you to those big dreams you once had? Are you on track, or does it feel like you’ve drifted?

You might be at a crossroads, thinking about a career change, wanting to start your own business, or even just trying to be more present with your family. Sometimes, it feels like the more we chase one thing, the further we drift from others that are just as important—like our health, relationships, and even our own sense of self.

If you’re someone who’s built a career but now feels the pull toward something new—maybe a creative pursuit, starting a vlog, or launching a business—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the fear of change. The world tells us to keep climbing the ladder, but what happens when that ladder is leaning on the wrong wall?

"Your destination is in sight

Your eyes are on the prize

But don’t be fooled, it’s treacherous

With many lows and highs."

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve set my eyes on a goal—whether it was advancing in my job or pursuing a personal dream—only to find out that the path is far more complicated than I thought. If you’re in your 40s or beyond, you’ve likely experienced those highs—moments of success and pride. But you’ve also experienced the lows—the setbacks, the burnout, the times you’ve questioned, ‘Why am I even doing this?'

In your career, you might be feeling that burnout is creeping in. It’s okay to admit that what used to fuel you no longer does. Or maybe you’re struggling with finding time for family because of work demands, and it feels like you’re letting people down. This is something so many of us face, especially at this stage in life. It’s not that you’ve failed—it’s that the road is steeper than we ever thought.

So how do we fix this? It’s about stepping back, reassessing your values. Ask yourself—what really matters to me right now? What am I willing to let go of to protect what’s truly important? Sometimes, it’s not about pushing harder but about pivoting in a direction that aligns with your values.

"Chasing one shiny object next,

I thought I’ve found my gold,

Yet each time I pursue it more,

My true self's left untold."

How many of us can relate to this? We spend years chasing goals—bigger paychecks, bigger houses, social status. And yet, as we get older, we start to realize that these ‘shiny objects’ don’t fulfill us the way we thought they would. They don’t tell the whole story of who we are or what we truly value.

Take starting a business, for example. Maybe you’ve been thinking about leaving your job to build something of your own. But it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of success—money, fame, recognition—without stopping to ask, ‘Is this business really what I want? Will it allow me to live the life I envision?’ It’s the same with making a vlog or any creative project. You want to start, but there’s that fear—'What if I put myself out there and it doesn’t work? What if I fail?'

Here’s the thing: Pursue what makes you come alive, not what looks good on paper. Start that vlog not because you think it’ll make you famous, but because it’s an expression of your true self. Launch that business because it aligns with your values, not just because you want financial freedom. When you chase something authentic, the rest will follow.

"Forgotten why I strove so hard

And values start to fade,

Family waits, I let them down,

In this relentless trade."

This part hits close to home. How many of us, in our pursuit of success, have felt that guilt? We’ve been so focused on climbing the ladder or achieving our goals that we’ve neglected the people who matter most. Our families, our children, our partners—they’ve been waiting for us to show up fully, and yet we’re so caught up in the ‘relentless trade’ of ambition that we forget what really counts.

If this resonates with you, it’s not too late to realign. You might be feeling torn between the demands of work and the desire to be there more for your family. You might be a parent, like me, trying to balance a career and still have enough energy for playtime, for real connections with your spouse and kids.

The solution? Take a step back. Reassess your values. What matters most to you now? Maybe it’s time to adjust your priorities, to start saying ‘no’ to the things that pull you away from the people who matter, and ‘yes’ to being present in your own life. You don’t have to sacrifice your career or your dreams—just make sure they don’t come at the cost of your most important relationships.

"But burnout started to crept in

Still got nothing to show

I licked my wound in my cocoon

Ashamed and felt so low"

If you’re feeling this way, let me tell you—you’re not alone. So many of us in our 40s are feeling the weight of burnout. We’ve spent years pushing ourselves, sometimes with nothing to show for it—at least, not in the ways we expected.
But here's what I’ve learned: Burnout isn’t a sign that you’ve failed. It’s a signal that something needs to change.

If you’re feeling like burnout is creeping in, it’s time to listen to that feeling. It might mean scaling back at work, finally starting that creative project you’ve been putting off, or maybe even seeking help and support—whether through a mentor, a coach, or a community. There’s no shame in acknowledging that you need to take a break, reset, and refocus.

"For failure is but a detour

A chance to realign,

To chase the dreams that truly match

The values that are mine."

This is the heart of the message. Failure isn’t final—it’s just a detour. And that detour might be the exact thing you need to get back on track with your true self. Whether you’re contemplating a career shift, wanting to focus more on your family, or feeling vulnerable about starting a creative project—failure doesn’t mean it’s over. It means you have a chance to realign, to find what truly lights you up.

So if you’ve faced setbacks—whether in your career, relationships, or personal goals—use them as a chance to reset. Reconnect with your values. Ask yourself, ‘What really matters to me now, in this stage of my life?’ Once you’re clear on that, the path forward will make so much more sense.

"My vision now is crystal clear,

No longer do I fret,

With faith held close, it's time to move,

Start over and RESET!"

This is your permission to take a deep breath. Reflect. Reset. You don’t need to keep grinding without pause. You have the wisdom of experience now—use it. Let your values guide your choices moving forward, and don’t be afraid to start again.