Normally, we do anything we can to keep from falling and keep from failing. BIG mistake! Historically, I tend to strive for perfection and I have tried extremely hard to keep from failing. Why is that a bad thing? Because perfection is impossible and striving to attain it takes a massive amount of energy that we could use to better advantage in pursuit of our goals. Also, if you are busily trying to protect yourself from failing, you not only rob yourself of learning, but are likely to avoid trying new things if you are not sure of a positive outcome.

Kicking back? NOT!

In the economic turmoil of today, on top of the transitional nature of our lives at 50+, we have unprecedented challenges. I, for one, thought that at 50+, I would be more relaxed and kicking back a little. NOT! There are several reasons for this: 1) it is not my nature, 2) the economic decline, and 3) who knew how many exciting things there would be to do?

Adversity = Creativity

Most women I talk to become their most creative when faced with adversity. Traditionally, women have started businesses at an unprecedented rate at 50+. And, there are a lot of reasons for it…restlessness, wanting more flexibility, age discrimination, divorce, wanting more fun, etc. Now, add the current economic downturn, and we find women re-entering the workforce or re-inventing themselves by creating new careers after a layoff (of their partners, themselves, or both.) 

Scared to death?

We may be intimidated by trying something new, angry that we have re-invent ourselves yet again, depressed and even downright scared to death.

A new path

But, if we can just twist those thoughts, tweak them just a little, perhaps we can focus on the great things that may happen in our lives. For instance, when we moved to California’s Wine Country 5 years ago, I planned to provide marketing and public relations services to artisan food producers in the area. If you’d told me that I would instead be publishing an on-line e-magazine for women over 50, I would have asked you what you were smokin’. Result? I absolutely LOVE what I’m doing. Was I uncertain? Yes. Was I afraid? Yes. Did I make mistakes? Absolutely.

You can do it!

We women are resilient. We are made of tough stuff. We can overcome adversity. And, we can Fall Forward into a fabulous, rich life if we don’t let our fear of failing keep us from even trying.

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Tip: What I have always had to do when I attempt to try something that absolutely scares me to death, is to figuratively line myself up to a precipice and throw myself over the side. It is a visual that motivates me to be brave enough to give it a try.