Starting Over at 50 Alone and With Nothing? 5 Deep Questions to Ask Yourself
Let’s face it, starting over at any age is stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting, but starting over at 50 can be terrifying. Many of us have spent our adult lives married to the same person, possibly with them being the breadwinner and the decision-maker.
And now we’re on our own, for whatever reason, and learning how to make a life for ourselves alone. It can feel hopeless.
So here you are, on your own for the first time in your adult life, and now you have to scramble and get your life back on track. But there are so many questions and so much fear around each question and each step that needs to be taken. Where do we even start?
You’re Not Alone
While it may seem you are alone and it’s hopeless, you’re not alone. Many people around the world are in the same position you are in now. It’s important to know that someone somewhere was exactly where you are now and have pulled through very successfully.
So keep that in mind and know that you have the power to make a better life for yourself. You just have to get past the limiting beliefs that tell you you can’t, and you’re not good enough.
In this article, we’re going to go over 5 questions you need to ask yourself to help get you on the right track and 5 helpful tips that will keep you motivated and encourage you to stay the course and believe you can do this.
5 Questions To Ask Yourself
Many of you have to re-enter the workforce/find a job or create a job. But where do you start? Especially if you don’t really have any skills? The following questions will help you get clear on how to move forward.
1 What’s Going to Make Me Happy?
For years you’ve been working hard to make everyone happy but yourself. So what about you? What are some of the things you really want to do that will make you happy? Get out a pad and pen and start jotting them down as they come to mind. It could be little things like petting a puppy or big things like helping seniors. Write it all out.
2 What Will Give Me the Greatest Amount of Freedom
You’ve been tied down and chained your entire life. You definitely don’t want to live like that for the last 50 years of your life. Think about what kinds of things you can do that you can make a living and allow you great freedom.
Freelance writing is one idea. Travel photography is another. Put on your thinking cap for this one.
3 What Can I Do to Help Others?
What value can you add to the world or to someone else’s life? Surely you must have one skill or gift that will help someone or some organization. Maybe you are a great seamstress. There are ways to use this skill to make a living and help others at the same time.
4 What Am I Really Good At?
You have to make a living and support yourself, but you also want to enjoy doing it. At this stage of the game, we don’t want a job that is going to suck the life out of us. So what kinds of things are you really good at that you can make a living doing? Think about this for one second – someone somewhere in the world is making a living doing something you really love doing.
5 What Am I Really Passionate About?
What sets your heart and soul on fire and brings you the greatest amount of joy? Maybe you really do love petting puppies or hanging around 4 legged furry guys. How can you do this and make money? Remember, anything is possible with enough determination and perseverance.
The Answer to All Your Questions
The answer is inside of you already, but you’re most likely afraid of it because you’ve lacked self-confidence and self-worth probably your entire life. The first step to starting over at 50 is to believe in yourself. The second step, have faith and leap!!
Easier said than done but not impossible. This story might give you some encouragement.
You don’t want to spend the rest of your life sad, miserable, broke, stressed out, and frustrated. And let’s not forget how physically ill all those emotions will make you feel. Please don’t do that. This is your one and only precious life, and it’s your time to shine.
When you take some time to answer these questions and try to figure out your next step, you will see how things will unfold for you, almost miraculously.
5 Helpful Tips to Start Over at 50
Here are some helpful tips to get you started and a few more words of encouragement. Yes, I know you feel alone, scared, and helpless, but that will pass. Once you get started making some changes, small or big, your new life will unfold so beautifully. I promise.
1 Forget Your Age
You’re not too old, and it’s not too late. You need to remove those thoughts immediately, or you’ll never get anywhere. Forget your age and go blaze some trails.
2 Find Your Passion
I can’t stress this enough. You want to be happy. You want to enjoy the last chapter of your life. You need to find and do the things that set your soul on fire.
3 Do Some Research
If you already have a plan or an idea, get on the internet and start doing some research on how you can bring your dream to life. Grab free eBooks, download step-by-step guides, watch YouTube videos, whatever you have to do, do it.
4 Make the Decision
It’s one thing to think about what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it. Now, you have to do it. Take the first giant (or little) scary step toward your new life. Then the next step, and the next step.
5 Stay Focused
Do not let anyone sway you or talk you out of it. There will be roadblocks and naysayers in your path, probably a lot. Push through them all and keep going. Do not give up. You’re worth it.
In Summary
Here’s one way to look at this all:
We’re more than halfway through our lives (give or take a few years).
We don’t want to die with regret.
There are probably so many things you still want to do but have always been afraid to do them (go do them)
This is your only life.
Nothing changes if nothing changes, and it’s up to you to make those changes
Don’t you want to be happy? Aren’t you tired of being stuck in a cage like you have been your entire life? Don’t you want to be free?
Of course, you do!! And it’s all up to you!
