Mind Your Midlife: Confidence and Self Care for Women Over 40, with Cheryl Fischer

Have you ever been in a situation where you are absolutely convinced, 100% convinced, that you know what someone else is thinking about you? I think the answer to that for all of us is yes! We convince ourselves we know what our partners, bosses, or friends are thinking, and it causes us a lot of unnecessary struggle.   Today we're diving into the mind-reading cognitive distortion—the false b...

We know that meditation could help with the stress and upheaval of midlife (or we've at least heard that somewhere). Yet, so many of us feel like we just can't stop our brains from running a mile a minute, leaving us feeling guilty that we can't get meditation right.  Today energetic wellness strategist and yoga teacher Lauri Stern joins me to help. Lauri is the host of The Real and...

Has anyone ever suggested you write down three things you're grateful for every night—and you totally resisted the idea? We've all heard the buzz about gratitude, but sometimes it just feels like another chore on our to-do list, or worse, a push for "toxic positivity."   In this episode, we are busting the myths surrounding gratitude. We'll explore why feeling thankful doe...

When we hit our forties and fifties, we often look around, realize our lives are pretty good, and still notice a sense of dissatisfaction or restlessness. Then, we feel guilty for feeling that way because we know how blessed we are to have families, friends, and careers we (at least) like.  In this Changemakers episode, I'm joined by Christina L. Woods, a clinical hypnotherapist, subconscious...

Have you ever wondered why two people who are both 55 years old can look and act completely different, with one appearing ten years younger and the other seeming far older? In this episode, we explore the fascinating connection between our minds and the aging process to ask: are we actually thinking ourselves into old age?   Drawing inspiration from the book Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, we...

Do you feel like your body is changing, nothing fits right, and it’s easier to just wear pajama pants with a professional shirt for your Zoom calls? Giving up on getting dressed takes a heavy toll on how we feel about ourselves.   In this episode, I welcome style expert Jennifer Mackey Mary. Jennifer is the founder of Everyday Style and host of the top 10 podcast, The Everyday Style School. We div...

Have you ever thought about how often you say or think the phrase, "don't get your hopes up"? In midlife, dealing with career pivots, aging parents, and changing bodies, we often use this concept as a shield to protect ourselves. But what if lowering your expectations actually hurts you more?   In this episode, I dive into why "don't get your hopes up" is one of my le...

Many women in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s tend to suffer in total silence when navigating changes in intimacy. We often carry shame around our shifting desires and changing bodies, falsely believing we are the only ones struggling or that we are somehow broken.  In this episode, I welcome Jennifer Marie Summers, a board-certified sexologist, certified sex coach, and menopause coach who has been...

Have you ever set a big goal, started taking action, and then completely self-sabotaged?  You are not alone. In midlife, we often feel ready to make a significant change, whether it is a career pivot, starting a new business, or getting in shape. But then procrastination sets in, and we slide right back into our old habits. What if this self-sabotage isn't a sign of weakness, but a predictabl...

There is something that affects so many women in their 40s and 50s, yet we tend to suffer in total silence: emotional eating. We often carry deep shame around our eating habits and falsely believe we are the only ones struggling.  In this episode, I welcome emotional eating expert Tricia Nelson . Tricia is the creator of the Heal Your Hunger system, host of the Confessions of a Binge Eater podcast...

Have you caught yourself looking in the mirror recently, grabbing a little chunk of skin around your middle, or wondering, "Whose body is this?"  You are definitely not alone.  We are diving deep into the reality of midlife body image. I share my own recent wake-up call after seeing a wedding photo, the difference between "fuel food" and "celebratory food,"  and how t...

Often, we see the opportunities, we feel the intuitive nudge, but we don't trust ourselves enough to take the leap. In this Changemakers episode, I am joined by New York Times bestselling author, Laura Malone Elliott. Laura shares her midlife pivot from writing long-form narrative journalism in the 1980s to becoming a best selling historical novelist. We dive into how she turned a dreaded ass...

*This is a duplicate of episode 80 due to systems issues.*   Do you default to talking about bad weather, terrible traffic, or how busy you are? You might be using complaining as your primary conversation style without even realizing it. In this episode, we explore how chronic complaining drains your energy, keeps relationships surface-level, and physically rewires your brain to look for the negat...

Do you default to talking about bad weather, terrible traffic, or how busy you are? You might be using complaining as your primary conversation style without even realizing it. In this episode, we explore how chronic complaining drains your energy, keeps relationships surface-level, and physically rewires your brain to look for the negative. Let's talk about strategies to break the cycle, emb...

Does the word "organization" strike fear into your heart? If you have spent decades calling yourself a "piler," a "messy person," or someone who just "cannot handle paper," it is no wonder your house reflects that reality. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , certified life and organizing coach Tracy Hoth joins me to explain why decluttering isn't jus...

If you are agonizing over a major life decision right now—like whether to move an aging parent, pivot your career, or raise the prices in your business, you’re not alone. Midlife is packed with heavy choices, and if you're like me, you've written a dozen "pros and cons" lists that still haven't given you any peace. In this episode, I am diving into why logical lists fail u...

Are you in your late 30s or your 40s and wondering if your sudden mood swings, brain fog, or even itchy ears are just stress—or if they are the start of perimenopause? You’re NOT alone, and it is perfectly normal to feel confused. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , Cheryl is joined by veteran health journalist Meghan Rabbitt , author of the incredibly comprehensive new book, The New Rules of W...

Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there, or found yourself staring blankly in the middle of a sentence because you just cannot find the word? You’re NOT alone — and it doesn't mean you are losing your mind. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , scientist, researcher, and health coach Dr. Christine Boev joins Cheryl to dive deep into the real brain scie...

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice about what you "should" be doing in midlife? You’re NOT alone. After speaking to a room of over 125 women at a recent local business event about "Busting the Myths of Menopause," I realized something important: we are drowning in information, but starving for simplicity. In this episode, I’m stripping away...

Are you feeling stuck in a toxic work environment , struggling to let go of an old identity , or blaming yourself when things just aren't working out? You’re NOT alone — and it is never too late to pull up your roots and replant yourself.  In this Changemakers episode, licensed therapist, speaker, and author Mary Rothwell joins me to share her journey of leaving a 32-year career in higher edu...

Are you a woman over 40 feeling anxious about bladder leaks when you sneeze, laugh, or jump? You’re NOT alone — but you don't have to just live with it. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , certified health coach and Pfilates instructor Patricia Linderman joins me to break down pelvic floor health , the reality of prolapse , and the real muscular mechanics behind why we leak and how we can...

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 feeling stuck in analysis paralysis , second-guessing every decision from your career to your kitchen renovations, or trapped in a loop of "what if it goes wrong?" You’re NOT alone. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I’m sharing the story of my coaching client, Mandy—a highly successful entrepreneur who suddenly found herself unable to move forward on ev...

Are you riding the "bumpy ride" of perimenopause and wondering if there is an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) ? You’re NOT alone — and you have more options than you think.  In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , Damon Iacovelli , a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, joins me to break down the science behind acupuncture , Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) , an...

Are you a woman over 40 feeling "sandwiched" between conflicting needs, stuck in analysis paralysis , or simply numbing out at the end of the day? You’re NOT alone. In this episode, I’m exploring the invisible force that might be sitting in the driver's seat of your life: Fear . I’m breaking down the 4 subtle signs that fear is making your decisions for you, sharing my own vulnerabl...

Part 3: If you're feeling frustrated with how your clothes fit , unhappy with what you see in the mirror, or struggling to find the motivation to exercise and eat well, y ou’re NOT alone. In this third episode of our Confidence Deep Dive tapping mini-series, I’m guiding you through a specific practice to address body image struggles and the discouragement that often comes with midlife physica...