“Like new year’s resolutions, I always say take the time to reflect. … Let yourself be open to ideas, don’t rush out to fill the void and get terribly busy without reflecting. Try to stay still, quiet and let your new life unfold,” Natalie advises.
So how does one do that? With baby steps.
“The hardest part is actually getting up and getting going every morning. If you’re not ready to get out of the house yet because you have the blues, then, sit in bed with a journal,” Natalie suggests.
Since women typically don’t take the time to value themselves and their accomplishments, Natalie says a good exercise is to do just that by making a list of what you are good at. Include lists of what compliments you typically receive from others as well. And, make a list of what you’d like to do, your dreams, “if you had someone to hold your hand and help you achieve them,” says Natalie.
Finding New Interests
Trying something new is critical during this time, and Natalie reminds women that they can always keep their new venture a secret and they can always change their minds.
“After my daughter left, I took a voice lesson one day. I was very nervous, but then did it and it was so empowering. I loved it!” she recalls.
To help determine new interests, Natalie suggests keeping a treasure box filled with pictures that you cut out of magazines.
“The treasure chest is great. Tear out pictures from magazines. So I might have a picture of the Eiffel Tower, certain shoes, a landscape and I put them in this box and mix them all up. After a few weeks, open it up and scatter it across the floor and see what message that gives you,” Natalie says.
Another good exercise is to journal dreams and to open yourself up to finding messages in them, she says. To do this, Natalie keeps a tape recorder, notepad and a flashlight by her bed at night. Before going to sleep, Natalie suggests saying three times, “What’s next for me?” Afterwards, say “I will remember my dreams” three times as well.
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