Pursuit of Happiness : Reinventing Yourself

Advice for people contemplating a midlife reinvention:

You have to learn to breakdown negative barriers and letting go of pessimistic thoughts that prevent you from fulfilling, or even allowing yourself to conceive of, your goals .

 Create a vision for your future.

Sit quietly, close your eyes, and imagine the people, places, or situations that you need to leave behind.  Now imagine the future that you want, whether it’s simply a feeling, a group of people, or a situation such as a wonderful new profession.

Imagine how it will feel to be in that new place. Picture the sun coming up behind your future, the warm glow of the light on your face.

Stand for a moment and silently voice your appreciation of everything that came before. Once you’ve thanked the past, turn toward the sun, and with compassion and gratitude, imagine yourself walking away from the past and into the future.

8 TIPS TO REINVENT YOURSELF

1. "Ain't nobody gotta dig it but you." Forget what other people think or say. Do something that makes you happy. "We're afraid that because everybody might not like it" we shouldn't do it, Gardner says. "But you gotta push that button."

2. Go with what you love, but stay grounded. "Probably the hardest question I get asked is 'How do I choose between passion and practicality?' I can't answer that. I have to do both. I am passionate about pursuing a career. But I was also passionate about feeding my family."

3. Start a business. Entrepreneurs over 50 are in a better position than younger workers to capitalize on their reputations and  It's the start of a creator economy with a whole lot of folks being entrepreneurial."

4. Have a plan. If you're starting a business, hope isn't enough. You need a plan that's clear, concise, compelling and consistent. On top of that, you need to be committed to what you're doing, 5. Play to your strengths. "Your skills, talents and expertise are transferable" to other types of jobs and industries.

6. Look out for yourself. "The cavalry is not coming....and things might be getting worse."

7. Remember what's important. For a long time, We worked to get things, It's time to focus on what really matters -- family and friends.

8. Any progress is progress. "Baby steps count, too, as long as you're moving forward,"