Awakening Wisdom and Intuition in Midlife: Connecting With Your Inner Guidance
Discover the power of combining EFT Tapping with journaling to help women in midlife, writers, coaches and creatives find clarity, calm and confidence.
Remembering to Slow Down
I’ve been reminded lately about how my inner wisdom and intuition are there to serve me, when I remember to slow down and consult with them.
Like many of the women I know and work with in coaching and in The Tap and Write Studio, I’m equally as guilty of making decisions that on the surface seem like the right ones - until I find myself realizing that, had I asked my inner WISE Woman for her thoughts and taken a moment to feel my intuition’s gentle nudge, I might have saved myself time, money and stress.
A Lesson in Listening: My Walking Story
The latest example came about last week. Here’s what happened:
My weight loss and health coach set a goal of walking in a half marathon in November to raise money for cancer. As I watched her increasing the length of her walks each week, I thought “I can do that too!” - not to participate in a marathon but to work towards walking and hiking on my travel adventure next year.
When I told her that I wanted to work toward increasing the distance I was walking, she sent me a training plan to get me started. By the end of September, I was walking up to 6km once or twice a week plus 4-5kms in between, working out at the gym twice a week, and getting my daily 9,500 steps in.
Not bad for someone who just over a year ago was walking 5,000 steps daily and had commitment issues with the gym.
While I started working with my weight loss/health coach at Glean because I was fed up trying to lose weight on my own, I never thought that in a year I’d become a consistent walker and gym goer, excited to explore what I can do to support my body as I age.
Weight loss has been gradual and slower than I thought it would be, but the gains I’ve made are in the way I feel, in my approach to losing weight and the habits I’ve been creating, all of which I’ll continue for life, not just until I reach a comfortable number on the scale.
So, I dove into the training plan with gusto and excitement, adding another km or two into the mix for my October goal - until I hit a roadblock last week.
I felt exhausted - that bone tired feeling that doesn’t go away after a good night’s sleep. My knees were beginning to scold me the day after each longer walk and complain on the in-between days as I continued to reach my daily goal of 9500 steps.
There’s something called Overtraining Syndrome that happens when there’s not enough recovery time between training days. It may have been that I went all in too much, too fast and didn’t give my body time to regroup.
Either way, I found the idea of planning and completing two increasingly longer walks each week stressful, mentally and physically - and then it finally occurred to me that as I’d made the decision to go this route, I could also decide to do something different.
Only this time, I’d consult my team, the dynamic duo, wisdom and intuition, before deciding on which direction to take next. I also realized I needed some support to let go of that critical voice inside that said “don’t be a quitter” and “you’ll disappoint your coach if you quit now” - neither of which was or is true.
New Runners with lots of room for my toes and toe spread - the shoes make all the difference.
The Difference Between Wisdom and Intuition
“Inner wisdom” and “intuition” are often referred to as though they are interchangeable or the same. And yet, they are distinct and powerful parts of us that guide and help us along when we connect with them.
Our inner wisdom is the part that has accumulated all the knowledge we’ve gathered from our experiences along the way, in this lifetime and beyond. This part is reflective, a voice that reminds us of lessons learned, patterns we’ve developed and the choices we’ve made that have served us well, or not.
Our intuition, on the other hand, is often found within our bodies and is experienced as a gentle nudge, a whisper or flutter, a “yes” or “no” feeling; it speaks to us in a variety of ways that are unique to each person. Some feel their intuition is spiritual in nature, linked to spirit guides, Spirit or God, and/or the soul.
When we engage our inner wisdom and intuition, we find allies, always working towards our highest good and for the benefit of our wellbeing, even when they don’t always agree. For example, my intuition said “yes” to taking a Human Design course, but my inner Wise Woman has advised me to wait until I have the space and time to learn it. I’ve decided to heed the wisdom as I was reminded of all the courses I’ve purchased that wait patiently for me to open.
Consulting Works
I consulted my inner Wise Woman and intuition about a walking plan that felt doable, comfortable, and one that I would stick to.
Here’s what I arrived at:
My goal: to increase the number of steps and the kms I’m able to walk over time, working towards the vision of hiking and walking on my next adventure.
Process: adding an extra 300-500 steps for 2-3 weeks and then another 300-500 steps etc., noting each day how my body and knees feel and responding accordingly.
Outcome: the flexibility to choose longer walks or shorter ones, increasing movement gradually and reaching a daily and weekly goal.
Some structure, some planning, some details mixed with a heavy dose of flexibility and “let’s see what happens” is what works best for me in midlife. Of course, they knew that, these two powerful parts of me - the thoughtful perspective from my Wise Woman and the gentle, but firm “yes” from my intuition. They confirmed that at this time in my life I’m wanting “ease” (not necessarily easy) and it’s through this lens that I’ll be making more decisions as I walk into my future.
A single flower, blooming with “ease”.
A Question for You
How would your life change if you were to consult with your Wise Woman and the intuitive part of you before making decisions?
A few minutes each day to connect with your wisdom and intuition is a valuable investment in your wellbeing, helping you to make decisions with more ease, confidence and compassion.
Tap and Write: A Powerful Practice for Midlife Women
In my recent Tap and Write sessions, participants have been exploring how powerful it is to connect with their wise and intuitive selves. We combine gentle EFT tapping with therapeutic/reflective writing so that participants like me — midlife women, coaches, writers, artists, and creatives—can unlock insights, spark inspiration, and overcome limiting beliefs. It’s a practice that not only nurtures clarity and calm but also fuels creativity, personal expression and growth.
Your inner guidance is always available to you when you pause, listen - and write.
Thanks for reading!
Joan
Won’t you join me?
Experience Tap and Write, a gentle yet powerful practice that combines EFT tapping with reflective writing, designed for midlife women, coaches, writers, artists, and creatives to reconnect with their inner wisdom and intuition, release self-doubt, and make decisions with more clarity, confidence, and calm.
