Reframing Your Life At Any Age
Have you ever felt stuck in life, wondering if you're on the right path or if you're running out of time to achieve your dreams? You're not alone. Many of us reach points in our lives where we question our choices and feel the weight of societal expectations pressing down on us. But what if we told you that it's never too late to reframe your perspective and create the life you truly want? That’s what we talk about in this episode on Girl Gang - listen now!
0:00 Introducing the reframe conversation
2:49 Reframing work and education paths
5:29 Breaking free from marriage timelines
11:09 Work-life balance and finding purpose
19:14 Pursuing passions at any age
28:44 Finding joy in your 30s
40:59 Final thoughts on co-creating your life
Our generation was raised with incredible pressure to follow a specific timeline: get a degree, secure a job, climb the corporate ladder, get married, have children—all by certain ages. We were told if we checked these boxes in the right order and at the right time, we'd be successful and happy. But as many of us have discovered, that prescribed path doesn't necessarily lead to fulfillment. In fact, it can lead to feeling trapped and disconnected from what truly brings us joy.
A powerful reframe that's becoming increasingly common is moving away from defining our worth through our careers. Many of us were conditioned to constantly pursue job titles, promotions, and higher salaries, often at the expense of our wellbeing and happiness. We've witnessed countless people sacrifice their mental health for a job that looks good on paper but doesn't fulfill them spiritually or emotionally. The new reframe? Work to live, don't live to work. Find a job that provides enough without consuming your entire identity.
Similarly, the pressure to marry and have children by a certain age has caused many to rush into relationships that weren't right for them. But more people are now recognizing that it's better to wait for the right partnership—or embrace being single—than to force themselves into a relationship simply to meet a timeline. Even I stated in the episode: "I'd rather not have kids than have kids with the wrong person."
What's particularly liberating about reframing is the recognition that you're never "behind" in life. Everyone is on their own unique journey. The comparison trap—looking at peers and feeling inadequate because they've achieved certain milestones before you—only leads to unnecessary suffering. Remember that in school, we were all doing the same things at the same time, but adult life isn't meant to follow such a rigid structure. Your timeline is yours alone.
Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of reframing is rediscovering passions and dreams that may have been set aside in the rush to grow up. Whether it's music, art, dance, or any other pursuit that brought you joy as a child, it's never too late to reintegrate these passions into your life. Sarah for instance is pursuing music and even joined a band—something she'd always dreamed of but had put aside. I’m even planning on taking ballet classes again, not with the goal of becoming a professional dancer, but simply because I’ve always loved to dance.
The key to successful reframing is shifting from "life happens to me" to "I'm co-creating it." This mindset empowers you to make active choices rather than feeling like a passive recipient of circumstances. It encourages you to take that first scary step toward something new, knowing that even if it doesn't work out exactly as planned, you'll learn and grow from the experience.
As we've discovered, your 30s can actually be better than your 20s. While your 20s are often about discovering what you don't want, your 30s can be about embracing what you do want and having the confidence to say no to things that don't serve you. There's a freedom in this decade that comes from knowing yourself better and caring less about others' expectations.
So if you're feeling stuck or behind, remember that reframing is always available to you, regardless of your age or circumstances. Ask yourself: if your 12-year-old self could see you now, would they be proud of the human you've become? Are you pursuing the things that truly matter to you? It's never too late to course-correct and create a life that reflects your authentic desires and values. You're exactly where you need to be, and the next chapter is yours to write.
So until next time - stay bold, stay empowered…
Rachael & the Girl Gang
