So… you’re thinking about career change?

After decades in the workforce, the promise of fulfilment may seem further out of reach than ever. Or perhaps the satisfaction you once got from your work has got lost in the daily grind.

But maybe it’s more than this. Maybe your values are being trampled and you can’t seem to make the difference you want to. This kind of conflict often becomes intolerable as we move into our later career, and become more aware of wanting our work to stand for something.

If this sounds like you, it may be time for a midlife career shift.

In this article I argue for thinking differently – more holistically and creatively – about your career after 50. And even about yourself. Especially when it feels like it’s now or never to shift your career.

The desire for a midlife career shift makes perfect sense

A conventional career trajectory isn’t always synonymous with fulfillment. If you’re reading this you’ve almost certainly discovered that. The conventional path might have brought stability, but it often leaves little room for the creativity and purpose that your inner self craves.

Many enter their careers because they want to make a difference. But women from a wide variety of professions tell me that they’re not delivering their best work, nor making the difference they want to. (In part because of how corporate and organisational systems are set up. In part because they are caught between self-criticism and second-guessing themselves.)

Combine this professional frustration with the desire to do something meaningful with your later career years and it makes sense that you’re looking for a big career shift at this point in midlife. One that will transform how you work not just where you work.

Rethinking conventional career change wisdom

Traditional career advice often urges us to climb ladders, chase promotions, or switch industries based on external benchmarks. As a result, perhaps you’ve ended up trying to achieve goals that match other people’s measures of career success rather than your own.

More recently, the idea of “squiggly careers” has come to be recognised as a valid career path. But this still leaves you looking outside of yourself to figure out how to make career transitions.

But what if the guidance you truly need for your career shift isn’t going to come from an industry expert? Or what your boss thinks. (Not that we shouldn’t value insights from others but an expert view is almost always going to be generic. And no one else can discern the specifics of your situation and desires.)

Sometimes it’s just that you are following a route that was outlined years ago. And now you can’t see how to shift, no matter how frustrated you feel.

A common experience at this stage is of feeling like you’re at a crossroads without a map.

What if the guidance you need is already inside you, quietly signalling what’s missing and pointing toward what could be?

You may not have a map for the big midlife career crossroads, but you do have an inner compass.

Discovering your inner guidance

Enter Experiential Focusing: a gentle yet powerful method of accessing your somatic intelligence, aka your inner compass. It invites you to listen deeply, via your body, to your feelings, and crucially, the meanings beneath them. This approach is rooted in paying attention to your inner life. Thus it helps you tap into a wellspring of wisdom that’s always there for you.

Focusing helps you integrate your smart brain, wise body, and loving heart. The embodied thinking that happens at this body-mind sweet spot brings fresh insight and unconventional ways forward.

Of course, it isn’t enough to just think creatively. The big midlife career shift also means taking action. Focusing can also help dissolve action blocks and self-sabotage. New, more aligned actions often arise spontaneously in Focusing sessions.

And one of the key benefits of Focusing practice is that you no longer need to do all this on your own.

The power of peer partnerships

One of the most enriching aspects of Focusing is its practice within peer partnerships. Often, Focusing isn’t a solitary endeavour. It’s not just you sitting in a room trying to “get in touch with yourself”. After a bit of training, Focusers are able to come together in pairs to exchange the roles of Focuser and Focusing Companion, taking turns to support each other’s process.

When practised with peers the process deepens. In these listening partnerships, you can provide and receive support, and often witness your inner breakthroughs reflected in another’s journey. This collaborative environment creates a safe space where each person’s inner guidance is honoured, so you can build self-trust and self-leadership.

And let’s face it – it’s a lot easier to embed something in your life – to actually practice it – when you have a buddy that you’re meeting with rather than trying to carve out time by yourself.

For those looking to begin this journey, consider joining one of my introductory workshops, “Finding the Help Within” or “Clear Head, Spacious You.” (coming soon). Then, take a more comprehensive training that will help you embed Focusing and Focusing partnerships into your life. Here, you’ll learn to tune in to yourself with supportive peers by your side, making the unconventional path a shared and transformative experience.

Find out more about Focusing and how it works here…

Embracing your heartfelt career shift in midlife

Taking an unconventional path means embracing the unknown and trusting that your inner guidance is both wise and reliable. It’s about acknowledging that career fulfilment isn’t solely about external success or conventional milestones. (Yet, of course, you need to think practically too.) More than anything, it’s about living in alignment with who you are at your core.

Remember, it’s never too late to embark on a journey that honours your inner wisdom. By integrating focusing techniques into your daily routine – and perhaps practising them in the nurturing company of peers – you empower yourself to make career and life choices that are not only smart but soulful.

The midlife career shift that I’ve described is so often charged with emotion and pressed with a feeling of urgency. Tuning into your somatic intelligence enables a more holistic and wholehearted way forward.

You don’t have to redesign your career by yourself

Your career is a significant part of your life. Of course, it doesn’t define you, but it is one of the biggest things you do in your life. By tuning into your relationship with yourself, and practising focusing techniques, you can uncover a career path that feels both meaningful and true to you. This unconventional approach isn’t about quick fixes or radical leaps. It’s about taking small, mindful steps toward a future that genuinely reflects your authentic self.

And this process will always be there for you. When regularly practised, Focusing (and the worldwide community of Focusers) can support you in many different areas and stages of your life.

Are you ready to trust your inner compass and explore a way forward that lights you up from the inside out?

Consider starting with one of my workshops. Check them out here: “Finding the Help Within” and discover the transformative power of focusing.

And if you’re looking for more targeted help with your “right-now” career crossroads, I bring Focusing techniques into my Conscious Career Coaching programmes.

Not sure what you need? Let’s have an informal chat (follow this link to find a spot) and see what kind of support would be best for your situation now.

Your new path awaits.