Midlife Reinvention: My Journey of Betting On Myself (and not looking back!)

In this short but powerful solo episode, I’m kicking off a brand-new season of Reinvention Rebels with a personal reflection on what it really means to bet on yourself in midlife.

At 55, I decided to take a chance on something that lit me up — starting this very midlife podcast — even though I had no guarantees it would succeed. 

That one bold move launched a reinvention journey I couldn’t have imagined, opening doors to new opportunities, from creating cybersecurity videos (totally unexpected!) to saying yes to my midlife health journey, now 98 days strong.

Through that commitment, I’ve gained more midlife confidence, more energy, and a body that feels stronger and more joyful. 

In just 7 minutes, I’ll share how betting on myself has transformed my life — and why I believe it’s never too late for you to say yes to yourself and embrace your own midlife transformation.

Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek at what’s ahead this season — real stories of women over 50 who are stepping into possibility, defying self-doubt, and showing the world what reinvention really looks like.

💥 In this episode, you’ll hear:
 ✔ What it really looks like to bet on yourself — even without guarantees
 ✔ How midlife reinvention can start with one small yes
 ✔ My personal journey of saying yes to myself and what I’ve gained
 ✔ What’s coming this season on the Reinvention Rebels podcast

✨ Free Gift:

Want to spark your own reinvention journey? I’ve got you covered! Download my free guide, 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife, and discover small, meaningful ways to bet on yourself. 

Transcript

00:00 - Wendy Battles (Host)
What does it mean to bet on yourself, especially in midlife? It means choosing you, your dreams, your desires, your possibilities, even when it feels scary or uncertain. It means tuning out the noise, the doubters and sometimes even that inner critic that says who do you think you are? It's about saying I believe in me, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. Welcome to Reinvention Rebels Stories of brave and unapologetic women, 50 to 90 years young, who have boldly reinvented life on their own terms to find new purpose and possibilities. I'm your host, Wendy Battles. I need to kick your fears to the curb, do it scared and step into who you are meant to be in midlife and beyond. These amazing women, these Reinvention Rebels, can help light your reinvention path. Come join us and let's get inspired together. Hey, reinvention Rebels, welcome to a brand new season of the podcast. I am so thrilled you're here. I'm your host, wendy, and this season we're diving into bold, inspiring stories of midlife reinvention, and I cannot wait for you to hear what's in store Before we dive in. I want to let you know about something special I created just for you my free guide 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife. If you've been craving fresh ideas and inspiration, this is your roadmap to start dreaming bigger. I'll tell you how to grab it at the end of the episode, so stay tuned. Today's theme how I bet on myself and never looked back that's actually the theme of the entire season, because, let's be real Rebels midlife can sometimes feel like the season of second guessing, but when we flip that script and start betting on ourselves, a whole new world opens up. So what does it mean to bet on yourself, especially in midlife? It means choosing you, your dreams, your desires, your possibilities, even when it feels scary or uncertain. It means tuning out the noise, the doubters and sometimes even that inner critic that says who do you think you are? It's about saying I believe in me, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. When we bet on ourselves, we give ourselves permission to expand, to explore, to stretch beyond our comfort zones, and that's when magic happens. I know this firsthand. 

03:20
At 55, I bet on myself when I launched this podcast. At 55, I bet on myself. When I launched this podcast, I had no guarantee anyone would listen, but something inside whispered do it anyway. And here we are, six seasons later A beautiful community of reinvention, rebels who remind me every day why that leap, it was worth it. I bet on myself. Recently, when someone approached me to create cybersecurity videos that's related to my day job, but this was an independent project Someone that found me on LinkedIn this wasn't even on my radar, but you know what I said yes, and it's opened up new doors, professionally and also creatively. 

04:08
And now I'm making another bet on a my health. As I record this, I'm on day 99. Day 99 of my workout streak Nearly 100 days of showing up for myself, even when it's hard, even when I don't feel like it, and the payoff More midlife body confidence. Like I really didn't know, I could actually feel this good in my body at 60. Less belly fat and a noticeable boost in energy. I feel stronger, more vibrant and more connected to my body than I have in years. That's been a game changer, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Each of these moments has taught me that when we bet on ourselves, we unlock a world of possibilities we never could have imagined. 

05:07
And here's the exciting part this season, you'll hear from extraordinary women who've done just that. Women who, just like you and me, have taken bold leaps of faith. Women who faced uncertainty but kept going. Their stories will remind you that reinvention isn't reserved for the few. It's available to all of us, right here in midlife and beyond. 

05:34
So, rebels, I invite you to reflect this week. Where in your life could you place a bold, loving bet on yourself? Maybe it's launching a project, starting a new habit, or simply speaking up for what you need. For me, betting on my health, it's transformed how I move through the world. Imagine what could shift for you when you choose to say yes to yourself. 

06:00
And if you're looking for inspiration to spark that next move, don't forget to grab my free guide 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife. It's packed with ideas to help you take that first or next step toward your reinvention. Look below and you'll see the link in the show notes. Rebels, I'm so excited about the season you joining me as all getting inspired together, and I can't wait to introduce you to my first guest next week on May 15th. Trust me, you are going to love her story. Until then, if this episode sparked something for you, share it with a friend or post about it on Instagram and tag me at Reinvention Rebels, here's to betting on ourselves, because you, my friend, are always worth the risk. Until next time, keep shining your light, rebels, the world needs you and all that you have to offer.