Midlife Reinvention Plot Twist? Bet on You! (Even as You Figure It Out)

Have you ever felt the nudge to try something new…but weren’t sure you were ready? 

In this solo episode, I’m sharing what it really looks like to bet on yourself in midlife — even when you don’t have it all figured out. 

Reinvention isn’t about having the perfect plan, it’s about trusting the next right step, embracing the unknown, and showing up with curiosity.

I’ll share what’s unfolding in my own reinvention story (yes, another one!) and how making small, soul-led bets is helping me build confidence, clarity, and momentum. Spoiler alert: it’s messy, meaningful, and totally worth it.

Whether you’re just beginning to dream again or already mid-plot twist, this episode will remind you:

You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why reinvention is a process, not a finish line
• How small “bets” on yourself can lead to big breakthroughs
• A peek into my current (still-unfolding) reinvention
• Encouragement for anyone feeling stuck, uncertain, or hesitant
• The power of self-trust, even in the unknown

Resources & Links:
🎁 Grab your free gift: 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife
🎙️ Check out The Ageless Traveler podcast by Adriane Berg: Lifelong travel tips, joy-filled adventures, and a free ebook to make travel easier at any age: agelesstraveler.com

Let’s Connect:
Loved this episode? DM me on Instagram @reinventionrebels and let me know how you’re betting on yourself these days.

🌟 If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more midlife women find their way to bold reinvention!

Transcript

00:00 - Wendy Battles (Host)
Reinvention is rarely neat, it's rarely quick and most of the time it's unfolding quietly in the background, in our thoughts, in our choices, in those little nudges. We're just 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, hey, hey, beautiful souls, welcome back to the Reinvention Rebels podcast, where we celebrate illuminate, elevate, bold women 50 and older who are reinventing themselves with purpose, passion, courage and a healthy dose of badassery. I'm your host, wendy, and today I am coming to you with a solo episode. It's just you and me and truthfully, I needed this. It's been a while. So if you are new to the podcast, welcome aboard. I'm so glad you stumbled upon it or someone told you about it. This is definitely a place to come for inspiration and motivation to get into action, to create that next best chapter. 

01:58
I've been thinking a lot about what it means to bet on yourself in midlife, which is our theme for season seven, and here's what I've discovered Betting on yourself isn't one big moment. It's not something dramatic. It's not some dramatic leap off a cliff. It's a series of quiet, consistent choices we make over time, little by little, step by step. In this short episode today, I'm reflecting on the powerful stories we've heard so far in season seven, with the amazing women who've already graced me with their presence, and I want to share what they've taught me about self-trust, second chances and betting on yourself in ways that are often not flashy but are deeply transformative. And make sure you stick around to the end. I've got a free gift to support you in making your next bold move, but for now, let's dive in out. Let's dive in when we say betting on ourselves or you're going to bet on yourself. 

03:15
What does that really mean? I think it's easy to think of it as this huge decision quitting your job I've done that before Moving across the country, maybe launching a business, and, yes, sometimes it is that. It is this huge leap, but most of the time, I believe it's smaller, it's quieter. It looks like saying yes when you're scared. Say no when something no longer serves you. So you know when something no longer serves you, taking up space, something that, as midlife women, we are building our skills at or maybe you're already amazing at that and you speak your truth like nobody's business with ease, also asking for help and trusting your gut, even when it doesn't necessarily make sense on paper, but you know it in your heart. 

04:06
For me, lately, betting on myself has looked like giving myself permission to pause, to not rush, to trust the timing of things, even if I feel a little behind and it's shown up in my creative work too Choosing to share something imperfectly, then waiting until it's flawless, because we just got to do it. We have these amazing ideas and things up our sleeves and we need to just go for it, and that's truly the heart of reinvention Not a single leap, but a series of bets, a willingness to try again and again and again, to be persistent no matter what and not give up. This season has been such a gift for me because each guest has shown me, and really all of us, what it looks like to bet on yourself in your own way, not someone else's prescribed way, but your way. Take Janet Taylor, who recently shared so openly about caring for her mom near the end of her life. This wasn't just caregiving that she was dropped into unexpectedly, it was also an act of self-definition for Janet. She learned to honor her needs, to create structure and of course the fact that she is a professional organizer helped a lot. But those things helped her. Bet on herself to navigate this hard chapter with both grace and clarity. 

05:34
Then there were the Dinas, dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez, in our episode about their new book, midlife Private Parts and yes, I still love that title and I'm reading the book and it is so good. And I'm reading the book and it is so good. They reminded me how vulnerable it is to make ourselves visible, especially around our changing bodies in midlife, around our boundaries. That might be kind of out of date and not honoring who we are and our stories. Their courage to own their narrative, to see their own worthiness as they created this platform for so many midlife women to share their story is truly inspiring and I see how it's important for us to step out and be open to that increased visibility if we so desire. 

06:28
You probably also remember my interview with Mary Newell, who continues to blow me away at 74. It's been three years since I interviewed Mary and at 71, she was already doing amazing things as a runner. She adopted running at 55, her non-athletic self and turned into this amazing runner, running races around the world back then and still now, challenging age norms and reminding us that there is truly no finish line. And her story that we talk about in this episode how, not that long ago, she ran up 104 floors of the World Trade Center, not walking. Running is so impressive at someone who's almost 75. And that idea of no finish line and betting on herself, this idea that her body and her spirit has still have more to give and explore yes, that is a Reinvention Rebels mindset. 

07:32
Now you also might remember the episode with Rachel Lancaster. Rachel is helping to flip the script on menopause and aging, which so many of us struggle with. She's betting that truth-telling and community building can help shift our culture and shift the narrative about what's possible and to remind ourselves that we don't have to be invisible in this process. And I loved what she had to say. But she has so much wisdom from her struggles that informed this new purpose that she's sharing with the world. 

08:10
And finally, we kicked the season off with my girl, diane Britt Smith. Ooh, she is the powerhouse and I adore her. You know, she started an acting career at 62 and she has such an interesting backstory about how it happened, which, of course, if you haven't listened to the episode yet, you're gonna have to listen to it because it's so, which, of course, if you haven't listened to the episode yet, you're going to have to listen to it because it's so engaging, so inspiring. But she didn't just take this leap like, oh, I think I'm going to start acting and do it. Of course not. She prepared, she practiced, she persevered. That's the kind of betting on ourselves that builds real momentum, and that's what we're talking about. It's those small steps. That's the kind of betting on ourselves that builds real momentum, and that's what we're talking about. It's those small steps. That's what it really means to bet on ourselves. The thing is, every one of these women placed a different kind of bet, and all of them are winning, not because it's easy, but because they are showing up for themselves that we can do that too. 

09:20
Reinvention is a process, and you're right on time, no matter where you are. What's one of the biggest myths about midlife reinvention? That we're supposed to have it all figured out? Nope, I certainly do not. That we should know exactly where we're going with a clear roadmap and zero doubts no, I don't think so. Let me tell you that is definitely not how this works. Reinvention is rarely neat, it's rarely quick and most of the time it's unfolding quietly in the background, in our thoughts, in our choices, in those little nudges we're just beginning to listen to. Truth be told, I'm in the middle of yet another reinvention right now, a new chapter that's starting to take shape and may help me think differently about the podcast and where I go with my career. So, of course, more to come later on. 

10:22
But what I want to tell you is this I'm making small bets on myself. I'm leaning into what feels right, even if it's unfamiliar and of course, some of it is. I'm doing things that stretch me, surprised me and challenged the version of myself I thought I had to be. And you know what? Every small step is building my confidence. Each decision to show up for myself, even imperfectly, is helping me gain momentum. I say all of this to remind you you're not behind, you're not too late and you don't need all the answers. You're in process just like I am, and that's exactly where the magic is. When we get quiet and listen, we can get some of those answers we seek that will help us along our path. 

11:20
So here's an invitation for this week. What's one small bet you can place on yourself? Maybe it's finally saying yes to that thing you've been putting off. Maybe it's making space for rest. Maybe it's do it with love, with intention, with belief that you are worthy of showing up for you. But before we go, here's a little something for you. If you're wondering where to begin or how to keep building your reinvention muscle, I've created a free guide called 100 Ways to Reinvent Yourself in Midlife, and it's filled with doable, inspiring ideas to help you get unstuck and take that next step. You'll find the link in the show notes and download it today. 

12:17
And one more thing If travel is part of your reinvention vision, like it's so a part of mine I love traveling. I've got the perfect resource for you. I want to tell you about my friend, adrienne Berg, who hosts the Ageless Traveler podcast. It's your go-to guide for lifelong travel. Adrienne is a fierce advocate for breaking barriers to travel at any age. Whether you're dreaming about solo adventures, multi-generational trips, culinary escapes or luxury for less, she's got you covered. She believes lifelong travel isn't just about the destination. It's about building lasting friendships, boosting our well-being and living fully at every age. Boosting our well-being and living fully at every age. I've got all the details in the show notes to tune into her podcast. You're going to want to listen. She's so insightful and very empowering. All right, that's it for this episode of the Reinvention Rebels podcast. As always, thank you so much for being here, rebels, for betting on yourself, for being part of this beautiful Reinvention Rebels community, and until next time, keep shining your light, rebels. The world needs you and all that you have to offer.