Embracing The Fire Within
Navigating midlife rage with creativity
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A few things happened yesterday that triggered my rage. I won’t go into the detail but thank goodness that my journal was close to hand. Otherwise I might have thrown a few plates across the kitchen in true Greek style. Oh the joys of being hormonal.
Navigating through midlife can be fraught with unexpected challenges and emotional upheavals. For many of us, this period can be a challenging time where suppressed feelings, unmet expectations and simmering resentments boil to the surface, and can sometimes manifest in the form of rage. What about you? Have you felt rage recently? If so, what triggered it? I’m so curious about how other women deal with their rage and it’s so therapeutic to share our stories.
Recently I’ve learnt that what sets women apart, is not the existence of this rage, but rather how it manifests and the paths we choose in order to navigate it.
As a 49 year young woman, I’m traversing my own terrain of midlife, so I intimately understand the complexities of experiencing rage. Yet I’ve discovered a profound truth that rage, while powerful and consuming also possesses a potential for transformation.
As I continue along my own path of discovery, I’ve embarked on a deeply personal mission - to help other women harness the raw energy of their emotions and channel them into something more positive and creative. I really do believe that within every surge of rage lies the spark of creativity, it’s just waiting to be ignited. Whether through writing, art, music or other forms of expression, there exists a multitude of activities through which we can transmute our anger into inspiration, our frustration into innovation and our pain in purpose.
Every week I’m searching for new ways to share my own journey of self-discovery and healing. As I’ve witnessed the transformative power of creative expression in the lives of women around me through the practice of therapeutic journaling. I wholeheartedly believe that by embracing our rage, by acknowledging its presence and channeling its energy onto the page, we can reclaim control over our emotions, but also forge a path towards greater fulfilment and empowerment.
If you’re interested in diving a little deeper into how rage can manifest itself, you may find that one or more of the following feelings are all too familiar...
🔥OVERWHELMED - your RAGE may feel like an overwhelming wave of emotions that intensify with age-related stressors such as career demands, family responsibilities, and hormonal changes.
🔥FRUSTRATION WITH SELF - It could be directed inward, with feelings of frustration over unmet expectations, unfulfilled dreams, or perceived shortcomings compared to societal or personal standards.
🔥SENSE OF LOSS - Rage may be accompanied by a sense of loss or mourning for youth, opportunities, or relationships that didn’t unfold as you expected, leading to feelings of resentment or bitterness.
🔥HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY - Midlife challenges, such as menopause, divorce or cancer diagnosis can amplify emotional responses, making women more sensitive to triggers that might not have bothered you as much in earlier stages of your life.
🔥IDENTITY CRISIS - Rage might stem from an identity crisis as you reassess your roles and purpose in midlife, confronting societal expectations and grappling with feelings of invisibility or insignificance. Have you ever felt like this? I know I have!
🔥LACK OF RECOGNITION - It could also arise from feeling undervalued or dismissed in various spheres of your life, whether it’s at work, in relationships, or within social circles, leading to feelings of anger or resentment towards others or oneself.
Did any of the above feelings resonate with you? Be honest. And it’s ok. I know lots of women who go through many of the above feelings.
But here’s the thing…
Recognising and understanding these feelings is an essential step towards effectively managing and reframing rage for better emotional wellbeing.
Please allow my shameless plug about the work I do… I have a solution and I can teach you how to REFRAME your RAGE. My “Rage on a Page” program helps midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative, through the practice of therapeutic journaling. For more information about my workshops and programs please don’t be shy, say ‘hello’ in the comments or email me at hello@easeretreats.com.
Some of my clients have found my workshops ‘medicinal’ and ‘life changing’. I’d love for you to join me on a journey to explore the power of therapeutic journaling, and learn how to turn your rage into resilience 💫
Until the next time
Take care and stay safe xxx
Tanya, at 31 I may not quite be at midlife yet, but many of the feelings you mentioned resonated. Sense of loss because my experiences in the healthcare system have taken a toll on my mental health. Overwhelm. Lack of recognition for me pops up when I feel like I'm being dismissed by healthcare professionals. Thank you for writing so openly about women's rage!
Oh yes, I can resonate, I have had many different rage outbursts over the years, which mostly ends up with me in tears. However, I have found after the tears have shed, I feel a lot better afterwards. I find journalling beneficial and also cleaning, clearing out and organising helps me. My son used to have a punch bag in his room which I would use when needed, this was beneficial for both of us especially when his dad died (nearly six years ago now 😳). I’m on HRT and I am a bit better at handling my emotions, probably more aware of the bubbling up before I explode, as I don’t have a full diary anymore. I realised that if I have too much on then someone (particularly my boyfriend) would ask me to do something or go somewhere and I would blow. He has had high expectations of me in the past which I have slowly managed to quash over the years. Being open and honest with him has really helped, I just can’t keep up with his social life, and I don’t WANT to! I say ‘no’ a lot to other people now too which was difficult at first, but now I am getting used to doing what suits me, resulting in a calmer, happier me 😂 (sometimes).