Maybe It’s Time To Reframe Giving Back

Momming Adult Kids: Denise Drinkwalter

As we step into 2024, it’s often said that each year offers us 365 pages to become the authors of our own stories. 

Today, let’s embark on Chapter One of your story – a story written by you, for you, and because of you. While you may not know much about me, I want to share my mission, especially when it comes to supporting women in their midlife years.

My journey into empowerment life coaching began in 2018 after retiring from a fulfilling 31-year career as an educator. As a mom, wife, daughter, sister-in-law, and friend, my life has been enriched by countless wonderful individuals. 

“The more I supported others, the better I felt, creating an addictive cycle.”

Fulfillment In Giving Back:

Like many of you reading this, my soul finds fulfillment in giving back. However, this led me down a path of unintentionally neglecting my own needs, creating a confusing emotional void.

The more I supported others, the better I felt, creating an addictive cycle. My dedication to helping others became intertwined with my sense of self-worth, leading to unsustainable expectations. I vividly recall moments, such as working late into the night as a principal, where I believed sacrificing my time was essential for the success of those under my responsibility. But where did these expectations come from? Not from the board, colleagues, family, students, or staff. 

Through self-reflection, I’ve learned the importance of giving for the joy of giving, not to validate my own worthiness. Now, I’m on a mission to help women in midlife globally understand the necessity of disconnecting from external validation in order to release the stress of giving back to oneself and nourishing our souls…. Daily.

Aligned Lives:

Why? Why is this important? So that we can begin to live. Live full and completely aligned lives that allow us to be at one with all that is truly possible for us.  

Let’s learn to understand ourselves as a person with feelings, emotions, and thoughts that are just as important and need just as much focus and nurturing as everyone else in our lives. And of course, this is not at all intuitive for any of us. We have to purposefully stretch to shift the importance of giving back to ourselves.

“Believe me I am in YOUR corner cheering you on. It is your time now!!!”

On my YouTube channel, I interview people worldwide, discussing the importance of taking time for oneself. This year, consider reframing your mindset around giving and ask yourself crucial questions about self-nourishment.

Six Questions To Ask Yourself About Self-Nourishment:

1. What emotions surface for you when you support others?
2. What thoughts enter your mind as you think about giving time to YOU?
3. What is the most challenging part of putting yourself and your needs first?
4. Why do you think that is?
5. What do you want to see change and why?
6. What is the first step you can take to begin shifting more YOU time in a way that is soul-nourishing?

Additional resources can be found in Denise’s bio below. Ask her about her Guided Journal for Empowered Women.

Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your content delivered straight to your inbox.

About the Author:

Denise Drinkwalter is an Empowerment Life Coach, is renowned for her extraordinary work with midlife women, guiding them to clarity, perspective, and inner strength. Specializing in supporting those navigating Empty Nester Syndrome, Denise is praised for her unique gift, genuine kindness, and transformative ability to help release long-held burdens and beliefs.

As a thought leader in the Kuel Life Community, Denise’s expertise extends across various platforms, including her signature course “Cut the Cord-Not the Ties” and coaching roles in prominent academies and hubs. Discover more about her empowering journey at www.denisedrinkwalter.com.