Redefining Success: Financial & Career Wellness
When people talk wellness, they usually jump straight to green smoothies and meditation apps. But here's the truth – if checking your bank account causes stress or your work doesn't feel fulfilling, it's hard to feel truly well.
I'll be candid – I hesitated before writing this post. Financial and career wellness haven't always been my strong points. Early in my career, finding work that felt aligned was challenging. I explored different roles but struggled to find something that really clicked, which meant my income wasn't as consistent as I would have liked. Combined with a divorce, multiple moves, and limited financial education, money management became something I had to actively work on.
These challenges created a lot in my life, but they also taught me valuable lessons. Over time, I've developed a healthier relationship with money, though it's still something I mindfully work on – especially now as I navigate entrepreneurship with its different financial rhythms and responsibilities.
Financial and career wellness aren't fancy concepts – they're about waking up without that knot in your stomach when you check your balance or see your workday calendar. They're about feeling secure, purposeful, and like you've got options.
So let's talk about what it means to feel good about your money and work life (especially during these midlife years when everything seems to be shifting).
Money Stuff: More Than Just Budgets
Financial wellness isn't all about material possessions and huge savings accounts. It's about feeling supported by your money rather than stressed by it.
For many of us in our 40s and 50s, money gets complicated. Maybe you're helping out aging parents while putting kids through college. Maybe you're pivoting careers or recovering from burnout. Maybe you're just tired of feeling guilty every time you buy something nice for yourself.
You might be financially out of whack if:
You feel anxious or avoidant about money
Spending doesn't reflect your values
You struggle to plan or save
You feel guilt when investing in yourself
Small moves that make a big difference:
Just track your spending for a month – no judging, just noticing
Create what I call a "hell yes" budget that includes joy, not just obligations
Talk to someone who gets money (even one session with a financial coach can be eye-opening)
Before buying something, ask yourself: "Does this support the life I'm trying to create?"
Money Mantra: "I create space for abundance by aligning my spending with what matters to me."
Great Resources for building a positive money mindset:
Their content has helped me understand not just the mechanics of money but my relationship with it: Sometimes the right resource can shift your entire perspective on wealth and worth.
Work That Doesn't Drain Your Soul
Career wellness isn't just having a job with benefits. It's doing something that feels meaningful without completely depleting you.
By midlife, many of us start wondering if we've been climbing the wrong ladder. Maybe what used to excite you now feels meh. Maybe you're craving purpose over another promotion. Or maybe you just want to work with people who don't make you want to fake a family emergency to leave Zoom meetings early.
Your career might need attention if:
Work leaves you too drained to enjoy your actual life
Your strengths and passions are collecting dust
You've outgrown your role but feel stuck
Sunday nights fill you with a special kind of dread
Ways to turn it around:
Get brutally honest about your values, then see how your current gig measures up
Ask yourself: What tasks make time disappear? What do friends always ask for your help with?
Find your people – a coach, mentor, or friend who gets it
Take one brave step this week: dust off your resume, look into a course, or have that conversation you've been avoiding
Success Mantra: "I deserve work that fulfills me and gives my life purpose – seeking that isn't selfish, it's necessary."
Resource that helped me navigate my career change:
Working with Laura King as my mentor through my corporate-to-entrepreneur transition has been invaluable. Her coaching, content, and Pursue Your Purpose Workshops (for those in Minnesota) provided the clarity and support I needed during this season of change.
When Money & Work Feel Aligned...
Something magical happens when these parts of your life click. You breathe easier. You make plans with confidence. You show up differently – more present, more energized, more authentically you.
This stuff forms the foundation that supports everything else: your physical health, your relationships, your sense of purpose. It's hard to focus on "higher-level" wellness when you're constantly stressed about making rent or dreading Monday mornings.
This isn't about having everything perfectly figured out (does anyone?). It's about making small, intentional moves that build momentum. It's about choosing progress over perfection – and giving yourself permission to grow into something new.
Your Next Step: Get Real & Recalibrate
Financial and career wellness look different for everyone, and they evolve as you do. The good news? You don't need to have all the answers to start shifting things. You just need to get honest about what's working, what's not, and what's calling you forward.
Journal on this:
What would it feel like if my money and work supported me instead of stressed me out?
What's one small shift I can make this month to move toward that feeling?
If you're ready to create a more empowered relationship with your work, your worth, and your wellness, I'd love to help. Send me a message to chat about where you are and what support might look like.
Coming next week: We'll explore the final two dimensions of wellness – social and environmental – where we'll dive into nurturing relationships and creating spaces that make your soul happy.
