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By Dina Tulli Davis, CPC, Certified Life Purpose Coach
Why So Many People Feel Stuck in Midlife
If you’re feeling stuck in midlife, you may not even have the language for it yet. You just know something feels off — a restlessness, a disconnect, a sense that the life you built doesn’t quite fit the way it used to.
So, we diligently search for answers outside of ourselves. We talk to counselors, seek spiritual guidance, read self-help books…all with the intention of gaining more insight and figuring it all out.
But when the spotlight begins to turn inward… we hesitate.
Why?
Because looking within means we might meet something we’ve worked very hard not to see. This could be an old resentment, unspoken grief, a truth about our marriage, a dream we buried, a boundary we never set, or a version of ourselves we abandoned.
Denial Isn’t Weakness — It’s Actually Protection
Denial isn’t weakness or ignorance…it’s actually protection.
At some point in your life, not looking was safer than looking. Not feeling was safer than feeling. Not knowing was safer than knowing.
Your nervous system learned that survival strategy well, and it has protected you for a long time.
When Protection Becomes Limitation
But here’s the shift that often happens in midlife: what once kept you safe may now be keeping you small.
Avoidance feels less uncomfortable in the moment. It preserves your identity and keeps your relationships stable. However, over time, it can cost you clarity, vitality, authenticity, and peace.
The truth is, the “gremlins” don’t disappear when they’re ignored. They simply continue operating behind the scenes…shaping your choices, your relationships, and your sense of self-worth.
The Answers Aren’t Out There
And here is the deeper truth: the answers you are searching for are already within you. Not in another reading. Not in another course. Not in someone else’s diagnosis of your life. They are within you!
You’ll find them underneath the noise, underneath the fear, and underneath the stories you’ve carried with you for decades.
The challenge is not that you don’t have answers. The challenge IS that you don’t yet feel safe enough to access them and bring them to light.
How Journaling Creates Clarity in Midlife
This is why journaling can be so transformational.
When you write, something shifts. Your thoughts slow down. You’re not performing for anyone. It’s just you and the page, and that kind of privacy makes it easier for honest truth to surface.
Not dramatic truth.
Not explosive confrontation.
Just a gentle awareness of what’s already there.
And from that awareness, something begins to shift.
If You Feel Resistance, That’s a Clue
If you’re someone who feels resistance even reading this, that’s important information.
You don’t have to start with your deepest wound.
You start with small, honest observations:
• What feels heavy in me lately?
• What drains my energy?
• What do I wish someone understood about me?
• What keeps repeating in my life?
Resistance is part of the process. If you feel it, that doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means something important is there.
Sometimes the first shift isn’t some big confession. It’s as simple as writing: “I don’t want to look at this because…” Even that small bit of honesty can begin to loosen something.
The good news is…you don’t have to jump in all at once, or even force yourself into the deep end. You can start by dipping your toes in and seeing how it feels.
Not Sure Where to Start?
That’s exactly why I created Journal Your Journey — for those of you who know something needs to shift but don’t want to do it alone.
This journaling workshop gives you structure, space, and guidance so you’re not just staring at a blank page wondering what to write.
You don’t need to be fearless. You don’t need to be ready to overhaul your life. You just need a willingness to listen inward.
Because the compass you’ve been searching for has been within you all along.
About the Author
Dina Tulli Davis is a passionate, life purpose coach and light healer dedicated to helping individuals unlock their true potential and achieve their dreams. With two decades of experience in personal and spiritual development as well as personal brand coaching, Dina empowers her clients to overcome obstacles and live life on purpose. Her unique approach combines practical strategies with deep inner work to create lasting change.
Want to discover your authentic self and life purpose? Are you ready to live a soul-fulfilled life? CLICK HERE to explore my current coaching program, session and workshop offerings and contact me to schedule your complimentary Discovery Coaching Session.
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