Navigating the Midlife Transition: Thriving with Purpose & Freedom in Life's Next Chapter with Debbie Golden

Amber Stitt
Sep 16
3 min read

Navigating the Midlife Gap: Reinvention, Abundance, and Authenticity with Debbie Golden

On this special edition of Pathways Unleashed, host Amber Stitt is joined by Debbie Golden—bestselling author and coach—at the lively Unleash Your Superpower conference in Delray Beach, Florida. The conversation dives deep into what it means to reinvent yourself in midlife, and how to create a life filled with purpose, abundance, and authentic joy.

Embracing the Midlife Gap

Debbie Golden describes her area of focus as guiding women through the “midlife gap”—that unfamiliar space between the life you once had and the future you desire. As she explains, “Transition happens at any age… but the difference with midlife is that there’s a million things coming at us.” Whether it's empty nesting, caring for aging parents, career burnout, or the physical changes of menopause, midlife presents a convergence of big life shifts that can leave many women feeling adrift.

But instead of resisting these changes, Debbie encourages embracing them: “You can’t control that your kids are going off to college… your role as mom is changing… your parents are aging, and you can't change that. You can manage it, but you can’t stop it.” The crux of Debbie’s message? Finding purpose in that space between the old and the new.

Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You

One recurring theme in Debbie’s philosophy is the idea that sometimes a job, relationship, or role no longer serves you—and that’s okay. Often, people wait for a crisis or trauma to jumpstart change, but Debbie asserts it’s just as important (and healthy) to accept when you're simply ready for something new.

“Getting rid of the things that no longer serve you—even if they once protected you, or were beautiful—is vital,” Debbie shares. These could be tools or mindsets you needed in the past but are no longer helpful as you grow. “You can't take that where you're going, or what your next phase is.”

Amber and Debbie discuss the process of mourning past chapters gracefully. Whether it’s leaving behind your identity as a “soccer mom” or moving beyond an old career, both acknowledge it’s natural—and crucial—to allow yourself to grieve those parts before stepping fully into what’s next.

The Energy of Abundance vs. Scarcity

A standout moment in the episode is Debbie’s exploration of “scarcity versus overflow” mindsets. She reflects on her early days of building a business and how operating from desperation, or lack, repels rather than attracts success: “Your results are a result of your energy… if you’re desperate, people can sense it from a million miles away.”

The antidote, she says, is to step into joy and service. When she started showing up with genuine intent to help midlife women find their purpose, abundance, and fulfillment followed naturally. “Building a business from a place of truly helping people… is a different ball game. Because it’s personal. It takes vulnerability both on my side and theirs if they really want a life of joy and abundance.”

Creating Community and Navigating Personal “Rocks”

Through her vibrant online community, Debbie seeks to make sure women in midlife know they’re not alone. She hosts conversations around issues like menopause, career pivots, and letting go of outdated expectations, fostering a sense of solidarity and support.

Debbie introduces the concept of “holding rocks”—the burdens or beliefs we carry from earlier in our lives. For her, one such “rock” was the need to earn love through achievement, something rooted in childhood. Letting go of these burdens, she says, is essential: “They hinder your ability to see your main purpose.”

She’s developing "The Rocks Method," a process that helps women identify and release these burdens in a safe, supportive environment. While she is preparing "The Rocks Method", her work continues to evolve as she does, staying authentic to her own journey.

Finding Faith, Hope, and Freedom

Ultimately, both Amber and Debbie believe personal growth is ongoing; it’s about questioning what you want, being willing to pivot, and letting yourself grieve, heal, and dream anew. “If you truly want to be free… and have that joy and freedom, these rocks are heavy,” Debbie explains. Her hope is that by sharing her own evolution, she’ll inspire others to embark on their own journeys with faith, hope, and the courage to design life on their own terms.