Hey friend,
If you’ve found yourself stuck in a loop — one day ready to walk away, the next day paralyzed by guilt, fear, and the ripple effect of it all — I want you to know you're not alone.
This week, I shared a deeply personal and gentle reflection exercise that I recently walked through with a client. She was in the painful space between staying and leaving an abusive marriage. The emotional tug-of-war was exhausting — one minute she was ready to choose herself and her children, the next she was overwhelmed by fear, grief, and the weight of “what if.”
Sound familiar?
So many women carry this silent struggle. There's no easy answer, no perfect solution, and certainly no judgment here. But there is something I’ve found that helps bring clarity and inner knowing back to the surface when everything feels foggy. It’s something I call:
✨ Letters From Your 80-Year-Old Self
This reflection isn’t about solving the problem overnight or forcing a choice. It’s about stepping out of the chaos of right now and stepping into the wisdom of your future self — the version of you who has lived through it all and has a broader, more loving perspective.
Here’s how it works:
📝 Step 1: Create Stillness
Find a quiet, comfortable place. Breathe deeply. Let yourself land in the moment. This isn't about rushing; it's about reconnecting.
📝 Step 2: Write Two Letters
Now, imagine yourself at 80 years old. You’re near the end of your life, looking back. Your children are grown. You have the gift of hindsight, clarity, and peace.
📩 Letter One:
Imagine you left the abusive relationship. What did life look like after that decision? What were the challenges — and how did you rise through them? What healing came in time? What do your grown children remember now? And does your older self regret the decision… or feel relief?
📩 Letter Two:
Now imagine you stayed. What does your life look like now, from the eyes of your 80-year-old self? How were your mind, body, and relationships impacted? What messages would she want you to hear today? Does she hold regret or understanding?
This practice isn't about getting the “right” answer. It’s about tuning out the noise and tuning in to the voice of your inner knowing — the one that’s still there, beneath all the fear, pressure, and outside opinions.
And friend, I want you to hear this loud and clear:
🌿 You are not crazy.
🌿 You are not weak.
🌿 You are navigating something incredibly hard, and you're doing the best you can with what you have.
📄 Want to try this practice?
I've created a free printable prompt that guides you through this reflection in your own time and space.
👉 Download the prompt here:
Download "Letters From Your 80-Year-Old Self"
And if this stirred something in you, and you feel ready to explore more deeply with support, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. You can book a free 30-minute discovery call with me to talk through your specific story and get clarity on next steps.
🗓️ Book a free discovery call here
You are worthy of peace.
You are allowed to pause.
And you deserve a future you can feel proud of.
With you,
Susie
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