https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9ng4m4/jenfinal_-_9_20_22_1134_AM7gfm8.mp3
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Through her work in coaching, speaking, podcasting, and activism, Jen Marples uses her entrepreneurial skills to be a voice and a champion for midlife women everywhere. In today’s episode, we sat down with Jen to discuss the importance of women supporting women, feeling lost in midlife, the power of “no”, and resources for helping women to find a support system.
First, we asked Jen about her thoughts on how important it is for women, especially midlife women, to support one another. She spoke to us on how as a society, we seem to hopefully be moving towards a more supportive, inclusive place for women. Rather than trying to compete with one another, more women are starting to acknowledge the struggles of their peers and striving to help create a sense of community. However, many women do still struggle with seeing other women as competition. Jen explained that for some, the hesitance to be supportive comes from a place of inner turmoil and a lack of self-reflection. Midlife can be a time of chaos. Kids are moving out, relationships are changing; it’s easy to struggle with so much change occurring at the same time. However, rather than giving into the panic, it’s important to reflect on your life and discover which aspects are causing the most stress. The best way we can be supportive of others is to support ourselves, so ensuring that our mental health remains stable and that we’re both giving and receiving the help we need is vital. We also talked to Jen about asking for help, something many people struggle to do. She said that it’s best to seek help before you truly start to spiral, for you can help prevent yourself from becoming too burnt out. Self-help starts with self-care, and Jen emphasized that you have to find time for yourself. Whether it be taking a walk, listening to music, or simply laying down, resting helps to heal your body and mind. Other ways to ensure you’re taking care of yourself are to add things into your life that bring you joy, try new things, learn not to care what others think, and, most importantly, to have fun.
Saying no can feel like an impossible task, but to Jen, it’s one of the most important things you can do. The word “no” is a complete sentence; women don’t need to waste their time explaining themselves or making excuses. They should be able to deny someone or something without fear of being judged or penalized for it. By saying no things that do not bring you joy, you’re opening yourself up to more opportunities for things that do make you happy, rather than forcing yourself to participate in things you’d rather not be doing. Also, by learning what does and doesn’t make you happy, you’re less likely to automatically say yes to things you know deep down you’d never actually want to do.
Support systems are a vital part of life, yet for some, those closest to them will give pushback and criticism rather than support. If someone outside of your inner circle does not support your choice to pursue your passions, then it’s easy to ignore, for you can simply cut that person off. However, when it comes to families, friends, and significant others, things can be more complicated. When speaking on the issue, Jen said that whenever you make any kind of change, it may take a while for those around you to catch up. Not everyone is going to be supportive right away or at all, and it’s important to remove any expectations you have on the reactions of others. As long as you commit to your passion and pursue your happiness, then hopefully, your support system will learn to accept and support your decisions. For those who struggle to find a support system of their own, there are resources in place to help. For example, as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, Jen has business coaches and is a member of several networking groups. However, finding a support group is only the first step. It’s not only important to seek out support when you need it but to also give support to others in return. By both being empowered by and empowering other women, you’re helping to create an inclusive and welcoming support system for women.
Finally, we asked Jen about the best places to find and contact her, and she said she can be reached through her website, jenmarples.com. Her website also includes links to her podcast, The Jen Marples Show, as well as all of her social media pages.
Jen Marples
Jen Marples is an entrepreneur, business and life coach, motivational speaker, podcaster, and activist for women’s empowerment. After over 25 years working in public relations and marketing, she chose to take a leap of faith and pursue her passion of helping others achieve success in their businesses and lives. Jen offers coaching services that guide clients towards their own happiness and self-love while they navigate the challenges of midlife and the business industry. Through her work, she champions midlife women and strives to offer the support, help, and community women need.
In this episode, we discuss…
- [0:01] Bossa Bars
- [0:48] Guest Introduction
- [4:21] Start of Interview
- [5:16] Women Supporting Women in Midlife
- [8:05] Feeling Lost in Midlife
- [18:39] The Power of the Word “No”
- [23:09] Pushback from Support Systems
- [25:55] Resources for Looking for a Support System
- [34:00] Where You Can Find Jen
- [34:50] Closing Thoughts
- [36:24] Outro
Useful Resources:
Jen’s Website I [https://www.jenmarples.com/]
The Jen Marples Show I [https://www.jenmarples.com/podcast]
Jen’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmarples/]
Jen’s Facebook I [https://www.facebook.com/groups/245742097240264/]
Jen’s Instagram I [https://www.instagram.com/jenmarples/]
Jen’s TikTok I [https://www.tiktok.com/@jenmarples]
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