Finding purpose in life can be challenging especially as we transition through life. For many women the empty nest, career changes and retirement can bring them to a point of ‘Why am I here?’, ‘What is my purpose?’
This week, I am delighted to introduce Maria Paterakis, The Midlife Counsellor who will be a regular guest in my Women Living Well Podcast & Youtube channels. Maria is warm, vivacious and just fun to be with and she knows from personal experience that life can throw obstacles and struggles our way. However, Maria suggests we should welcome these experiences as a way for personal growth and resilience.
In the conversation Maria shares her thoughts on understanding what life purpose actually is and also explains her top 5 benefits of connecting with your life purpose. I’ve provided a summary of the interview and you can catch the full conversation on Youtube by clicking on the image below or
Listen to the Podcast
I started the conversation by asking Maria: ‘What does life purpose actually mean?’
- That little thing that helps you get up everyday – the motivator
- It doesn’t have to be big – the expression of your purpose may change but the core purpose stays the same
- Finding the ‘thread’ through everything you do
- How you add value to those around you
5 benefits of connecting with your life purpose
- Life Purpose makes you more resilient.
- You have a lifetime focus and direction and expression
- It works best when it is linked to your values- what are core values and how do we link to them?
- It helps you diversify your income
- Essential to living a long and happy life
What does being A Woman Living Well mean to Maria
Firstly, being engaged with your purpose. A Woman who is open constantly to evolving, changing and growing as a person and knowing that who she is today doesn’t necessarily have to define who she is tomorrow….be in awe of life.
Maria Paterakis
Meet Maria
Maria has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology. As a wife, mum, and founder of 2 businesses….Maria is busy living her purpose and excited every day to get up and live her life.
She is the founder of The Midlife Counsellor and is also Co-Founder of the Cre8ive Hub, an online Marketing business.
Born to migrant Greek parents and raised in a multicultural society in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, Maria credits this upbringing to influencing who she is today. Despite obstacles and struggles Maria is grateful for these life experiences which have helped her personal growth and resilience.
Connect with Maria – The Midlife Counsellor
E3 Emotional Endurance Evolution – Private Support Group
19 Comments
Sue, what a wonderful conversation. I enjoyed meeting Maria and hearing her views on living with purpose and authenticity. She and you make some very good points about facing the challenges of aging and continually evolving and adapting to thrive within those challenges.
Enjoyed the conversation. I so identified with Maria’s comment about not seeing herself as ever being retired. I share this perspective and have always considered transition a repeatable process no matter at what age. Thank you Sue for your perspective of Embracing Life and helping others to do so too.
Hi Judith, thanks for visiting! We are on the same page regarding retirement and it is wonderful connecting with other women who feel the same. xx
Hi, Sue and Maria – I greatly enjoyed this conversation. Finding our purpose (and passion) is so important. You are so right that it doesn’t have to be big, but it does need to be meaningful to us. When we have purpose, we are better connected.. And when we are connected, we are more resilient and confident. Thank you for this thought provoking interview.
Hi Donna, I found Maria’s thoughts on life purpose very interesting and hadn’t thought about it in relation to the benefits she outlined. I love the part about telling our story. x
Thanks, Sue – I continued to think about Maria’s and your discussion throughout the week. That’s the sign of a great podcast! #MLSTL
Purpose and meaning truly is the key – it makes it easier to get up on those days when the get up and go has got up and gone. I too don’t intend to retire – although I do intend to retire from my day job, I hope I still have stories to tell for much longer than that.
Retire isn’t in my vocabulary Jo! I’m meeting women through my conversations with the same thoughts around retirement and it really motivates me. xx
Hi Sue, Thank you for introducing Maria to us. I was going to try downloading the podcast for my walk, and ended up listening to it at home. I think Deb says she downloads it?
Maria’s philosophy of looking at life’s obstacles and struggles as a way for personal growth and resilience resonated with me. I also appreciate the words “evolving, changing and growing as a person…”
What is our “story” gave me goosebumps. I am looking at the front page of my birthday card from my husband “It’s true that your birthday is one single day, a page in the story we know as our life”. (I will email you cover)
Sue, you ask great questions. I love Maria’s responses. Very real and doable tools for growth. I can feel the comfortable chemistry between the two of you. Two caring, compassionate women with a genuine passion for helping people. xx
Sue, I am back again with #MLSTL and sharing on SM. This podcast is great and gave me lots of food for thought. I look forward to the next ones. xx
Passed on to a friend – I’ll try to listen later. I don’t know if I beleive we have a life’s purpose but we do need a purpose in life., However that can change over time…look forward to hearing what you say. #MLSTL
Hi Sue and Maria – I enjoyed this conversation. I agree with you that finding and connecting to our life purpose is essential to living a long and happy life. I love the advice to be in awe of life. #MLSTL
I agree that we all need to have a purpose. I would say that’s especially important in retirement. There have been a few tunes in my life where my purpose has been challenged but I’ve mostly managed to keep sight of it.
Hi Sue and Maria – I haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but am leaving the post open so I can come back to it – I think it’s wisdom I could definitely apply to this latest “phase” I seem to be going through atm! It’s great to have expert advice available at a timely point for me.
Thanks again for your great podcasts Sue and for sharing all these parties with me. I’ve added this to my SM. x #MLSTL
Thanks for the interview. I especially liked the section on diversifying your income. A great reminder, espeically now when people are realizing they need to have income coming in from more than one source. The nooks and crannies of life, love that description.
I believe we have purpose in our lives but that it is set by us. I know that there are other meanings too. I believe that my purpose is to continue to grow and learn as I hope others do too. Sue, you are providing your community with a lot to learn and consider in this means. Well-done on the different media with which you are doing so.
Thank you too for this link up each Wednesday for over 2.5 years. I will miss the space to share and to get to know other bloggers. I am not sure if you are continuing to blog but I would like to think (and hope!) you would link up back on Mondays for Life This Week when you can. Warmest wishes, Denyse @mlstl
Hi Denyse I agree and I like Maria’s idea of a purpose staying the same but changes relative to what is happening in our lives. Yes it will be sad to finish MLST and I will still be at your link up. Thanks for your good wishes and for being part of #MLSTL xx
I enjoy listening to you and your guests Sue and Maria was another great interview! Good advice and interesting insights we can all take something from. Sharing for #mlstl. Thanks to you both for your time and your thoughts.
Hi Deb, I’m really looking forward to having Maria as my guest as she is full of energy and also lots of good information. x