One of the toughest things to do after experiencing a life changing event is to get back in touch with your true identity.  Speaking from experience, this is easier said than done.  Why? Because for most of us, our identity becomes wrapped up in our careers, family, and social circle.  With so many opportunities to be on stage, it becomes uncomfortable to break down the rock star façade and feel worthy just for being ourselves.

A short time into retirement, I am feeling this pain and am trying to fix it by altering my work-centric mindset.  Self-worth is not tied to a job, popularity, or to being the greatest wife or parent on the planet.  If you struggle with this like I do, here are some reminders that your self-esteem is not what you have done but who you are.

In the journey of life, I have learned that perfection is an elusive rat hole that is unachievable.  It has taken retirement to bring me to this realization.  Without deadlines, there comes a clarity of spirit and mind.  Who would have thought it?  After due consideration, here are some of the simple strategies I have embraced to let go of perfection.

In case you have not noticed, July 11th is Amazon Prime Day and offers and deals are coming out of the yin-yang?  It seems that every blogger on the planet will be promoting this day of deals.  Me?  I want you to see the trees beyond the forest and get something for free with no strings attached. For two days, my eBook, Prepper’s Guide to Food Storage, will be free for everyone. Offer good July 11th and 12th.

Sometimes you just have to start. For the past three weeks I have said: “Self, today is the day I am going to start writing on Strategic Living”.  Ha!  Easier said than done! As a perfectionist, I wanted a perfect launch with a series of relevant (read interesting and useful) posts, and yet every thought, idea, and the potential topics seemed too darn fluffy and more of the same old stuff.

It has been three weeks since I stepped down from my role as the blogger in chief at Backdoor Survival and it is time to get on with it.  So, like a broken record, I will repeat: sometimes you just have to start.  

The best way to introduce Strategic Living is with a road map. For the third time in five years, I have redefined the steps toward living a strategic life. Many are tied to personal goals but in their own way, are also universal. Today I share them with you.