Unfucking Midlife with Ashley Kelsch

Ever look around and think, “I can’t believe this is my life”? You’re not failing—you’re human, and midlife has a way of making even the most accomplished among us question everything. Today on Unfucking Midlife, I am digging into the shame, comparison, and identity shifts that hit hard in midlife—and how to flip the script, understand what’s really happening in your brain and body, and turn “Is this it?” into “How can I make this matter?” In This Episode: What You’ll Discover: * The shame spiral: Feeling embarrassed about where you are and why you’re not alone * Gap vs Gain thinking: Dan Sullivan and Dr. Hardy’s powerful framework that changes everything * Momentum vs milestones: The difference between busy work and meaningful progress * Professional identity shifts: From “I used to be somebody” to “I’m becoming someone new” * The Hedonic Horizon: Why happiness keeps moving and how to keep up * Ownership without blame: Forgiving your past choices and reclaiming your power * Starting over as a beginner: Why curiosity is your midlife superpower The Real Cost of Staying Stuck * How constant comparison and “gap thinking” trigger stress and anxiety * Why social media makes it harder to feel content * What chasing outdated identities does to your confidence and energy Practical Tools You Can Use Today * Gain inventory: Write down three things you learned, one problem you solved each week * Ownership mantra: “I made the best decision I could with what I knew then” * Aligned action: One small step this week toward what actually matters * Time audit questions: “Is this serving me? Do I really want this? Is this current or outdated?” Key Quotes: * “Who decided by 50 you should have the dream career, perfect marriage, ideal body, and financial security? Show me this person—I have questions.” * “Midlife isn’t a decline—it’s a recalibration. You’re not running out of time; you’re running out of patience for what doesn’t matter.” * “Your best decisions were made with the tools and capacity you had then. Forgive yourself and move forward.” Share This Episode If this episode hits home, share it. Send it to a friend who’s questioning everything in midlife, post it to your stories, or bring it up in your group text. There’s a message here someone you know needs to hear. Listen or Watch: You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch the full episode on YouTube. Subscribe to my channel for the video version of every episode plus bonus content. Today’s Episode is Supported By: Sexual wellness—and moving through perimenopause—is a huge part of Unfucking Midlife. Finding products that actually work and feel good in your body is transformative. I’m thrilled to share Foria’s newest product, Mellow, a magnesium drink designed to calm the nervous system, ease stress, lift brain fog, and promote restful sleep—without the crash or grogginess of traditional aids. It’s so much more than magnesium. Mellow’s science-backed blend includes: * Three highly bioavailable forms of magnesium (lactate gluconate, aquamin, glycinate) * GABA and L-theanine to calm the mind * 70+ essential trace minerals for whole-body support Get 20% off at foriawellness.com/unfuckingmidlife. Unfucking Midlife is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Unfucking Midlife at ashleykelsch.substack.com/subscribe