AboutLeslie Truex Expertise My expertise is in helping moms, in particular rediscover their dreams and goals in the midst of being a mom, wife etc, and helping people identify their passions and dreams, and create an action plan to achieve them.
Experience Aside from having created my own life plan that encompasses my roles as wife and mother and includes the creation of my own work situation (from home) and provides for personal pursuits (writing), I have a background in counseling and have worked since 1998 helping people find balance in their lives.
Publications My writings have appeared all over the internet on various websites and ezines.
Expert: Leslie Truex Date: 6/25/2008 Subject: lost myself
Question I'm a forty year old mum of five children the eldest is 18 the youngest 3 ,for quite some time I have felt that there has been something missing in my life I have spent the past 18 years caring for my children which I have loved but over the past 6 months or so I have found myself looking for me I suppose I seem to have lost my identity as an individual and am not sure how to go about finding me again. I have read many books and articles about finding yourself but so far nothing has really helped would be grateful for any advice
Answer Hi Claire,
Its not unusual for moms to come to a point where they wonder what happened. They get lost in the roles of mom, wife, nursemaid, driver, cook, etc. And because its many years in the making, sometimes its hard to figure out how to change it.
Another problem is when you're feeling down, you don't have much energy to enact change. So the first thing to do is to get you energized. Or at least enough energy that you can make some changes. What I'm going to suggest may sound unusual or even vain, but psychologically it can make big impact. Take some time each day to do self-care activities. Get dressed in something flattering (not just comfortable), put on a little make up, style your hair. Do something first thing each day that involves you taking care of you.
The next step is to find something you're passionate about. This can be hard because you haven't had time or thought about your interests. Start with things that enjoyed before you became a wife and mom. Do any of those things interest you now? This takes the self-care issue one step further by finding a hobby or interest that can nurture your spirit. Consider taking a class or joining a group of other moms who enjoy similar interests.
Continue the reading as it can help inspire you and give you ideas. But keep a journal of your thoughts and ideas.
Finally, consider some counseling. Books and advice from me can give you start, but an object third person can provide ongoing support and insight to help you further.
