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46 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com James Pennebaker, Chair of Psycholog y at the University of Texas at Austin, coined the term "expressive w riting." In his landmark research, oen referred to as the Pennebaker Paradigm, he developed an expressive w riting prompt to uncover the health benefits of w riting about emotional turmoil. Since the initial experiment, the paradigm has been replicated in dozens of studies confirming a f undamental principle of health psycholog y that establishes an important connection between emotions and health. Expressive w riting deals w ith feelings more than events, memories, objects or people. It is oen turbulent and erratic rather than a linear stor y line w ith a beginning , middle and end. It's not so much about what happened as it is about how it makes you feel. Expressive w riting pays no aention to rules or propriety; it is simply an expression of your mind and heart. A New Story A er tak ing the time to evaluate and reframe your past, you are free to w rite a new stor y. e beauty of modern life is that you have the chance to be the author of your ow n tale. Women are no longer relegated to limited paths. Whether you are just starting out in your 20s or starting over in your 60s, there are boundless opportunities before you. You no longer even need Prince Charming...your happily ever aer can begin right now. Countless Baby Boomer women are opting to start a new career or business rather than retire. A friend of mine recently entered law school in her 50s. In 2014, the SBA reported that Baby Boomers represented the largest percentage of small business ow ners at 8.3%, compared w ith 7.6% for Generation X and only 2% for Millennials. "ey are wanting a second half that is f ull of purpose and meaning , using the sk ills and w isdom they have acquired over a lifetime," says Bevan Rogel, founder of Encore Tampa Bay. Creating a new stor y line can take on many forms. One of the favored techniques among therapists is a vision board which beautif ully illustrates the life of your dreams. Believe it or not, visualization really works. For decades Olympians have used the technique to improve performance, beginning w ith the Soviets in the 1970s. Psycholog y Today reported that the brain paerns that light up while weightliing hundreds of pounds are similar to those when simply imagining liing weights. Numerous studies confirm the connection between thoughts and behaviors as a vital link to achieving your best life. When you design a vision board w ith focus and purpose, it becomes a tool to help you set goals and map a path to your ideal life. It ser ves as motivation and a reminder about the road that you are travelling and the destination you desire. Unlike w rien goals, a vision board represents the stor y you are hoping to create rather than specific steps, allow ing you to be flex ible w ith your path. Focus on how you want to feel in addition to material possessions and accomplishments. Think about ever y aspect of your personal and professional lives: Health, Family, Life Partner, Friends, Spiritualit y, Leisure, Career and Money. Consider all of these aspects when compiling pieces for your board. " " When writing the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen. ~Anonymous 46 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com

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