Redefining Ageing – featuring Faith Agugu, Founder of Silver Sirens
When we reflect on the successes we’ve had earlier in life, growing older comes with the challenge of society’s stereotypes about women at the intersection of mature age. Consequently, many of us feel a sense of loss when the “nest” becomes empty. Many of the everyday tasks that used to fill our days vanish.
But what if instead of despair, we could feel excited about our next life chapter?
As the Founder of Silver Sirens, an organisation taking the lead in positive ageing for women 50+, Faith Agugu sees ageing as an opportunity for women to redirect energy to themselves.
In Episode four of the WNA Trailblazers podcast, we hear from this powerhouse of a woman as she shares insights on how to approach ageing differently and take back our personal power.
Redirect your energy
As women age, it is common for them to be worried about becoming irrelevant, according to Faith. They’re no longer going hold to an important position in their children’s lives, however this isn’t a bad thing.
Faith explains the importance of redirecting this energy to something else, whether that be a business you’ve always dreamt of starting but never had the time, or a hobby you had when you were younger that you would like to take up again.
It all comes down to embracing new opportunities and redirecting your energy towards growing the kind of world you want to live in and leave behind for future generations.
Reflection aka ‘emotional and mental stocktaking’
Use this as a natural development stage; a time to reflect or, as Faith calls it, ‘emotional and mental stocktaking’. Because we’ve made decisions in our 20s and 30s that were fine then, but are no longer going to be relevant or useful for us when we move into the next phase of our lives.
Now ask yourself these two questions. What are my current values? Are there relationships in my life that are no longer serving me?
Build your own table
Bring your wisdom in and look to develop positions of mentoring and guiding. For example, if you see a woman wanting to start their own business, champion them and encourage them.
“It’s that stuff around waiting for people at the table. Instead, build your own table so that we can create businesses on our own terms rather of trying to remove broken systems,” says Faith.
Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate
Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from the women around us. There are endless skills and resources we can share. Working in collaboration with others who share your interests and values will provide a stronger foundation, enabling you to reach a higher level of success than you would on your own.
Connection + collaboration = growth and success.
“I think what I love about women is an open-heartedness to collaborate, to support each other, and that makes me so excited,” says Faith.
To hear more insights into redefining ageing, connect with WNA Trailblazers. LISTEN TO EPISODE 4 AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
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