E154 Mary’s Girl Crush – Jennifer Louden
Okay, I love Jennifer Louden. There, I said it.
I learned a lot during our conversation and I am just giddy to share it with you.
Jen is one of those rare people who is comfortable enough with herself that she simply shares her thoughts without first deciding just how much she should share. I love that. So refreshing.
Another delight for me is that when her publicist contacted me, asking if Jen could be a guest (YES, they asked me- how fun is THAT?) it was made clear that Jen is not promoting anything right now – is between projects and in writing mode. Again I say, how refreshing!
So, we talk about the beginnings of her writing career, the differences in the struggles of women in their 20s vs. our 50s, how our brains don’t always serve us, and she even forgets her age.
Jen also shares how she became a successful businesswoman after she stopped waiting for other people to validate her value or “pick her”. She now hires and manages her own team, the best team she has ever had. High five!
Jen is currently in the process of writing her next book, titled at this point, Why Bother. This will be her first self-published book and she anticipates a publication date in late spring/early summer 2020. Today, she gives us a bit of a preview in discussing the idea of life is river as said by John O’Donohue,
” I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”
From here, the idea of surrendering to the flow of life instead of battling against the circumstances of daily living and the losses which we naturally experience at this age. Although surrender seems a passive response, Jen explains in detail why surrender is not an easily assumed position.
A homework assignment
Never one to miss an opportunity to share her wisdom and encourage self-awareness, Jen leaves listeners with a personal challenge at the end of our conversation.
I encourage you to spend some delicious time on her website here. Her programs include some specifically for writing while others are more transformational and goal-oriented.
Enjoy!
BIO:
Jennifer Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the concept of self-care with her first best-selling book The Woman’s Comfort Book. Since then, she’s written six additional books on well-being and whole living, with a million copies of her books in print in nine languages. Jennifer has spoken around the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has written a national magazine column for Martha Stewart magazine. Plus, she’s been profiled or quoted in dozens of major magazines, two of Brené Brown’s books Daring Greatly and Dare to Lead, appeared on hundreds of TV, radio shows and podcasts, and even on Oprah.
Jennifer has been teaching women’s writing and self-care retreats since 1992 and creating vibrant online communities and innovative learning experiences since 2000. She married the love of her life at 50 and is profoundly proud to be mom to Lillian and bonus mom to Aidan.
SOCIAL:
Website | www.jenniferlouden.com
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/jenlouden.writer/
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/user/jenniferlouden
Twitter | @jenlouden
