Pace of Change is Exhausting!
Cheryl Gordon:Do you ever feel the pace of change is just… exhausting? Every time you finally figure out one new app or platform or “must-have” tool, another one pops up — and suddenly, you’re behind again.
For many midlife women, technology has become a new kind of stress — one that quietly chips away at our confidence and keeps us from sharing our purpose or following those long-held dreams.
By the end of today’s episode, you’ll be on a path to reconnect with your courage, purpose, and possibility — and learn how to embrace change without losing your sanity.
Welcome to episode number 39 of The Midlife Reset Podcast. I’m Cheryl Gordon, yoga therapist, mindfulness coach, and creator of the 5-Step Midlife Reset Masterclass, where I help women move from tired and stuck to strong, happy, and energized.
Meet Susanne
My guest today is Susanne Rieker, who knows this journey well. She’s spent years helping yoga teachers and entrepreneurs step into the online world with heart and confidence. Together, we’ll share our own stories of midlife reinvention — and how you can find the courage to take your next big step too.
I still remember when the biggest stress at work was learning how to use that first office computer back in the 80s. Fast-forward a few decades, and now we carry an entire digital universe in our hands — shopping, banking, even connecting socially. It’s no wonder so many midlife women quietly think, “I just can’t keep up.”
I’ve been there. I even tried stepping away from it all for a while, thinking retirement would be peaceful. But instead, it felt lonely — and honestly, boring. After decades of teaching, creating, and connecting through yoga, I realized I still had so much to share. So, here I am — dusting off my menopausal brain and facing the digital world head-on, one click at a time.
And I’m not doing it alone. Today’s guest has been a guiding light in that process — a mentor who truly understands midlife reinvention and tech overwhelm. Please welcome Susanne Rieker, joining us all the way from Spain. Hi, Susanne!
Susanne Rieker:Hi, Cheryl! Thank you so much for having me — I’m honored to be here.
Cheryl:Thank you for taking the time. I know you’re busy! I want to share more about your current work in a few moments, but first — tell us about your own midlife turning point. It’s so reassuring to me that you understand the physical, emotional, and mental challenges we face building something new in this season of life.
Susanne:Oh my gosh — where should we start? I was working in advertising, which is creative but so stressful. I loved parts of it, but it completely took over my life. Around age 41, I realized I didn’t want the career path I was on. So, I quit and became a freelancer.
Eventually, I decided to take a yoga teacher training in Bali — not to change careers, just to deepen my practice. But I fell in love with teaching, and with the island. I kept going back and forth between Germany and Bali until I finally thought, “What if I could make this work permanently?”
I didn’t even know online business was possible back then, but I started helping yoga teachers with their websites, discovered online courses — and everything shifted.
What is your midlife longing?
Cheryl:I love that. And I think so many of us can relate to that longing — knowing there’s something more meaningful calling us, but being afraid to start again.
I see it in the women who join my Midlife Reset Masterclass— they think they’ve lost motivation, but really, it’s their inner compass trying to redirect them. Once they rebuild their energy and confidence, courage just flows naturally.
You and I both tolerated that inner longing for a while before going all in. What do you think finally pushes women to make that big change?
Susanne:For me, yoga played a huge part. I’d been burned out so many times and didn’t even know what I was feeling. Yoga helped me tune in, listen to what was really going on. And once you start listening, you can’t not change.
It’s rarely one big leap — it’s small steps that build confidence. For me, it started with doing the teacher training, then realizing I could actually teach. Every small win built on the last one.
Cheryl:Yes — a shoutout for yoga! That’s such an empowering perspective.
You now help so many heart-centered entrepreneurs — yoga teachers, coaches, creatives — who are stepping into the online world. Can you share a story that inspires you, especially of a midlife woman who made that shift?
Inspiring Stories
Susanne:Absolutely. One of my clients, Lisa Gardner, is a life coach in Canada. She’s been doing this work for over 25 years. In her 60s, she said, “I don’t want to work as much, but I don’t want to earn less.” So, we packaged her wisdom into an online offer — and it completely changed her life.
I see so many women like her — wise, powerful, and ambitious — who still have so much to share. A little tech challenge isn’t going to stop us!
Cheryl:I love that. And you’re right — it’s not as hard anymore.
When I launched the first SHE Mindfulness Program last fall, I was so nervous. I wanted to guide other women through the same transformation I’d experienced, but I didn’t realize how powerful it would be until I heard from participants. One woman told me her relationships improved, she felt more grounded, and — get this — she started weight training. Her goal is to compete as a weightlifter for her 70th birthday!
Susanne:That’s incredible!
Cheryl:It really is. That’s why I love this online world — it lets us reach people we never could before.
From your perspective, why are online courses such a powerful way to learn and grow?
Power of Online Learning
Susanne:Because they give you structure, support, and community. You can Google anything, but that doesn’t mean you’ll take action. A course gives you a pathway — someone guiding you step by step. It’s so much more powerful than information alone.
Cheryl:Exactly. That’s why I built the Midlife Reset Community — to give women small, doable steps they can start right away, even if big change sounds intimidating. It’s about connection, not perfection.
You’ve talked a lot about experimenting and evolving your business over the years. How do you handle perfectionism when it creeps in?
Susanne:Oh, it definitely does! But I’ve learned not to get stuck in the details. My motto is, “Done is better than perfect.”
Cheryl:Yes! One of my teachers says, “If it’s a B+, put it out.”
Now before we wrap up, I want to touch on AI. You mentioned ChatGPT earlier — how do you see tools like that shaping our work?
The Future of AI
Susanne:Honestly, I try not to worry about what I can’t control. AI has both positives and negatives — it’ll revolutionize things like healthcare, but also change the creative world forever. It’s coming whether we like it or not, so we might as well learn how to use it in ways that support our purpose.
Cheryl:That’s my take too — it’s about balance. For me, AI helps me share yoga and mindfulness with more women who need it.
And that’s really what today’s episode has been about — midlife isn’t a decline. It’s a recalibration. When we stop chasing every new thing and start aligning with what truly matters, our energy, clarity, and courage all come back.
Suzanne, your Blissful Biz Academy has been such a source of guidance for me — and for hundreds of others. Thank you for showing us that reinvention is possible at any age.
Susanne:Thank you, Cheryl — this was so much fun.
Ready for YOUR Midlife Reset?
Cheryl:And to our listeners — if you’re ready to take that next big step, to rebuild your energy and confidence so you can follow those big dreams — join my free 5-Step Midlife Reset Masterclass. You’ll learn how to move from tired and teary and tech-stressed to calm, capable, and courageous.
You’ll find the link in the show notes — along with a link to Suzanne’s work.Thank you so much for listening, and thank you, Suzanne. Namaste.
Susanne:Thank you, Cheryl.
