How to Start a New Chapter In Life | Happiness | LHS Classic

Have you been feeling ready to start a new chapter in life, but also unsure how to begin? Not because everything is falling apart, but because something inside you knows it’s time for more. In this classic episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, I’m joined by my colleague Dr. Lisa Severy to talk about how rewriting your story can open the door to real, lasting change—in your career, your relationships, and the way you see yourself.

Dr. Lisa specializes in narrative career counseling, a powerful approach that helps people understand the deeper life themes shaping their choices. We talk about why traditional career advice often misses the mark, how work and identity are deeply connected, and what it really takes to move forward when you feel stuck, restless, or quietly dissatisfied—even if your life looks “fine” from the outside.

This conversation is for you if you’re sensing that a new beginning is calling, but you don’t want to jump into another situation that looks different yet feels the same. Together, we explore how insight comes before action, why patterns tend to repeat when the internal story doesn’t change, and how giving yourself permission to rewrite old narratives can be one of the most meaningful decisions you ever make.

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 How to start a new chapter in life by rewriting your story
02:27 Meet Dr. Lisa Severy and the narrative approach to career change
06:18 Why traditional career counseling doesn’t work for real life change
11:14 Life themes, meaning, and choosing work that fits who you are
19:30 The emotional cost of staying comfortable but unfulfilled at work
23:30 What to do when you feel stuck and overwhelmed by options
29:24 Giving yourself permission to change and release old “shoulds”
35:27 The Great Resignation and reclaiming agency in your career
41:57 Why career patterns repeat when the internal story doesn’t change
47:54 A powerful exercise to clarify what’s missing in your next chapter
52:58 Final reflections and how to get support for your next chapter

I want you to know that you don’t have to figure your next chapter out on your own. One of the ways I support people at this point is by inviting them to schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my Growing Self team. It’s a private, secure space where you can talk honestly about what’s been feeling stuck, what’s been weighing on you, and what you hope might feel different going forward. You’ll answer just three quick questions, and we’ll help match you with the right counselor or coach for where you are right now. I hope you’ll see this as a small but meaningful gift to yourself as you begin shaping what comes next.

xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Growing Self