Rewriting the Stories That Steer Your Life
The Cockpit – Understanding the First Step in the Aging Flipped Flight Plan
A few years ago, I had a client—let’s call her Susan. She had read every self-help book, listened to every podcast, and filled journal after journal with reflections and insights. But despite all her knowledge, she still felt stuck, cycling through the same self-doubt and shame.
"I already know this stuff, but I still can’t follow through."
"I guess I’m just broken."
Susan’s story is not unique. Many women in midlife find themselves at this crossroads—knowing what they should do but struggling to make lasting change. That’s where the Aging Flipped Flight Plan comes in, and it all starts with The Cockpit.
What Is The Cockpit and Why Does It Matter?
The Cockpit is your inner command center—the place where your beliefs, thoughts, and inner dialogue reside. These beliefs shape your emotions, guide your actions, and ultimately determine your outcomes in life.
Your thoughts create your feelings.
Your feelings drive your actions.
Your actions lead to your results.
If your inner dialogue is stuck on “I always give up,” your life will keep circling the same runway. But here’s the good news:
🎯 You are the pilot.
And you can shift your mental altitude at any time.
How to Shift Your Mental Altitude: The Altitude Shift
One of the simplest but most effective tools I use in coaching is called The Altitude Shift. This involves gently adjusting a negative thought—just enough to create movement without overwhelming your brain.
Instead of forcing yourself to believe "I’m amazing and unstoppable," (which can feel too far from where you are), try this shift:
“I always quit on myself.”
➡️ Shift to:
“Some women have figured this out. Maybe I can too.”
Small. Doable. And just enough of a shift to see things differently.
The Climb Sequence – Building Momentum
Just like a plane doesn’t jump straight to 30,000 feet, neither do we. We climb—one thought at a time. A Climb Sequence might look like this:
"This is hard."
"I’ve done hard things before."
"Maybe I can learn this too."
"I’m figuring out how to support myself."
"I honor my needs with my choices."
Each thought lifts you higher, helping you gain clarity, confidence, and calm.
A Client’s Journey: From Stuck to Soaring
Susan’s first shift was simple:
“Maybe I’m not broken. Maybe I just never had the right tools.”
That single shift gave her enough lift to start moving forward. She practiced reframing her thoughts, journaling again, and getting better sleep. Now, she tells me, “I’m becoming the grandma I used to wish I could be.”
That’s not magic. That’s mindset.
That’s the power of The Cockpit.
Try It for Yourself – A Simple Action Plan
If you’re ready to shift your altitude, try this today:
Catch a thought that’s keeping you grounded.
Shift it—find your Altitude Shift.
Climb—list 3 to 5 thoughts that feel like a rise.
Final Thought: You’re the Pilot Now
So let me ask you:
What thought has been flying your plane lately?
And what might change… if you shifted your altitude?
You are not too late. You are not too far gone.
🧠 You’re the pilot now. And it’s time to fly.
Ready to Go Deeper?
If this resonated with you, I want to invite you to book a Confidence Boarding Pass Call.
It’s a free 30-minute session where we look at:
Where you’re feeling stuck or foggy
Which engine needs attention
And one next step to help you move forward with clarity and peace
This is not a sales call.
It’s a support call.
You can book it right now [Click Here]
