Starting Over Again In Midlife with Mia Shilkin
Mia Shilkin's story proves that our lowest moments can become the catalyst for our greatest transformations. After leaving an abusive relationship during COVID with no support system, starting over in a new state, and questioning everything she thought she knew about herself, Mia didn't just survive, she built two successful businesses and discovered a freedom she never knew was possible. Her raw honesty about the messy middle of midlife transitions reminds us that healing isn't linear, but courage is always an option.
Key Takeaways
Trust Your Gut, Even When It's Inconvenient
Mia ignored red flags she would have spotted professionally, proving that even experienced, educated women can find themselves in toxic situations. The moment she spoke her truth out loud—"I think I'm living with a narcissist"—she couldn't take it back, and that became her first step toward freedom.
Your Strict Upbringing Might Be Your Secret Weapon
What felt oppressive in youth became Mia's foundation for resilience. The discipline and boundaries her parents instilled gave her the tools to rebuild when everything fell apart. Sometimes the structure we rebel against becomes the strength we draw from.
Career Pivots Can Happen at Any Age
From youth counsellor to property strategist to business owner, Mia's career path shows that professional reinvention doesn't have an expiration date. Her diverse experiences. even the difficult ones, became the unique combination that makes her businesses successful today.
Isolation Can Be Healing When It's Your Choice
After years of walking on eggshells, Mia spent two years alone with her dogs, listening to self-help audiobooks and gardening. This intentional solitude wasn't loneliness, it was reclamation. Sometimes you need to get quiet to hear who you really are.
Freedom Means Deciding for Yourself
Mia's greatest joy is simple: "I can do what I want, when I want." After years of people-pleasing and trying to fit into others' expectations, she's learned that other people's opinions matter less than her own self-respect.
Your Next Chapter Starts Now
If Mia's story resonates with you, remember this: it's never too late to start over, and you don't need anyone's permission to choose yourself. Whether you're questioning a relationship, considering a career change, or simply feeling restless in midlife, trust that inner voice telling you something needs to shift.
Take one small step toward the life you actually want, not the one you think you should want. Connect with Mia at Mia Casa Property Strategy to learn about building wealth through strategic property investment or find your local D32 Business Growth Network for meaningful professional connections.
Learn more at miacasastrategy.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miacasastrategy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyinvestmentstrategist/
Most importantly, remember Mia's hard-won wisdom: you can do hard things, and your past doesn't define your future.
Connect with me
You’re invited to a transformative 4-hour event I’m co-hosting with women’s health GP Dr Sian Hebron on 18 July 2025 at the beautiful Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort. https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/shifting-tides
RE-IMAGINE: A personalised 1:1 six-week mentoring programme https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me
Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/
Email me your success story at jo@joclarkcoaching.com.
What you do today shapes your tomorrow. Your health matters because YOU matter.
Here’s to redefining midlife and making our next half of life even better than the first.
