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Today I am speaking with Susan Nefzger. She is a longtime communications professional who, after turning 50, pivoted from high-profile public relations work into coaching, writing and mentoring others on a journey of self-discovery.
After building a successful career in public relations with government agencies, nonprofits and healthcare organizations, Susan felt something was missing – even though, from the outside, her life looked complete.
A spontaneous decision to attend a writing retreat in Glastonbury, England, changed everything. There, Susan experienced what she described as a creative and spiritual “download” that ignited her purpose and inspired her to write her first book, titled “A Practical Guide to Awareness.”
In this episode, Susan shares:
- How to move from chasing external goals to discovering internal fulfillment.
- Why conscious living and self-awareness are the foundations of lasting joy.
- How simple practices like breathwork, vision boarding and daily journaling can help people become more present and feel more alive.
Whether she’s coaching corporate executives, leading small retreats or writing spiritual guides, Susan’s mission is to help people identify their passions, create meaningful routines and ultimately lead lives filled with love and intention.
After turning 50, Susan’s life took a dramatic turn from promoting state lotteries and hospital systems to nurturing the souls of individuals seeking more meaningful lives.
What gives Susan’s life purpose now is the opportunity to help others rediscover themselves, not through productivity hacks or career ladders, but through conscious awareness and personal growth.
While attending the writing retreat in Glastonbury, she mind-mapped her first book and began tapping into a creative force she never fully knew she had.
Since then, she has written multiple books to help others explore their inner lives and align their actions with their passions.
Today, Susan often works with midlife professionals or retirees as individuals or in small groups. She guides them through vision board exercises, breathwork, self-reflection and daily mindfulness practices.
She teaches people how to slow down and get present so they can hear the quiet whisper of their own longings.
Susan emphasized the importance of serving others, not as an obligation, but as a natural outflow of self-knowledge and alignment.
The loss of her mother further cemented her belief in the beauty of presence. Rather than dwelling on grief, she saw grace in the peaceful transition. Susan knows that, even in hardship, we can find meaning and light.
Now at peace with her path, Susan is writing her fourth book, “A Practical Guide to Love and Relationships.” She is also leading writing retreats in the South of France.
Susan continues to help people realize that joy doesn’t have to come from a major career or dramatic lifestyle change. It can be found in a cup of coffee, a quiet moment with a pet, or the courage to simply be still.
To learn more about Susan, her books, retreats and coaching, visit SeeingBeyondTheOrdinary.com.
Her books, “A Practical Guide to Awareness,” “A Practical Guide to Living Fearlessly,” and “Putting Awareness Into Practice,” are available on Amazon and in other bookstores.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
