119. Finding joy in the struggle to stay open to life with Kathleen Quinn  episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 27, 2025 · 55 MIN

119. Finding joy in the struggle to stay open to life with Kathleen Quinn

from Courageous Me · host Kim Payne

If you’ve ever faced loss or change and wondered how you could stay open to life and find joy, this is for you.In this moving conversation, we hear from mindset coach Kathleen Quinn, who at 56 reinvented herself after retiring from a 35-year career at Stanford University.Just as she was embracing her new path, Kathleen faced the devastating loss of her husband, Michael, during the pandemic.Before he passed, he left her with a simple but profound request: “Struggle to stay open to life.” Those words became the compass that guided her through grief, heartbreak, change, and loss, and eventually helped her rediscover joy.Now at 63, Kathleen is living proof that it’s never too late to change your identity, feel deserving of abundance, and say yes to opportunities beyond your wildest dreams.From honouring her husband’s wisdom to becoming a mindset coach, to stepping into authorship and public speaking, Kathleen’s story is a powerful reminder that courage isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about staying open to what life places before you, even when it scares you.Kathleen’s purpose is to help people feel grounded, free, and fulfilled, and this episode will inspire you on your way. Key takeaways:o   How Kathleen’s husband’s final wishes became her guiding principle.o   What it takes to start a new career at 56 and take on a completely different identity.o   What grief can teach us about growth and understanding.o   The freedom that comes from releasing expectations of others.o   The difference between wealth and abundance.o   Why friendships may play different roles and how to accept them.o   The importance of asking for what you deserve and breaking old scarcity patterns.o   How living by your values keeps you aligned, even when resistance shows up. Where to find Kathleen:Website: Kathleen Quinn    LinkedIn: Kathleen Quinn   Get a copy of her book (where she’s a featured author). Infinite Impact – Stories of Alignment       Where to find me: Website: Kim Payne      LinkedIn: Kim Payne    Instagram: @iamkimpayne     Facebook: Kim Payne Biz     Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action  

If you’ve ever faced loss or change and wondered how you could stay open to life and find joy, this is for you.In this moving conversation, we hear from mindset coach Kathleen Quinn, who at 56 reinvented herself after retiring from a 35-year career at Stanford University.Just as she was embracing her new path, Kathleen faced the devastating loss of her husband, Michael, during the pandemic.Before he passed, he left her with a simple but profound request: “Struggle to stay open to life.” Those words became the compass that guided her through grief, heartbreak, change, and loss, and eventually helped her rediscover joy.Now at 63, Kathleen is living proof that it’s never too late to change your identity, feel deserving of abundance, and say yes to opportunities beyond your wildest dreams.From honouring her husband’s wisdom to becoming a mindset coach, to stepping into authorship and public speaking, Kathleen’s story is a powerful reminder that courage isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about staying open to what life places before you, even when it scares you.Kathleen’s purpose is to help people feel grounded, free, and fulfilled, and this episode will inspire you on your way. Key takeaways:o   How Kathleen’s husband’s final wishes became her guiding principle.o   What it takes to start a new career at 56 and take on a completely different identity.o   What grief can teach us about growth and understanding.o   The freedom that comes from releasing expectations of others.o   The difference between wealth and abundance.o   Why friendships may play different roles and how to accept them.o   The importance of asking for what you deserve and breaking old scarcity patterns.o   How living by your values keeps you aligned, even when resistance shows up. Where to find Kathleen:Website: Kathleen Quinn    LinkedIn: Kathleen Quinn   Get a copy of her book (where she’s a featured author). Infinite Impact – Stories of Alignment       Where to find me: Website: Kim Payne      LinkedIn: Kim Payne    Instagram: @iamkimpayne     Facebook: Kim Payne Biz     Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action

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119. Finding joy in the struggle to stay open to life with Kathleen Quinn

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The Field Priest Methodius Chwastek The Field is a place of cultivation and of battle. In the Church, we learn to cultivate a life pleasing to God. This life is shaped in the spiritual battle. This series examines, chapter by chapter, the Christian classic The Field, by Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Please join me as I explain this great work in terms the modern Orthodox Christian can understand.  Leading From All Sides Abbie Mirata Discover the various styles of leadership, from leading at the forefront to steering from behind, rising to the top or empowering from the bottom. We'll explore horizontal and vertical leadership, leading through your brand, and even leading in your most intimate relationships. Join me in engaging conversations with special guests who are leaders in their careers, communities, and families. Gain insights, perspectives, and invaluable lessons that challenge traditional notions of what it means to lead. Take Me Off Your List Pitchfire Ryan O'Hara, CEO and founder of Pitchfire dives into the wild world of B2B marketing, demand generation, sales, and all things go-to-market with the help of some friends. Sponsored by Pitchfire. Sign up for free: https://www.pitchfire.com Think Positive: Daily Affirmations Dachia Arritola The DogMom You've heard of affirmations, but have you used them successfully? Join me daily and I'll guide you through a very simple and brief activity where I'll give you a couple affirmations, a question to ask yourself and quote, all designed particularly for the person whose goal is to live at 100%. Affirmations work best when they are done regularly. Daily-if not a few times a day. I've also created a Podcast Companion book where you can keep all your affirmations and questions and quotes. A new book is published every 4 months. You can find a link to that podcast companion book on my website Dachia.com I also have a series of hiking videos designed for people who don't have such scenery to watch in their homes. And another series of videos designed to help regular person create their perfect refuge.All of these are parts of the big picture of Living at 100%.

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This episode was published on August 27, 2025.

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If you’ve ever faced loss or change and wondered how you could stay open to life and find joy, this is for you.In this moving conversation, we hear from mindset coach Kathleen Quinn, who at 56 reinvented herself after retiring from a 35-year career...

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