Gen X Mindtraps: Unraveling Years of Generational Brainwashing

We are born a blank slate, a clean notebook with tremendous opportunity to write our story. Yet, our story isn’t really written by us. We transform based on the experiences that happen to us and around us and we carry those truths into adulthood and hold onto them as if they are our own.

In this episode, we are exploring how being a Gen Xer and how we grew up plays a tremendous role in who we are today. We want to uncover the thoughts and beliefs and talk through how to unravel those that aren’t working for you.

Latchkey Kid made us: 

• Fiercely independent generation 
• Have more guilt around being a mom and being there, alongside, almost babying our children

WHAT TO UNRAVEL: 

• It’s ok to ask for help 
• Your kids are ok 

Financial insecurity, not as much wealth made us: 

• Want to save money yet have had more setbacks and recessions
• Workhorses in the background and fraid to rock the boat
• Push to the highest of expectations, wanting us to do more, grown more and be more

WHAT TO UNRAVEL: 

• Making purchase decisions from a scarcity point of view or mindset 
• Automatically buying on credit thinking we need it now and this is the only way we’ll be able to afford it 
• Feeling like we have to overwork to do a good job and prove our worth 

Parents who were at their jobs for a very long time made us: 

• Think we need stability, staying in jobs longer, not asking for promotions

WHAT TO UNRAVEL: 

• Ask for a promotion! I used to think that if I worked hard I’d be noticed… not true! 
• Consider that stability is an illusion -- being at a job for a long time doesn’t mean you’ll retire from it 

Thinking we could have it all made us: 

• Confuse having it all with doing it all to maintain it all
• Live up to the expectations of others or creating unrealistic expectations for ourselves
• Push to be successful, financially secure, and stable over happy

WHAT TO UNRAVEL: 

• Remember we are worthy and good enough just as we are -- we don’t have to and can’t spin all the plates at once 
• Explore what WE want -- not what everyone else thinks we should want or do 

WHAT TO UNRAVEL: 

• Be aware of what stability looks like for you 
• Be honest about what it is that you want 

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts I Spotify I Google Podcast I Sticher

EPISODE RESOURCES

Articles + Podcasts: 

The Have it All Myth (podcast) 
Gen X and Our Money Mess (blog post)
Balance is Bullsh*t (blog post)

Free Resources:
Join Our Facebook Group: Just Gen X: Talking Business, Career + Life with Brave + Bold Women  
Guide: Saying No, Even When Your Inner Gen Xer Wants to Say Yes.

Get your free copy of our digital magazine, GEN neXt, The Voice of the Modern Gen X Woman. www.moderngenxwoman.com/gennext

GEN NeXt is a collection of insights from incredible organizations, women, and industry experts who have dedicated themselves to the same cause—turning up the volume of women 40+.

We're not just Gen X we're GEN neXt