Quick Summary
In this powerful episode of The Moving On Method, host Michelle Dempsey-Multack sits down with Lauren Zander, founder of The Handel Group, to discuss the liberating reality of changing your mind and reinventing your life. With heartfelt candor and wit, Lauren shares how her own divorce at age 50 led to a radical midlife transformation—one rooted in truth-telling, self-awareness, and global adventure.
Together, they unpack the stigma around women making bold life changes—especially in midlife—and explore how embracing a fresh start isn’t weakness, but a profound act of self-respect. Lauren opens up about her journey from a “perfect-on-paper” marriage to solo travel and entrepreneurship in Croatia, and how telling the truth about what isn’t working is the first step to designing a life you love.
Listeners will walk away with tangible tools to stop self-betrayal, create personal accountability, and take bold action toward what’s next. Whether you’re post-divorce, mid-career, or simply feeling stuck, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone craving clarity, freedom, and purpose.
Meet the Guest
Lauren Zander is the founder and chairwoman of The Handel Group, a leading corporate consulting and life coaching company. Her signature method, Inner.U, has been taught at MIT, NYU, and beyond, empowering thousands to “learn to human better.” As the author of Maybe It’s You and the voice behind some of the most transformational coaching in the industry, Lauren blends no-nonsense honesty with radical compassion. She’s the life coach for people ready to tell the truth and design a new one.
The Big Idea
Changing your mind is not a failure—it’s freedom. This episode centers on the idea that shifting direction, especially as a woman, is often met with guilt or judgment. But according to Lauren Zander, recognizing that “this isn’t working” is actually the moment you reclaim your power. Whether it’s a marriage, career path, or life plan, changing course is a necessary evolution—not a shameful retreat. As Lauren says, “The miracle is when people admit they can change their mind.”
Key Takeaways from the Episode
- Telling the truth is the starting point of transformation. If you’re not being honest with yourself about what’s working (and what’s not), no meaningful change can begin.
- Design your life with intention. Use vision-setting in 12 key areas of life, then audit each one to see where you’re settling and what’s out of alignment.
- Stop self-betrayal. Most people break promises to themselves while honoring everyone else. Lauren’s framework flips this dynamic to build self-respect.
- Midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a recalibration. For many women, their 30s, 40s, and 50s are when they finally start living authentically. Don’t fear the shift—embrace it.
- You need a plan—and a support system. Whether it’s a divorce, career pivot, or reinvention, having a roadmap and accountability makes change feel possible.
Tools, Strategies, or Frameworks Mentioned
- The Life Colonoscopy™ — Lauren’s signature diagnostic tool that breaks life into 12 categories (love, career, health, etc.) and uses vision-setting plus self-audits to uncover where you’re stuck.
- The Inner.U Platform — A suite of digital coaching courses—Inner.U Life, Love, and Career—that blend on-demand modules, buddy systems, and weekly live classes for sustainable self-transformation.
- The Promise Tracker & Buddy System — Tools for building daily accountability to your higher self, reinforcing positive behavior and commitment to long-term goals.
- Truth-Telling Framework — A method that identifies seven common lies we tell ourselves and teaches how to replace them with radical honesty and aligned action.
Final Thoughts
“You’ve got to stop lying to yourself. That’s when you find your higher self.”
—Lauren Zander
This episode is a love letter to your future self—the one who’s brave enough to say, “I want more,” and wise enough to start now. Whether you’re reinventing your career, rebuilding after divorce, or just waking up to your own needs, the message is clear: You’re allowed to change your mind.
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