What Do I Do Now? The Secrets of a Midlife Reboot
The Real Brass Ring takes The Secret on a high-speed road test in a tale of midlife transformation in the real, flesh-and-blood world of contemporary Chicago. It is the story of a "midlife reboot," a raw, unfiltered journey of enlightenment that illustrates a woman's daunting personal reinvention and the rewards of fearlessly pursuing a life's true calling.
After a jolting encounter with internationally known psychic and author Sonia Choquette, Dianne Bischoff James is forced to face the truth about her life. Sonia's words cut like a knife:
Dianne, you are a talented writer, healer, teacher and performer. But sadly your life is heading down the wrong path. Your brass ring is coming by and you need to grab it before it's too late. You have modeled yourself after your parents' desires. You are completely stuck in the make-believe role of being a 'good girl.' You live with depression because nothing about your life is your own. … Fix your ways or soon it will be too late.
Dianne had achieved an impressive education, an accomplished entrepreneurial career, a busy family life and social status; yet somehow, she had completely missed "the real brass ring." Although she had had a perfectly "traditional" background, her marriage was a sham, career uninspiring, health failing and self-esteem and spirituality non-existent. At 38, it was as if she had awakened to a nightmare: she had been living a profound lie.
Finding herself completely off-track, Dianne openly bares her soul and utilizes the metaphysical principles of The Secret to set out to change every aspect of her existence. She insists that she is worthy of an authentic romantic relationship and initiates the break-up of her marriage, with three children in tow; and dives into midlife "cougar" dating, including a close call with a charming but dangerously abusive alcoholic. By experimenting with the Law of Attraction, she also launches the acting career she had always dreamed of as a child and surprises even herself with success in an extremely competitive arena. Gradually, yet boldly, Dianne also faces other critical issues, including physical afflictions, a terrifying financial recession and the death of a loved one - removing each daunting roadblock one by one and manifesting a newly-created self.
"I'd approached every change as a free fall, diving through the air and grabbing at brass rings along the way," Dianne writes. "I'd made more mistakes than I could even count, but I also absorbed the painful, yet innately valuable teachings … Now, I had what I wanted all along, emotional peace, love, a uniquely sculpted family unit, an outlet for my creativity and a new life in hand … This was the picture Sonia painted for me on my 38th birthday - it just took me over a decade to erect the living model from the shadows."
By chronicling her own personal reinvention with grit, humor, incisiveness and compassion in The Real Brass Ring, Dianne provides the inspiration and passion others need to reclaim their authentic self.
"From miserable to meaningful, an inspiring story of a midlife reboot..."Are you ready to take charge of your life and to create positive lasting change, once and for all? "The Real Brass Ring" provides inspiration for anyone in midlife who feels the train has pulled out of the station to become fearless and climb back on board; to face the truth about their lives and to consciously connect with their true purpose, regardless of how far removed they feel from their home, their body, their business, their loved ones, or their creative pursuits.After a jolting encounter with internationally known psychic and author Sonia Choquette, Dianne Bischoff was forced to face the truth about her life: "Dianne, you are a talented writer, healer, teacher and performer. But sadly your life is heading down the wrong path." Your brass ring is coming by and you need to grab it before it's too late. You have modeled yourself after your parents' desires. You are completely stuck in the make-believe role of being a 'good girl.' You live with depression because nothing about your life is your own," relayed Sonia during their session.Dianne had achieved an impressive education, entrepreneurial career, family life and social status but she had completely missed the "Real Brass Ring."At forty, Dianne boldly embarks on a journey to deconstruct her unsatisfying existence. She details her struggles to reset the clock by utilizing her business acumen and modern metaphysical skills to battle depression, weight loss, divorce, midlife "cougar" dating, physical afflictions, the recession, an encore career, and even the death of a loved one. Through trials, tears, and tenacity she renovates her entire life and discovers the formula for living complete fulfillment.Chapters include: "Outed" by a PsychicStinking ThinkingThe American DreamChasm of the HeartRecession, the Great EqualizerDeconstruction CentralMasks and TemptationThe Bountyand more"The Real Brass Ring" is the story of a Midlife Reboot. It'
