Success Starts with Your Brain

December 03, 2025

Success Starts with Your Brain: Foundational Insights for Women Over 50
In the second episode of Renew Her, brain fitness coach Genell Lemley highlights the profound importance of brain health in every aspect of life. She emphasizes the often-ignored role the brain plays in our overall well-being, success, and happiness.

This episode delves into common cognitive issues such as forgetfulness, lack of focus, and mood swings, explaining how they can affect various aspects of life, from work to relationships. Genell reassures listeners that these challenges are common but addressable, stressing that the brain is adaptable and can improve at any age. She shares personal anecdotes and actionable tips on how small daily choices can strengthen the brain, ultimately enhancing clarity, confidence, and energy.

The episode invites listeners to become more aware of their cognitive states and encourages taking manageable steps towards better brain health, reinforcing the mantra: 'renew your brain, renew your life.'

00:00 Introduction: The Overlooked Power of the Brain
00:28 Welcome to RenewHer: Meet Your Host
00:57 The Foundational Role of the Brain in Your Life
02:57 The Impact of Brain Health on Work and Daily Life
03:59 Emotional and Physical Consequences of Brain Fatigue
06:00 The Changeable Nature of the Brain
06:49 Practical Choices to Renew Your Brain
07:37 Invitation to Self-Awareness and Future Episodes
08:26 Conclusion: Embrace What's Possible

Episode Transcript

We tend to ignore our brains until there's a problem. We think about our hearts, we think about our weight, we think about our skin, even our hair, but the brain, the organ running, the entire show, we rarely give it to the attention it deserves. And that's a huge missing piece because your brain is your greatest competitive advantage, not just at work, but in life.

Welcome to Renew her, a podcast for women over 50 ready to reignite their energy and explore what's next. I'm Genell Lemley, brain fitness coach. Here you'll hear real stories from women taking on new challenges after 50, along with brain health tips to boost focus, energy, and the mindset to move forward with confidence.

Let's dive into today's episode.

Hey there, and welcome back to the second episode of RenewHer. I'm so glad you're here. Today, we're talking about something foundational, something that affects every part of your life, even though most people rarely think about it. And that is your brain. I know that may sound simple, but it's actually profound.

Your brain is involved in everything. Your health. Your success. Your happiness. Your creativity. Your relationships. Your thoughts. Your emotions. Your decision-making. Your memory. And I can't forget to mention your beating heart, your breathing, and the blood flowing through your veins, essentially, all those behind-the-scenes operations that keep you alive without you even noticing.

Your brain is the command center for everything you do. It's the organ behind your intelligence, your character, your personality, and every choice you make. So when I say success starts with your brain, I mean it in the most literal sense. And you'll hear me say that often because it's the foundation of everything we'll talk about here.

It's the starting point for your energy, your clarity, your mood, your confidence, and your success. Let me put it this way. When your brain works right, you work right, but when your brain is struggling, you feel it in every area of your life.

We tend to ignore our brains until there's a problem. We think about our heart, we think about our weight. We think about our skin, even our hair. But the brain? The organ running, the entire show? We rarely give it the attention it deserves. And that's a huge missing piece because your brain is your greatest competitive advantage, not just at work, but in life.

So I want to ask you something. Would you like to have a healthier brain? I'm guessing the answer is yes.

Think about this. The way your brain works or isn't working influences how you show up at work, in your relationships, in stressful situations, and in all those quiet moments you never talk about.

Let's talk about how this shows up at work. It often shows up in ways that feel subtle at first. Maybe you can't remember details the way you used to. You walk into a room and forget why. Words don't come as quickly. You lose focus in conversations. You reread emails because your mind drifted mid-sentence. Have you experienced any of these? I know I have. And it's frustrating, right?

An unhealthy brain can lead to forgetfulness. Not remembering something from a meeting. Missing a deadline. Or feeling you have to write everything down just to function. Over time, this chips away at your confidence.

And it doesn't stop there. Your brain also affects your ability to focus. You sit down to work, and suddenly you're responding to emails, checking a text, staring at your desk, scrolling, checking social media, refilling your coffee. Anyone done any of those before? Focus becomes effort, and when focus is hard, productivity feels impossible.

Your brain also plays a huge role in regulating your emotions. When it's not working optimally, you might notice irritability, a shorter fuse, feeling overwhelmed faster, or being more emotional than you used to be.

These shifts can affect your relationships, your leadership, and your confidence at work. And it doesn't stop there. Decision-making is yet another area your brain impacts. When it's tired or stressed, making choices feels harder. You hesitate. You second-guess yourself. You start thinking, why can't I handle things like I used to? This can trigger imposter syndrome even among women who have been successful throughout their careers.

And yes, your brain affects your physical energy too. If your brain is exhausted, your body feels exhausted. You can sleep eight hours and still feel tired. It's not just physical. Your brain is tired.

So if you've noticed brain fog, forgetfulness, low focus, low energy, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, or just feeling slower than you used to, your brain is signaling you. It needs care. It needs support. It needs to be prioritized. And if you're listening and thinking these things have happened to me, and wondering, is what I'm experiencing normal? Is it just me?

Let me reassure you. You are not alone, and you are not imagining it. But just because you're not alone doesn't mean that it's supposed to or needs to be this way. I'll get back to that in a minute.

For now. Take a moment with me. Think back to a time this week when you felt foggy, drained, or overloaded. What was happening? How did it feel in your body? Just notice it. No judgment. Just notice it.

These moments matter. They're clues. They are signals your brain is sending. And awareness is the first step toward change.

And if you're wondering if it can be changed, yes, it can. Here's the thing you may not be aware of. Your brain isn't fixed. It isn't set in stone, and it doesn't simply decline because you hit 45 or 50 or some magic age.

You can change your brain at any age. So that's what I meant when I said, even though you're not alone, it doesn't mean that it's supposed to or needs to be this way. Your brain is changeable. It's adaptable. It's constantly rewiring, responding, and reshaping itself based on how you live your life. And that's exactly why this matters.

And the beautiful thing is, since your brain is changeable, it can grow, it can heal, it can strengthen at any age. Truly, it's never too late to renew your brain.

So what does this mean for you? It means you have more power than you think. The small daily choices you make:

What you eat- a salad instead of a cookie.

How you sleep- 7 to 9 hours versus five.

How you move- taking a walk instead of watching television.

How you manage stress- taking time for meditation or deep breathing instead of powering through.

All of these influence your brain. And when your brain strengthens, your life strengthens. Your clarity improves. Your memory improves. Your focus sharpens. Your confidence returns. Your energy rises. You feel like yourself again.

This is what started to happen to me when I regained control of my health and wellness after my husband passed away years ago. This is why we start here, at the foundation, because when you renew your brain, you renew your life.

Here's an invitation for this week. Pay attention. Notice how you feel at different points in your day: when your thinking is clear, when your mind feels foggy, when your energy dips, when you feel sharp and alert.

Awareness is the first step toward lasting change. Take that awareness with you. Your brain is talking, and now you're finally listening.

As we move forward in this podcast, not only will we talk about how to strengthen your brain through the pillars of the RenewHer framework, but we'll also hear inspiring stories from women who have taken bold steps after 50.

Because you're not here to fade, you're here to step into your next chapter with clarity, power, and purpose. Remember, you're never too old to dream a new dream or set a new goal. It's time to renew, not retreat.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of RenewHer. If today's conversation sparked something in you, don't let it fade. Take even a small step toward what's next. If you've found value in what you heard, please subscribe, leave a review, or share this podcast with a woman who's ready to take her next bold step.

Together we're building a community of strong, resilient women navigating what's next with courage and purpose. Until next time, stay energized and keep embracing what's possible.