As the English entertainer Max Bygraves once said: “I wanna tell you a story.” This one begins in May 2010, just over a year after 40 And Still Fabulous was first published, at a seminar on e-books and self-publishing in Sydney with my friend, the late author Cam Lavac.
The seminar host, Madisen Harper, captivated a room full of published writers with practical insights on how to self-publish digitally—without a publisher. Little did I know that a chance encounter with Harper at a BBQ in January 2012 would spark a friendship that would profoundly influence my understanding of happiness and fulfilment.
Harper isn’t just a self-publishing guru; she’s a human potential expert. Having left the corporate world to launch her own fashion business, she developed strategies that helped countless people transform their lives by changing their attitudes, behaviours, and environments. The success of her clients inspired her bestselling book limitLESS®, which focuses on harnessing the subconscious mind to amplify the Law of Attraction.
What Does “Limitless” Really Mean?
According to Harper, living a limitless life is “extremely simple.” It’s about tapping into an omnipotent quantum energy to manifest your desires, directing it from your inner world—the ‘intra-verse’—to create a magnificent outer life—the ‘extra-verse’. “It’s a simple case of ‘as within, so without,’” she explains. By cultivating love, peace, trust, and joy within, you naturally attract more of the same externally.
Harper points out that many people chase happiness in external achievements—their bank account, possessions, or status—yet true happiness is an internal state. “If we focus on cultivating self-love, wellness, and joy internally, abundance and fulfilment follow,” she says.
The Challenge for Women in Their Forties
Women in their forties face unique challenges: changing bodies, shifting family dynamics, ageing, and evolving relationships can all impact their sense of happiness. Harper reminds us to reconnect with the childlike joy we once had. “As children, we were naturally fearless and full of wonder. Over time, negative programming—‘can’t,’ ‘don’t,’ ‘be careful’—dampens that joy. The key is to reverse those limitations and embrace life with curiosity, self-love, and opportunity.”
Many women in this stage of life find themselves “flatlining”—going through the motions until the weekend or next vacation. Harper encourages them to ask: “Who would you be, and what would your life look like if you increased your joy factor by fifty percent?” Often, the answer inspires tears—and the realisation that they are worth the effort.
The Life Pillar Tool
Harper’s Life Pillar Tool helps identify key areas that support happiness, security, and wellbeing across self, health, and wealth. By ranking your Life Pillars in order of priority and assessing your current satisfaction, you can focus on areas that will most boost your overall joy.
The goal is simple: nourish self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love. When women value themselves enough to prioritise their own needs, they declare it their birthright to live fully.
Flow Over Fix
For Harper, it’s not about perfect solutions—it’s about flow. “Anything that puts you in flow enhances happiness,” she explains. Meditation, ocean walks, saying “no” more often, or consciously choosing positive thoughts all contribute. When you’re in flow, life feels effortless, and contentment becomes your default.
Harper shares her own experience: “I decided to do more of what worked for me and less of what didn’t. The incremental changes led to monumental shifts in my life.”
For women in their forties, this means conducting a life audit—identifying what nourishes versus depletes them—and making intentional changes to craft a more fulfilling life. “We no longer need to turn lemons into lemonade; we can skip straight to the champagne,” she says.
This extract is from Joanna E. Hall’s e-book, 40 and Still Fabulous: The Next Chapter.
