Healing From the Inside: How to Age Well With Purpose and Peace

"I went from this… healing from the outside… And it wasn't till I said enough of this… I decided it wasn't up to the doctors… it was up to me." Susanne Eden

In Episode 481 of Richer Soul, Rocky Lalvani sits down with Susanne Eden, author of Healing from the Inside, Living Fully as You Age, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on what it means to live fully in the last stage of life, not just survive it. Susanne shares that she's turned 87 and describes how lifelong learning, reflection, and purpose have shaped her approach to aging.

They explore what Susanne calls moving from "healing from the outside" (doctor-led, medication-first living) to "taking ownership", a shift that includes food, exercise, breath work, and changing the mind. Susanne also introduces the idea of a transformational journal, where the goal is "writing for understanding, not for communication," as a way to surface buried beliefs and experiences and reduce their grip on your life. Source

The episode also touches on money values shaped in childhood, the loss of "realness" when spending is just tapping a card, the difference between religion and what Susanne calls "secular/organic spirituality," and why purpose, especially after retirement, can't be outsourced.

7 Soul-Level Insights from Susanne Eden

Early money lessons were learned through scarcity + work, starting at age 11. Susanne shares she got her first job at 11 (in a grocery store) and learned exactly what money could buy because she had to earn it and count it.
Tap/swipe spending weakens our emotional connection to money. Susanne describes how paying with plastic doesn't feel "real" the way cash did when you could physically see the pile go down.
Longevity isn't only lifespan, it's staying functional, engaged, and mentally clear. Susanne says she has physical issues affecting mobility, but feels her mind is "as sharp and as clear as it's ever been."
Lifelong learning is a practical strategy for staying vibrant. Susanne describes her "thirst to learn" as one of the best forces throughout her life, including career choices she made based on learning, not money.
"Taking ownership" is the turning point, health isn't only the doctor's job. Susanne describes getting fed up with medication-driven cycles and choosing personal responsibility.
Transformational journaling is about self-inquiry, not performance. Susanne frames journaling as a tool for understanding what you're carrying, uncovering beliefs, and putting words to long-buried experiences.
Purpose is a two-sided coin: becoming your best self + leaving the world better. Susanne explains purpose as both inner development and outward contribution, often through small actions that lift others.

Why This Conversation Matters

A lot of people think the "later years" are mainly about managing decline. Susanne challenges that framing and asks a sharper question: if modern longevity gives many of us decades after retirement, what does it look like to live that time with intention, through learning, reflection, self-inquiry, and purpose?

She also gives language to a turning point many people feel but can't name: moving from "healing from the outside" to "taking ownership," including practical pillars (food, exercise, breath work, and changing the mind) and deeper internal work through transformational journaling.

Money Learning

Susanne's money story starts with frugality, scarcity, and work and she describes how seeing cash physically build (and disappear) made money real. She also shares that money isn't her "driving force," pointing back to values shaped by family and lived experience.

Key Takeaway

Your last stage of life doesn't have to be "autopilot." Susanne's message is that meaning, clarity, and purpose can be cultivated through ownership, reflection, and ongoing learning, no matter your age.

Guest Bio: Susanne Eden

Dr. Susanne T. Eden spent her career providing leadership to educators across Canada as a teacher, author, consultant and staff developer. Among her achievements, she is a past President of the Canadian Association for Young Children and past Chair of the Board of Governors, Seneca College, Toronto Ontario. Now 87, she shares her personal story of healing and personal transformation in her book, Healing From the Inside: Living Fully as You Age (Sept 13, 2025), inspiring others to approach the gift of aging with optimism and purpose.

Links

Website: www.susanneeden.com

Book: Healing From the Inside: Living Fully as You Age: https://l.gourl.es/l/46600688dcc2280963ffbcba7d5893a8418a47b1?u=5002439

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.eden.3348

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-eden-2b02b5149/?originalSubdomain=ca

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, start here:

Take 10 minutes of stillness (breath work or reflection) and notice what your mind keeps looping on.
Try Susanne's journaling frame: write for understanding, not for communication, no "good writing," no performance.
Ask Susanne's retirement question: if you have decades ahead, what do you want that chapter to stand for?

#RicherSoul #LifeBeyondMoney #Longevity #AgingWithPurpose #TransformationalJournaling #HolisticHealth #LifelongLearning #Spirituality

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let's talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let's figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's about personal freedom!

Thanks for listening!

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Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.