7 Essential Beliefs for Thriving as a Midlife Leader
Midlife is often portrayed in our culture as a time of decline, a season where growth slows, and possibilities narrow. I caught myself buying into this narrative as my 57th birthday approached in early January. I was feeling so much resistance to this age because I don’t want my growth to slow or opportunities to disappear. I feel like I am actually hitting my stride and finally embracing the most authentic version of myself. But that old wiring and my inner ageist was rearing its head and chirping loudly as my birthday approached!
I let those feelings fester for a few days, and then snapped out of it when I started to actually listen to my own inner voice, and do a scan of my life to see what is ACTUALLY going on within and around me. In reality, my midlife has been an extraordinary chapter—one filled with wisdom, renewed purpose, and realizing my true potential. Personally, I am experiencing this phase not as an ending, but as a powerful new beginning. I even got back on the downhill skis after a 5 year hiatus!
I am sharing seven essential beliefs that I am embracing in this season of my life. I hope they serve you to challenge your own inner narratives whether you are 45 or 65!
1. Challenge the Narrative Around Midlife
We’ve inherited outdated stories about what midlife means—stories of decline, invisibility, and diminished relevance. But you get to rewrite that script. Midlife is a time for clarity, courage, and intentional choices. It’s about stepping into our power and embracing the unique strengths this phase brings.
2. Redefine Your Worth Beyond Age
Our value isn’t tied to our age, achievements, or societal expectations. True self-worth comes from within—from knowing who we are, what we stand for, and what lights us up. Lets release the external metrics and lean into our unique gifts and passions.
3. Navigate Feelings of Disconnection
It’s common to feel a sense of disconnection in midlife—whether it’s from family, community, or even ourselves. But here’s the truth: your voice, presence, and contributions matter deeply. Your family, your team and your community need to hear from you and will benefit from your wisdom and perspective. Step forward with confidence, share your insights, and don’t let outdated perceptions sideline you.
4. Embrace Growth and Reinvention
Midlife is not a plateau; it’s our launchpad. This is our time to grow, evolve, and explore new opportunities. Whether it’s a career shift, a creative passion, or a personal goal, let’s give ourselves permission to dream big and pursue what truly matters to us.
5. Reconnect with Your Passions
What brings you joy? What makes you feel alive? Midlife is the perfect time to revisit old passions or discover new ones. Let’s prioritize the things that fill our cup and allow ourselves the freedom to explore without self-judgment or our inner critic telling us “we can’t do that anymore”.
6. Redefine What Thriving Means to You
Thriving isn’t about ticking off society’s boxes for success. It’s about feeling energized, connected, and aligned with your purpose and values. Take time to define what thriving looks like for you and create space in your life to make it a reality. This is one of my key goals for 2025!
7. Advocate for Change and Challenge Ageism
Ageism is one of the last socially acceptable biases, and it’s time to challenge it. Advocate for yourself and others. Speak up when stereotypes surface, and celebrate stories of midlife success and vitality. Together, we can shift the narrative, but we need to recognize and silence our inner ageist first!
Midlife isn’t something to fear or avoid—it’s an opportunity to step fully into who you are and create a life that feels meaningful, vibrant, and true to you. You’re not too old, I am not too old, and it’s definitely not too late. This is our time to thrive. Watch out world, here we come!