Welcome to the most powerful chapter of your life
For many women over 40, midlife can feel like standing on a precipice. Society tells us we’re past our prime. Hormones shift, bodies transform, a sense of invisibility begins to permeate, careers can stagnate, and dreams we once held close can feel distant. For some, this feeling can hit seemingly out of nowhere––a moment when we ask ourselves how we got here or a whisper from within that tells us something has to change. But here’s the truth: Midlife isn’t the end. It’s a beginning.
During midlife, you can either decline or evolve. The choice is yours. The key to navigating this transition? Radical self-expression. Self-expression is not just a creative outlet; it’s your power, freedom and birthright. It’s finding your voice, owning your story and unapologetically stepping into your next act. This is your invitation to reclaim your voice, desires and self-expression. Here are four steps to get you started.
Step 1: Awakening: The mind-blowing moment that can change everything
"You are not too old, and it is not too late." – Glennon Doyle
Somewhere between juggling careers, caregiving and societal expectations, many women lose touch with who they truly are at some point. We silence our desires to keep the peace, shrink ourselves to fit outdated roles and trade authenticity for acceptance. Then, midlife knocks on the door—sometimes gently, sometimes like a sledgehammer. Maybe it’s menopause, a career shift, an empty nest, or simply a deep longing for something more. Whatever it is, this moment is your awakening. It’s a moment of awareness and clarity, an ah-ha moment that sets the stage for what’s to come, as long as we pay attention to it.
What’s really happening?
Midlife isn’t just about age—it’s a life transition involving your body, mind and identity. That level of change can feel overwhelming. It did for me. I felt like my body was possessed. While my eating habits didn’t change much, the calories seemed to show up on my midriff as though I was eating for two. And unexplained mood swings became a regular––and annoying––part of every day. So, what’s really happening at a physiological and psychological level when a woman reaches a certain age?
Biological shifts: Your body experiences its own plot twist during midlife, from menopause and mood swings to metabolism shifts. My Authentic Living Channel guest Zoe Jarvis wrote Menopause – Making a Long Story Short (2024), partly due to the paucity and mixed quality of information made available to the 1 billion postmenopausal women worldwide. Mainstream healthcare barely prepares us. For example, I had no idea of the impact of proactive hormonal healthcare to ease symptoms by up to 60%. Balanced information is becoming available, such as The Lancet’s 2024 series on Menopause, which aims to empower women to make informed health decisions (see Infographic).
Emotional upheaval: One minute, you're feeling great; the next, your hormones are running the show. Studies show that hormonal changes impact mood, confidence and energy. “Swings in estrogen levels can lead to mood disorders such as PMS, PMDD, postpartum depression, and menopausal depression. These changes in hormone levels can cause irritability, anxiety, and depression.” Women’s experiences vary, and many maintain good mental health during menopause. The Lancet urges us to destigmatise this time and understand this natural part of aging more fully.
Identity crisis or expansion: Beyond the physical changes, something more profound is happening—a psychological and emotional rebirth. The choice? Sixty per cent of women over 40 have abandoned their dreams, believing it’s “too late”. Yet, research shows that women over 40 who start businesses are more successful and sustainable than younger entrepreneurs, and fifty-five to sixty-five-year-olds have more innovation potential than a 25-year-old. When we begin questioning old identities, it isn’t to wind down—it’s to rewrite the rules for our next chapter.
How we deal with the emotional upheaval is critical. Pixar’s Inside Out reminds us that every emotion—even the challenging ones—has a purpose. Joy doesn’t exist without sadness, and suppressing emotions doesn’t make them disappear. In the movie, the protagonist learns that sadness is crucial for empathy and connection. The movie also highlights how suppressing certain emotions can be detrimental to healing (a truth echoed in psychology research). Emotions are complex and interrelated. We must stop seeing them as roadblocks and start perceiving them as guides leading us back to our authentic selves. Once I embraced this reality, I could listen to what my body and mind were telling me, learn from their wisdom and lean into change.
The question isn’t “What’s happening to me?”—it’s “Who am I becoming?” Embrace the wake-up call and feel it—that simmering restlessness of life calling you to something bigger, wilder, more YOU. So that’s step 1, the awakening, where midlife gives you a backstage pass to reinvention.
Step 2: Understanding the midlife remix: Self-expression as liberation
"What if midlife isn’t a crisis… but a chrysalis?" – Chip Conley
For decades, women have been conditioned to be:
Pleasers: Prioritising everyone else’s needs over their own.
Perfectionists: Striving to be ‘good enough’ instead of authentic.
Silent: Suppressing their true selves for fear of judgement.
As a result, women tend to have an unhealthy relationship with self-expression that “leads to suppression, frustration, and a feeling of being invisible.”
Is it any wonder that many women reach midlife and suddenly feel invisible when society tells us our worth is tied to youth and our dreams should shrink to fit smaller lives? At the same time, our body is seemingly letting us down.
The midlife reinvention invitation is self-expression—a chance to rediscover, reclaim and radiate who you are without apology. Midlife is when we break free. As my favourite mythologist Joseph Campbell reminds us, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you truly are.” Self-expression is your anchor––your truth north––to liberate you during midlife.
What is self-expression?
Self-expression is the unfiltered, raw essence of who you are. It’s not just about speaking up—it’s about being seen, felt and known in a way that is deeply authentic. It’s about peeling back the layers of expectations and ‘shoulds’ and daring to be the woman you’ve always been beneath the surface.
According to Ashkan Tashvir:
Self-expression is when you intentionally and authentically communicate who you are and how you are, including (but not limited to) your points of view, beliefs, values, feelings, emotions, moods, and experiences. It is the state of being uninhibited and resonating with life and everything in it and may evolve to become your unique contribution to humanity.
In midlife, self-expression takes on an even deeper significance. After years of playing roles—career woman, mother, partner, daughter—you have the opportunity to reclaim your voice. This is about rediscovering your truest self and giving her the stage she deserves. Your life is your masterpiece. Let it be bold, uninhibited and exactly what you want it to be. Best of all, by transforming your relationship with self-expression, there will be no stopping you.
Step 3: Alignment: how to reclaim your bold, brave and wild self
Many of us have internalised messages that hold us back, like: “It’s selfish to put myself first” or “I’m too old to start something new”. As mentioned, women over 40 launch the most successful businesses (Harvard Business Review), but they often reluctantly put themselves out there. Sandy Lowres has a solution for that. In her own words, she started Wb40, a platform in Australia because:
“There is a societal line in the sand, literally, you can almost see it drawn and that women are expected from the time they hit 40 to step over that line, whatever the hell that means, this kind of idea that women somehow on the other side, once you hit 40, that you're no longer useful, and you no longer you know, hitting the standards, standards of societal beauty.”
When we role model that we are worthy and self-expressed, we not only honour ourselves but also empower others. It is why fellow coach Jeanette Mundy and I founded Midlife Worthy & Wild. Our mission is to guide women through the transformative midlife journey, helping them reconnect with their essence, clarify their purpose and align their lives with what truly matters. Through heartful conversations, evidence-based methodologies and a vibrant community, we create a space where midlife women can uncover their authentic selves and build their lives with confidence, joy and intention.
Think about role models and the power of influence they have by being themselves. For example, Dolly Parton epitomises fearless self-expression, embracing her signature flamboyant style as a testament to her individuality. Beyond her musical talents, she has demonstrated remarkable business acumen and philanthropy. Notably, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, significantly contributing to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. And her Imagination Library, which has distributed over 100 million books to children, highlights her commitment to literacy and education.
Self-expression as liberation
Particularly during midlife, the most powerful act of liberation is to be fully, audaciously yourself. This means:
No more shrinking to fit outdated roles.
No more silencing your voice to keep the peace.
No more abandoning your dreams because society says it’s “too late”.
In step 3, try tapping into radical self-expression as liberation. Here’s how:
Ask yourself:
What makes you feel fully alive?
What makes you feel vibrant, powerful, unstoppable?
What did you love before life got in the way?
If no one’s opinion mattered, what would you pursue?
Give yourself permission to play/rewrite your narrative
Start a passion project.
Write, paint, dance, speak, build—express yourself in ways that feel right for you.
Speak your truth without apology. There is no ‘wrong’ way to be you.
Surround yourself with ‘expanders’
Seek out women who are self-expressed and inspire you to be bolder.
Join a community (like Midlife Worthy & Wild) to connect with others on the same journey.
Say yes to new adventures with like-minded women.
Step 4: Blooming: Welcoming in your delicious new chapter
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” — Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is a shining example of a woman who inspires other women to embrace their self-expression and uniqueness and to pursue their dreams unapologetically as they define success on their own terms. By breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry and using humour to defy critics, Parton remains an icon of empowerment and self-expression, demonstrating that authenticity is the ultimate key to success.
Think of her as you embrace this new chapter and reclaim:
Your confidence (without the need for external validation).
Your creativity (without the fear of judgement).
Your wild self with unapologetic joy (the freedom to live life on your own terms).
Don’t think of it as starting over, but finally starting RIGHT. Midlife is not a crisis; it’s your time to shine.
Your call to action: Step into your worthy, wild and wonder-filled self
"Be messy, complicated, and afraid… and show up anyway." – Glennon Doyle
Your best years aren’t behind you. They’re bursting open. I encourage you to follow the steps outlined in this article to expand into your self-expressed space, chase down those dreams and live this chapter like the heroine you were born to be.
Ready to unleash your next chapter of midlife magic? Whether you’re dreaming of launching a business, rewriting your story or just feeling fully alive again, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. Join the Midlife Worthy & Wild movement—a sisterhood of bold, brilliant women rewriting the rules. Join our exclusive and free community here and listen to our Midlife Worthy & Wild Podcast. If you’d like to learn more, reach out, we can’t wait to meet you!