There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens in midlife. It’s not loud or flashy, but it’s powerful – like a deep breath after holding it for far too long. That magic? Authenticity.
Being authentic means showing up as your real self – no masks, no performing, no shrinking to fit someone else’s comfort zone. But for many women, especially in midlife, that journey to “being yourself” isn’t as simple as peeling off a mask. It’s more like digging through layers: expectations, old roles, should, and stories that were never really yours to begin with.
We’ve spent decades caring, doing, managing, fixing, and proving. We’ve been daughters, partners, professionals, caretakers, and peacekeepers. Somewhere along the way, our true selves can get buried under the business of being everything to everyone.
So, what does it really mean to be authentic at this stage?
It means honoring who you are now – not who you were in your 30s, not who others think you should be, and not who you’re trying to impress. It’s claiming your truth even it your voice shakes. It’s wearing what makes you feel alive, doing what fills your soul, and letting go of what doesn’t.
And yes, it also means being flawthentic – flawed, human and real. Midlife isn’t about perfection; it’s about permission. Permission to stop apologizing for existing. Permission to take up space, speak your truth, and live like you mean it.
But how do you get there?
Start by getting curious. Ask your self: What do I actually love? What have I been pretending to like or tolerate? Where do I feel most myself?
Start by paying attention to the little tugs on your heart – the moments of aliveness, the sparks of joy, the small instincts you’ve been trained to ignore. Your authentic self speaks in whispers before it ever dares to roar.
Then, give yourself the radical gift of honesty. Not brutal honesty – but kind, courageous truth. Notice where you’re hiding, where you’re performing, and gently ask: Is this me? Or is this what I thought I had to be?
Authenticity isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a practice. It grows stronger each time you choose your voice over silence, your joy over duty, your intuition over approval.
And here’s the beauty: when you begin living as your truest self, you stop fearing judgement. Why? Because you realize that being fully you is the most liberating, energizing, soul-honoring thing you can do,
Midlife is not a crisis. It’s a crossroads.
It’s your chance to figure out who you are – and be her on purpose.
“Maybe the journey isn’t about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.” – Unknown
