How to Boost your self-confidence in Midlife: Empowering Women through perimenopause and beyond.

Midlife can be a profound period of transition for women, especially during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. It's a time marked not only by physical changes but also by shifts in self-perception and confidence. When we feel we have lost confidence, this affects every aspect of our lives. Let’s explore this a bit more.

Understanding the Dip in Confidence

• Hormonal changes: Fluctuating hormones during perimenopause and menopause can affect mood, energy levels, and overall sense of well-being, impacting confidence. Feeling irritable and on a roller coaster of emotions does not help with being that calm, self-assured woman you seemed to be not so long ago.
  

• Physical changes: Weight gain, hot flashes, and other menopausal symptoms do not help with body image. In times of hyperfocus on body image it is not surprising that confidence can take a serious knock as a result of these symptoms.
  

• Life Transitions: This phase often coincides with children leaving home, aging parents, and reflections on personal achievements and future goals. All of these (as well as many other life issues) are big events and are often very emotional subjects.

Why it is Common in Midlife to Feel Like this

• ·Societal perceptions: Societal attitudes towards aging, particularly for women, can contribute to feelings of invisibility or diminished worth. Certain cultures revere the experience and wisdom of its elder members, but often western cultures prize youth and particularly older women often report feeling marginalised at the midlife point.
  

• ·Internalised Ageism: Internalising these societal norms can lead to decreased self-esteem. It is so hard not to look at the world and feel “old” compared to the headline grabbers. Older women can feel irrelevant when bombarded with young models showcasing fashion or make up and the pressure from social media is to look “younger” never older! No wonder self-esteem can suddenly drop.
  

• Career Challenges: In the workplace, age can be wrongly equated with decreased value or capability, even when you have been in the job a long time and should be in the best position for employers to make use of the wealth of experience you will have gained. It can be even worse if the workplace does not foster openness around menopause symptoms and women do not feel that they can talk about it to their employers for fear of coming across as less competent.

 

Strategies to Boost Confidence

• Your Experience: Recognise the wealth of knowledge, experience, and skills you bring. Your journey is unique and valuable! Think about the things you know now compared to 10 years ago – this experience can only be gained with time.
  

• Prioritise Self-Care: Engage in activities that nourish your body and soul. Whether it's exercise, a new hobby, or relaxation techniques, find what rejuvenates you and helps you find that spark again.
  

• Seek Support: Connect with peers going through similar experiences. Support groups or online forums can provide understanding and camaraderie.  

• Challenge Negative Thoughts: Practice mindfulness or cognitive-behavioural strategies to combat negative self-talk.
  

• Celebrate your Body: Focus on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Embrace activities that make you feel strong and vibrant.  

• Lifelong Learning: Take up new challenges, be it a class, a new language, or a creative pursuit. Learning new skills can significantly boost self-esteem.
  

• Reframe Ageing: View this stage as a time of growth and opportunity, not decline. Your wisdom and experience are invaluable assets.

Taking Control

• Set New Goals: Midlife can be an excellent time to set new personal or professional goals. What have you always wanted to do? Now might be the perfect time to start.
  

• Volunteer or Mentor: Giving back can provide a strong sense of purpose and boost self-worth.
  

• Update your style: Refresh your wardrobe or try a new look. External changes can often reflect and enhance inner changes.

Navigating midlife, especially around menopause, can challenge your self-confidence. Yet, it's also a period ripe with potential for self-discovery and empowerment. By embracing your journey, prioritizing self-care, seeking support, and continually challenging yourself, you can transform this phase into one of the most fulfilling times of your life.

Remember, midlife isn't just about enduring changes; it's about thriving through them and emerging more confident and assured than ever. Let's redefine what it means to be a woman in midlife, embracing our strengths and living our best lives with confidence and pride.