Hi, đ,
I remember standing in a room at a networking event, wearing an outfit chosen to make me look competent, composed, and like nothing difficult was happening beneath the surface. I was nodding at the right moments and laughing at appropriate intervals. When I excused myself to the cloakroom and looked in the mirror under the harsh overhead light, a thought knocked me sideways: She is worth meeting.
So many of us were socialised to be accommodating, easy, low-maintenance, and to want things quietly. Over time, we edited away our edges, our loudness, and our true preferences just to keep the peace. Identity erosion isnât a personal failing; it happens when you spend years serving everyone elseâs needs.
You do not need to become someone new; you simply need to remember who you already are beneath all the editing.
Todayâs inspired action: Ask yourself one question today: What is one thing I would choose or say right now if I wasnât concerned about how it would be received?
See you tomorrow for your next Midlife Edit â¤ď¸
Kiran x
If you are ready to uncover the woman beneath the roles you play, my upcoming digital playbook, From âWhat Now?â to âWatch Me!â: Midlife by Design, Not by Default, releases on my 49th birthday (19 October). You can pre-order the playbook directly or pair it with The Year I Met Myself Again 365-day journal to start curating your next chapter. Explore the options and pre-order here.
Letting Go of Societal Expectations: Finding Your Path
I remember sitting in the car after yet another event I didnât want to attend, wearing clothes that didnât feel like me, smiling through conversations that drained me. I had done everything ârightâ â the career, the relationship, the social calendar. Yet, I felt like a stranger in my own life.