Fearless and Fabulous: Living Boldly After 50 & Beyond

Are you truly living without fear, embracing the countless opportunities and adventures that come with age? As women over fifty and beyond, we have weathered many storms, conquered challenges, and gained a lot of wisdom and knowledge along the way. However, we sometimes let fear take over, especially fear of the unknown and stepping out of our comfort zones. But what if we dared to defy those fears? What if we embraced this stage of life with courage and a sense of liberation?

Have you found yourself holding back, playing it safe, and letting fear control your choices? As we age, it's easy to fall into a routine and become complacent. But I hope I've sparked your curiosity in living fearlessly and embracing your true potential.

?Here are a few tips that some friends and I have learned to help us live fearlessly. So, are you ready for a challenge? The challenge is implementing at least one of the tips and seeing how it impacts your life.

Break Some Stereotypes

Yeah, you know what they are.? No need to start listing them. How many have you heard or experienced just this past week?? Here are 10 things that you can do to break ageism stereotypes:

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• Embrace Lifelong Learning: Pursue new interests and education to challenge stereotypes about diminishing capabilities as we age.
• Stay Active: Make exercise a priority to maintain health and vitality, challenging assumptions about aging bodies.
• Mentorship: Become a mentor to younger individuals who can benefit from your valuable experience and wisdom.

• Entrepreneurship: Start a business or pursue ventures requiring creativity and adaptability.
• Cultural Engagement: Participate in cultural activities, like art, music, theater, or literature, breaking stereotypes about interests and relevance.
• Tech Savvy: Stay connected and engaged in a digital world by embracing technology and digital platforms.
• Networking: Expand your social and professional network by connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds.

• Public Speaking: Challenge stereotypes about older individuals being irrelevant or outdated by sharing your expertise through public speaking or writing.
• Financial Independence: Take charge of your finances and plan for the future, breaking stereotypes of older individuals as financially dependent.
• Self-Expression: Embrace personal style and self-expression and challenge stereotypes of older individuals as conservative or lacking creativity

Be Courageous

In a previous blog, “How Do I Create a? Second Act,” I shared the story of my best friend, who always struggled to lose weight. After she stopped smoking, she gained even more weight. During a podcast interview with me, she shared how she had reached the point where she wanted to get her life back. Mala said that she genuinely believed that if she did not lose weight, it might have led to her death. At her highest weight, she was 422 pounds.?

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Realizing that dieting was not the answer for her, she unapologetically sought to have gastric bypass surgery. Looking back, she says:?

?“My best decision was admitting defeat and accepting help to regain my life on my terms!?“

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This was a personal choice that Mala realized was best for her. I am so proud of how she has stepped into her second act. She has won awards and recognition from the company that she sells jewelry for as “Mala B’s Baubles.”?This is no?surprise to me because she loves jewelry. But she is also back to traveling,?no longer hindered by her weight.

Let Go of the Past

The kids have left home, and your life is no longer centered around their demands on your time.? Perhaps you have reached a point in your career where you are no longer happy. Or, your marriage has ended in divorce. Your mind now wonders about dreams unfulfilled. And you are coming to the realization that the past still dictates how you are living now. It’s time to let go.? Let go of the things that no longer serve who you are today. It’s time to take some risks and realize that possibilities are still waiting for you.

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I sometimes get comments from people I know about how I am now doing something completely different from what I did professionally. However, that is a compliment because I am so much more than what I did professionally. Yes, skills and talents were developed and enhanced, but they were also transferable to other areas of my life. I have had the opportunity to uncover hidden talents that have led me to unimaginable opportunities.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

It is about stepping out of your comfort zone when all is said and done. Like my friend Mala, stepping out can result from being tired of where you are in life. It could also be realizing that there is more to you than being a mother, wife, and job.?As Barbara Hannah Grufferman writes in her article,?“What’s Stopping You From Being Fearless After 50?” it’s about:

?“Doing something new, especially if it's potentially life-changing, like leaving a relationship or starting a new one, can be daunting because you're moving out of your status quo. But, post-50 life is all about change, and movement, and moving out of your comfort zone is a huge part of the experience. It's time to be fearless, confident, and bold, no matter what you're moving from... or to.”

(Join our empowering community for women over 50 and beyond who confidently create their second act. Subscribe to my?free weekly newsletter?for essential tips, resources, and inspiring stories that will help you thrive in this exciting new chapter.)