day 72 of 100 Days of Hope
The Joy of Being Fully You: Why Self-Expression Matters for Midlife Moms
When was the last time you felt pure joy from expressing yourself?
Not performing. Not proving.
Just… expressing.
Showing up as you. Sharing a piece of your soul the way only you can.
For many midlife moms, self-expression gets crowded out by responsibilities, expectations, and the shoulds that build up over time. We pour so much into our kids, our homes, our marriages, our communities—beautiful things, yes. But somewhere in the mix, our own voice can get quieter and quieter.
And then one day, we wake up and realize:
I miss myself.
But here’s the amazing truth—you can return to yourself any time you choose.
Self-expression is the doorway.
Self-Expression Is How We Come Back Home to Ourselves
Expressing yourself isn’t just about talents or creativity (though those matter). It’s about letting your essence breathe. Sharing who you are in small, meaningful ways:
Speaking your truth
Wearing a color you love
Sending a heartfelt message to a friend
Growing a talent that lights you up
Creating something for the joy of it
Showing up in the world as the real you
Expression allows us to feel alive again. Grounded. Connected.
It pulls us out of hiding and back into who we were always meant to be.
Why We Hide — and Why It Costs Us
It’s surprisingly easy to hide.
To shrink.
To keep the interesting, messy, vibrant parts of ourselves tucked away because we fear judgment or misunderstanding.
But hiding comes at a cost.
Marianne Williamson wrote in Return to Love this powerful truth:
“We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.”
You were not created to blend in.
You were created to shine.
And when you express yourself—honestly, fully, joyfully—you offer something the world can’t get from anyone else.
Small Expressions Make a Big Difference
You don’t need to overhaul your life to reconnect with your essence.
It can begin with something beautifully simple:
Choosing the color that feels like you today
Dusting off a talent you haven’t touched in years
Writing a note that comes from your heart
Sharing your story or your thoughts
Reaching out to someone because your intuition said to
Saying yes to something that feels aligned
Saying no to something that doesn’t
These small acts accumulate, reconnecting you to your aliveness.
Expression Builds Freedom and Confidence
When you let yourself be seen—fully, freely—you loosen the grip of fear.
You stop worrying what others think.
You stop judging yourself so harshly.
You soften into the truth that expressing who you are is a gift.
And the more you express, the more spacious your life feels.
The more you you become.
Say Yes to the Adventure of Being Yourself
Life is meant to be an adventure—not a quiet shrinking, but a bold stepping forward.
Not everyone will understand you, and that’s okay.
You’re not here for everyone.
You’re here for the ones who recognize your light because it speaks to theirs.
Show up anyway.
Share anyway.
Express anyway.
Because the adventure becomes real the moment you stop hiding.
And you deserve to live a life that feels like you—fully, beautifully, expansively.