Here’s What No One Tells You About How to Boost Confidence as a Woman Over 50
If you’ve ever wondered how to boost confidence as a woman over 50, you’re not alone. I used to think confidence belonged to other women—the ones who weren’t shy, the ones with long legs (I’m only 5’1″), the ones who wore whatever the hell they wanted without apologizing.
Me? I was quiet. Careful. Always tuned in to what other people needed or what they might be thinking. I picked up on every mood in the room—even the ones that weren’t mine to carry. I second-guessed everything I said, afraid I was boring them with my slow, careful way.
I was afraid to take up space.
But something is shifting. I’m not suddenly bold or fearless—but I am starting to care less about what others think. And more about how I feel in my own skin.
I want to honor the body that carried two beautiful children. Even the c-section scars that still make me hesitant to wear certain things.
If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Here are a few real-world ways to begin building confidence from the inside out—no high heels or red lipstick required. These are especially helpful if you want to learn how to boost your confidence as a woman over 50—especially after decades of putting yourself last.
Start by taking up one small space
I’ve spent most of my life making myself smaller—not in body, but in presence. I held my tongue to keep the peace. I deferred to louder voices. I worried that taking up space meant being too much.
Ironically, it’s easy for me to take up space on stage. I’ve had people ask how someone shy like me can perform in front of a crowd. But the truth is, that space feels safe—because the words are given to me. The emotions are mapped out. I’m allowed—expected, even—to take up space there.
It’s real life that gives me the shakes. The unscripted moments. The improv of daily conversation. That’s where confidence has no script—and I’m learning to write my own.
But here’s the thing: my silence isn’t emptiness. It’s awareness. I may not always speak first, but I almost always know what’s going on. That quiet attentiveness? It’s not weakness—it’s my strength.
So lately, I’ve been experimenting. Nothing dramatic. Just… claiming small spaces. Wearing the bold dress I kept saving. Saying what I really think, even if my voice trembles. Letting silence be enough when I have nothing to prove.
They may not be grand gestures—but they’re mine. And each time I show up for myself, even in the smallest way, I remember: I belong. Just as I am.
Want more on this kind of self-trust? Read: Mindset Shifts for Women Over 50
Try a power pose (even when you feel ridiculous)
Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk first taught me this trick years ago, and it stuck: before I go on stage, I stand tall, arms overhead, in a Wonder Woman stance. Two minutes of this changes something in my body. I feel stronger. Braver. More ready.
What if we did this before difficult conversations, awkward social events, or big decisions? Even in the bathroom stall if we have to. Our body leads our brain sometimes. Let it.
Affirm yourself out loud (even if it feels cheesy)
You don’t need a library of self-help mantras. Try just one: “You can do this.” I say it before auditions, before new things, before any moment that makes me want to retreat.
It doesn’t have to sound profound. It just has to feel true.
Write one on a sticky note. Say it into the mirror. Whisper it in the car. Let your voice become the one cheering you on.
Need more grounding practices? Try: Self-Care Rituals for Women 50+
Try this: Affirmation Cards for Women
Let someone else’s light remind you of your own
When I feel wobbly, I think about women I admire. Not the ones on stage, necessarily, but the ones who walk into a room and breathe calm. The ones who speak when it matters, and don’t when it doesn’t. The ones who own their space without apology.
You don’t need to become them. You just need the reminder: that kind of confidence lives in you, too.
Looking to reconnect with others who light you up? Explore: Refresh Your Social Life After 50
How to Boost Confidence as a Woman Over 50 Without Faking It
Maybe you won’t be the first to speak. Maybe you’ll still hesitate before hitting “post.” Maybe your voice will shake.
But if you choose yourself anyway—again and again, in the face of fear—that is confidence. That is power.
Every time you honor your intuition, every time you take up a bit more space, every time you speak from your center—you’re building something real.
Even if no one else sees it yet.
If you’re still wondering how to boost confidence as a woman over 50, consider this your starting place:
Your Midlife Confidence Challenge
- Wear the bold dress you’ve been saving.
- Say the thing you’ve been silencing.
- Take up space in a way that feels true.
- Try the power pose. Write the affirmation. Be your own witness.
Let confidence grow in the quiet, in the small, in the sacred everyday.
Helpful tool: Journal which contains affirmations
PS – From me to you
Midlife confidence isn’t about arriving somewhere perfect. It’s about returning to yourself, over and over.
And if today you feel a little more rooted, a little less invisible, then you’re already doing it.
You’re not too late. You’re not too much. You’re exactly right.
I see you.
Let’s keep going.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase—at no additional cost to you. I only share products I love and personally use or believe will uplift your journey.
