Radiating Confidence Post-50
Show Notes:
Summary:
In this episode of "Aging with Grace and Style," Valerie dives deep into the concept of presence and how to amplify it in our lives as women over 50. Valerie breaks down the idea of presence as a combination of confidence, self-acceptance, and portraying a sense of purpose. She challenges common stereotypes associated with aging and discusses practical ways to cultivate a more impactful presence, such as adjusting posture, refining the way we speak, and adopting an empowering mindset. Using personal anecdotes and relatable advice, Valerie inspires you to embrace your age with confidence and redefine what it means to be a woman over 50 in today's world.
Timestamps:
00:02 Introduction to owning your power and presence over 50
01:16 The true essence of presence and self-belief
02:25 Challenging societal pressures and the quest for perfection
03:42 Addressing the "invisible woman" stereotype and its impacts
06:10 Empowering responses to age-related stereotypes
07:04 Practical tips for enhancing self-presence
09:37 Using your voice effectively to command respect
11:21 Looking ahead to communication strategies for respect and presence
12:10 Weekly challenge: Observing and emulating presence
13:06 Closing thoughts and invitation to engage with the podcast community
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize and reject the "invisible woman" stereotype by embracing your experiences as sources of strength and vitality.
- Focus on internal confidence and self-acceptance over external appearances to authentically project your presence and charisma.
- Adjust your posture and speaking habits to convey confidence; sit tall, use clear, intentional speech, and avoid ending statements as if they are questions.
- Continuously challenge negative self-talk by affirming the value of your experiences and the validity of your contributions.
- Observe and emulate the subtle qualities of individuals who exemplify strong presence to enhance your own demeanor while maintaining your authenticity.
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Transcript
Do you ever feel like you're fading into the background, like
Speaker:people aren't seeing the real you, or that your best
Speaker:years are behind you? Well, I say forget that
Speaker:nonsense. Today, we're talking about how
Speaker:to own your power and radiate that undeniable
Speaker:presence, especially as women over 50.
Speaker:Hey, friend. Ever feel like those old
Speaker:fashioned ideas about aging just don't fit you? If you're
Speaker:ready to own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch
Speaker:of sass, this is your space. Welcome to the aging
Speaker:with grace and style podcast. I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm
Speaker:here with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot
Speaker:of fun just for us, women over 50. So
Speaker:grab your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and
Speaker:let's get started.
Speaker:Have you ever met someone who just radiates confidence?
Speaker:It might not be in your face bold, but more
Speaker:like a quiet certainty. They walk into a room
Speaker:and even without a single word, you know
Speaker:there's substance there. That, my friend, is the
Speaker:power of presence, and it has way less
Speaker:to do with how you look and everything to do
Speaker:with how you feel about yourself. Now
Speaker:I love a great power suit as most
Speaker:of us do, but the truth is
Speaker:we can spend a fortune on clothes, skincare, the
Speaker:works. And if we don't believe in ourselves,
Speaker:then that inner glow, it won't shine through. I
Speaker:know because I've been there. Think about it.
Speaker:When you're feeling genuinely happy,
Speaker:excited, or passionate about something, it
Speaker:shows your eyes light up, you
Speaker:stand a little taller, your voice carries more energy.
Speaker:That's the kind of magnetism that draws people to
Speaker:you, regardless of your wrinkles or what size
Speaker:dress you wear. Too often,
Speaker:we get caught in the trap of chasing some
Speaker:idealized version of perfect, especially
Speaker:as we get older. We feel pressured to look
Speaker:younger, thinner, or whatever societal
Speaker:trends dictate. But here's the secret,
Speaker:trying to be something that we're not actually
Speaker:undermines our presence. It makes us appear insecure
Speaker:and inauthentic, but here's
Speaker:the challenge, Instead of trying
Speaker:to fit someone else's mold,
Speaker:let's focus on what truly makes
Speaker:us powerful. So remember, true
Speaker:presence comes from within confidence,
Speaker:self acceptance, and a sense of
Speaker:purpose. And chasing external
Speaker:ideals often backfires, making us look like, I don't
Speaker:know, like we're trying too hard. And the energy we
Speaker:project, excited, genuine,
Speaker:passionate. It has more impact than
Speaker:outward appearance. Okay. Let's
Speaker:talk about the elephant in the room. As women over
Speaker:50, we sometimes have to deal with the stereotype of
Speaker:being invisible, not taken seriously,
Speaker:overlooked for opportunities, made to feel as
Speaker:if our best years are behind this.
Speaker:Newsflash. That's complete nonsense. I
Speaker:know this is the second time I've said nonsense today, but it
Speaker:is, it's nonsense. And it's not just at
Speaker:work. This invisible woman stereotype,
Speaker:it seeps into all areas of
Speaker:life, even being ignored
Speaker:in a social setting, or have
Speaker:you maybe felt like the younger generations just don't
Speaker:get you? Maybe you've even felt brushed aside
Speaker:in the dating world as if age automatically cancels you
Speaker:out. And let's think about those
Speaker:outdated terms sometimes thrown at us, like
Speaker:past her prime or the dreaded over the hill.
Speaker:Those phrases are designed to make us feel diminished
Speaker:and out of touch. But here's the thing, my friend,
Speaker:we get to redefine what those terms
Speaker:mean. Sometimes it's subtle,
Speaker:it's that quick glance away in a conversation,
Speaker:the assumption that you don't have anything relevant to
Speaker:say, or being passed over for a project
Speaker:that you could totally rock, it can be
Speaker:frustrating. But instead of
Speaker:letting those subtle moments, those stereotypes
Speaker:chip away at our power, let's turn them into fuel.
Speaker:Every time you rise above those expectations, every
Speaker:time you speak your truth, every time you bring
Speaker:your unique perspective to the table, you
Speaker:are defying the stereotype and paving the way for women
Speaker:behind you. What we've lived through,
Speaker:what we've learned over the years, that's our
Speaker:superpower. Our experiences, both the
Speaker:triumphs and the struggles have shaped us into the
Speaker:wise, capable, and frankly, pretty
Speaker:darn fabulous women that we are today. So let's own
Speaker:it. That means refusing to
Speaker:be erased. It means demanding to be
Speaker:seen and respected. Here's what I
Speaker:want you to remember from this. The invisible woman
Speaker:stereotype is pervasive and seeks to diminish the
Speaker:value of women over 50. It often
Speaker:manifests in in subtle ways, but
Speaker:the impact can be significant.
Speaker:Defy the stereotype by owning your experience,
Speaker:your knowledge, and perspective as sources of
Speaker:power, and be a role model for younger women by
Speaker:refusing to let ages stereotypes hold
Speaker:you back. Now, all this
Speaker:talk about owning your presence, it's not just a
Speaker:fluffy concept. There are real
Speaker:tangible things that we can do to boost how
Speaker:we carry ourselves. So let's
Speaker:start with what's going on inside our heads.
Speaker:So often it's those negative thought patterns that hold
Speaker:us back. Who am I to share my opinion?
Speaker:No one cares what I have to say. Or my favorite,
Speaker:it's too late for me to go after what I want. Do any of those
Speaker:sound familiar? If we don't believe in ourselves,
Speaker:that hesitation leaks out in how we show
Speaker:up. Girl, it is time to rewrite
Speaker:the script. Instead, try this.
Speaker:My experiences are valuable. I have a unique
Speaker:perspective to offer, or it's never too late to make
Speaker:changes. Even if you don't fully believe it at
Speaker:first, just keep repeating these
Speaker:shifts, just keeping on repeating
Speaker:these shifts your mindset gradually.
Speaker:So here's the funny one. At times,
Speaker:I've caught myself walking around with
Speaker:this slightly hunched posture. Like, I was apologizing
Speaker:for taking up space. Then one day, I walked by the
Speaker:mirror and it was like a light bulb went off. I said,
Speaker:oh no, you need to stand up. Just
Speaker:standing up straighter, shoulders relaxed, chin up,
Speaker:it changed how I felt instantly.
Speaker:See, something as simple as posture
Speaker:makes a huge difference. Try this right now,
Speaker:slouch down in your chair, and yes, I'm doing it with you,
Speaker:chin tuck. Now, sit up tall,
Speaker:shoulders back, head high Feel the difference?
Speaker:How we hold our bodies tells the world and ourselves
Speaker:whether we're confident or we're shrinking.
Speaker:And let's talk about our voices. I have a friend who
Speaker:is naturally a bit on the softer
Speaker:side. And sometimes if she gets nervous, she gets
Speaker:even quieter, almost like a whisper,
Speaker:not exactly commanding a room. Right? She
Speaker:started practicing even just ordering a coffee,
Speaker:speaking clearly, projecting a bit more, not letting her
Speaker:voice trail off at the end of the sentences. It sounds
Speaker:silly, but those small things add up.
Speaker:Your voice, it's a powerful tool.
Speaker:It's not about blasting people out of their seats, but about
Speaker:speaking with clarity and intention.
Speaker:Also notice if you, in sentences
Speaker:on an upward note, making it sound like a question.
Speaker:For instance, I feel this report reflects the
Speaker:information you requested. I've heard people at work do
Speaker:this. It it gives the appearance that you're not
Speaker:confident in what you say. So
Speaker:slight shift downward projects more certainty.
Speaker:And that's just the power of using your voice
Speaker:with intention. It might sound like a small detail,
Speaker:but believe me, the way you speak has a
Speaker:huge impact on how you're perceived. This goes hand
Speaker:in hand with what we've talked about earlier.
Speaker:I know that that was a lot, so here's a recap of a few
Speaker:points. Shifting your mindset even
Speaker:slightly has a powerful ripple effect
Speaker:on your presence. Posture isn't about
Speaker:being rigid, but it's about taking up the space that you
Speaker:deserve and practice using your voice
Speaker:intentionally, especially in everyday
Speaker:situations. Presence is built bit by bit with
Speaker:our thoughts, our posture, how we use our
Speaker:voices. And next week, we're gonna go
Speaker:there. Communication strategies that help us not
Speaker:just be heard, but to be respected,
Speaker:whether it's at work, with friends,
Speaker:or even in those difficult family
Speaker:conversations. We're gonna tackle it all together.
Speaker:Now these might seem like small adjustments,
Speaker:but trust me, they add up.
Speaker:Our physical presence and our inner presence
Speaker:are connected. Remember, your experiences
Speaker:and the knowledge you've gained. Those are your superpowers.
Speaker:Embrace the confident, capable, incredible
Speaker:woman that you are today. Let that inner
Speaker:light shine through in everything you do.
Speaker:This week, your challenge is to
Speaker:observe someone that you find has amazing
Speaker:presence. Identify one thing that they do. It could
Speaker:be their posture or how they use their voice
Speaker:or the way they carry themselves, and practice
Speaker:emulating it. Now I don't mean copy them. You still
Speaker:have to be your authentic self. Just pick up
Speaker:some pointers or things that stand out.
Speaker:And next week, again, we're talking about communication,
Speaker:how to speak up, be heard, and command
Speaker:respect in the workplace and beyond. Until
Speaker:then, keep showing up for yourself, keep inspiring
Speaker:the women around you.
Speaker:Thanks for hanging out with me today. I hope you're feeling
Speaker:inspired and ready to own your awesomeness. I
Speaker:love sharing this space with you. And if you love today's
Speaker:episode, do me a favor, share it with a friend who
Speaker:could use some extra inspiration. A quick rating
Speaker:and review really helps too. Don't forget to
Speaker:subscribe so you never miss an episode. Let's
Speaker:keep this conversation going. Head over to pod.aging
Speaker:with grace and style.com to sign up for my newsletter.
Speaker:Until next time, keep shining with grace,
Speaker:style, and a whole lot of sass.
