Acceptance and Wellness After 40: Why They Belong Together
When it comes to acceptance and wellness after 40, the two are more connected than we think.
A Lesson From 30,000 Feet
On a short flight back from the South of France to Zurich, I found myself sitting next to a young woman who gripped her armrest tightly as soon as the pilot announced turbulence. Her face showed both fear and determination.
I asked if she was afraid of flying, and she nodded, admitting she had even taken a pill to calm her nerves — but it hadn’t helped. I suggested a simple breathing technique to ground her in the moment, and we began talking. She told me she was flying to visit her aging grandmother, even though flying terrified her, and that one of her dreams was to one day make it all the way to Canada.
I encouraged her to celebrate herself, not for being “fearless,” but for being courageous enough to take the flight anyway. She smiled and said that sharing it out loud already made her feel calmer.
And in the end? The anticipated turbulence as we descended through the clouds never came. Another gentle reminder for me, too: so much of what we worry about in advance never actually happens. A gentle reminder to stay in the present moment instead of rushing ahead. We can only cross the bridge when we get there.
The Power of Self-Validation
Moments like these show how powerful self-validation can be — she accepted her fear, boarded the flight, and chose to live her life anyway. Sometimes, that’s exactly what growth looks like — which I explore more in The Courage to Change: What Sets Real Growth in Motion.
The Myth of Being “Fixed” in Acceptance and Wellness After 40
So many women — especially after 40 — feel they need to fix themselves to be worthy of wellness.
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“If only I were less anxious…”
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“If only I had more willpower…”
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“If only I could do everything right…”
But here’s the truth: you don’t need fixing. Chasing “perfect” drains more than it gives. Real wellness isn’t about eliminating your quirks, flaws, or fears. It’s about validating what makes you you — the perfectly imperfect version that only exists once.
I dive deeper into this in Perfectionism in Wellness: Why Getting It Right Feels So Wrong.
Acceptance and Wellness After 40: Why It’s Not Giving Up
Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation. It means:
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Naming what’s real without shame.
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Reframing it into something workable.
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Recognizing the courage it takes to move forward anyway.
The young woman on the plane didn’t wait until she was “fearless” to travel. She accepted her fear, boarded the flight, and chose to live her life anyway.
Acceptance and wellness after 40 isn’t about resignation — it’s about courage. You don’t have to erase fear; you just learn to walk with it.
And that’s what acceptance can look like for you, too — with your wellness habits, your rest, your boundaries, and even your busy mind.
Why Acceptance and Wellness After 40 Go Hand in Hand
Perfectionism tells you to push harder, do more, be better.
Acceptance says: You’re already enough. Start here.
Here’s why it matters:
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Less Stress: Fighting yourself creates tension; acceptance softens it.
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More Energy: When you stop wasting energy on shame, you free it up for living.
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Lasting Habits: Acceptance helps you choose routines that fit you, not punish you.
When we talk about acceptance and wellness after 40, it’s about releasing perfectionism and creating more space for calm, energy, and growth. If this feels new, you may enjoy Gentle Wellness Habits: What If Change Doesn’t Look the Way You Think It Does.
Acceptance and Wellness After 40: Reframing Fear Into Courage
The woman on the plane still flew despite fear. That’s courage. And so is everything you do that feels a little uncomfortable but matters to you anyway.
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Perfectionism? → Proof you care deeply.
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Sensitivity? → A sign of empathy and awareness.
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Struggles with consistency? → A reminder to find joy in small steps, not rigid rules.
Your fears and quirks don’t disqualify you. They make you real. And real is what creates connection, freedom, and growth.
Acceptance and Wellness After 40: A Journaling Prompt
If you’d like to explore this for yourself, here’s a gentle journaling prompt to get you started:
What part of me have I been criticizing that I could instead choose to validate? How has that part of me also helped me?
Sometimes, shifting from criticism to validation is the most powerful wellness practice you can do.
Perfectly Imperfect You
You don’t need to be fearless, flawless, or fixed. Wellness doesn’t start with changing who you are — it starts with accepting yourself as you are.
The perfectly imperfect you is already enough — and that’s where acceptance and wellness after 40 begins. And when you validate her, you create the calm, energy, and courage to grow in ways that actually last.
✨ Remember: you already hold the answers within.
Acceptance and wellness after 40 thrive when we permit ourselves to say “no” to what drains us and “yes” to what makes us feel alive. If you’re looking for a fresh reset, you might also enjoy La Rentrée: A Gentle Wellness Reset for Women 40+
Acceptance and wellness after 40 isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about honoring the imperfect, courageous woman you already are. 💛 You can do this — and I’m rooting for you.
Ready to take the first step?
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Try my free Stress Reset Checklist — five quick tools to calm your nervous system (perfect when life feels turbulent).
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Or start your mornings with my Morning Magic Guide, full of simple rituals that bring calm and energy to your day.
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And if you’d love personal support in weaving more acceptance and joy into your wellness routine, book a free 30-minute Quick Chat with me.
More Inspiration for Your Journey
- Wellness is a Puzzle: How to Rebuild Your Routine After 40
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Perfectionism in Wellness: Why “Getting It Right” Feels So Wrong
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Why Self-Compassion — Not Perfection — Is the Key to Your Wellness Routine
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Resistance to Change or Misalignment: How to Know the Difference
- Real Wellness Starts Small: Thoughts on How to Be Well by Amy Larocca
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Gentle Wellness Habits for Women 40+: What if Change Doesn’t Look the Way You Think
- How to Go from Idea to Action in Midlife
- The Joy Factor: Why Fun and Play Matter for Your Health After 40
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