There’s a whisper many women in their 40s and 50s know all too well. It’s the moment you’re in a conversation and you bite your tongue, telling yourself, “It’s not worth it.” It’s the ache of not speaking up in meetings, with family, or even in your closest relationships. Over time, silence becomes second nature.
That doesn’t mean we don’t feel it. Perhaps it’s physical – a persistent sore throat, or emotional – a frustration that bursts out in rage, or something else entirely.
But deep down, you know this isn’t who you are. Somewhere along the way, your voice — your truth — got buried beneath responsibility, fear of judgment, feeling shut-down, or the endless giving that comes with caring for everyone else first.
And here’s the truth I want you to hear today: your voice has not been lost. It’s still here, waiting for you to claim it again.
Why We Silence Ourselves
For decades, many of us have been taught that a “good woman” is agreeable, selfless, and accommodating. At work, we’re rewarded for not making waves or punished for speaking up. At home, we’re told to keep the peace, and to fit the roles. In friendships, we often hold back our real feelings so we’re not “too much.”
The result? We disappear in plain sight. We become the dependable one, the peacekeeper, the strong-but-silent backbone of families and workplaces — all while quietly losing connection to ourselves.
The Cost of Silence
Silence feels safe, it feels “easier”… until it doesn’t.
Over time, it erodes confidence. It leaves us second-guessing every decision. It creates resentment in relationships because unspoken needs pile up. And perhaps most heartbreaking, it dulls our sense of self.
When you no longer speak your truth, you stop recognising the woman in the mirror.
Rediscovering Your Voice
Finding your voice again doesn’t mean shouting or fighting. It means gently returning to the truth of who you are.
Notice your emotions about speaking up. What emotions are you feeling, and where in your body are you holding them?
- Start small. Practice saying what you really feel in safe spaces: journaling, with a trusted friend, or even whispering it to yourself first.
- Notice the energy shift. Speaking your truth — even in small ways — often brings a rush of relief, a spark of aliveness. That’s your sign you’re coming home to yourself.
- Reframe sovereignty. Notice how you may have been expressing yourself without your words – are you shutting down, are you acting in a passive-aggressive way, is it something else? Sovereignty isn’t about control or power over others. It’s about standing rooted in your own truth, unapologetically.
Reflection
Take a breath and ask yourself: Where in my life am I holding back my truth? What would it feel like to let even one small truth be spoken today?
Remember
Your voice is not gone. It’s been waiting, quietly, for this very moment. And you don’t have to reclaim it alone.
Uprising is a live midlife experience where women come together to rediscover their truth, set boundaries without apology, and rise sovereign.
✨ Our In person experience begins Sept 20. Tickets close Sept 18. Online begins October.