People who gain confidence as they get older usually adopt these 9 powerful habits

Avatar by Justin Brown | October 24, 2024, 10:43 am

Growing in confidence as we age isn’t an inevitable process. In fact, it’s a deliberate and conscious journey that requires cultivating certain habits that empower us.

It’s not about becoming someone else or trying to fit into societal norms. It’s about recognizing our worth, learning to trust our instincts, and embracing our unique journey.

And while everyone’s path to confidence is different, we often find that those who grow more self-assured with age share several powerful habits. These habits help them to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace, and ultimately, to live with authenticity and freedom.

Let’s delve deeper into these profound habits that can lead us to a more confident life as we get older.

1) Embracing authenticity

In the ever-evolving journey of life, those who find their confidence increasing with age often have a common habit: they embrace authenticity.

Authenticity is more than just being yourself; it’s about honoring your individuality. It means rejecting the idea of fitting into predefined societal norms and instead, cultivating a deep understanding and acceptance of your true self.

As we grow older, we amass experiences that help us understand our strengths, our weaknesses, and our unique perspectives. This self-awareness is a crucial step towards embracing authenticity. But it’s only half the journey.

The other half is courageously expressing this authenticity in our interactions with others and the world around us. This means making choices that align with our values, even when they differ from the status quo.

This habit of embracing authenticity lightens the mental load of trying to be someone we’re not. It fosters an inner resilience that allows us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and confidence.

So, as we age, embracing authenticity isn’t just about living a more fulfilling life; it’s also about growing in confidence.

2) Practicing self-compassion

Another powerful habit that individuals who grow in confidence as they age often adopt is the practice of self-compassion.

Self-compassion is about treating ourselves with the same kindness, understanding, and empathy we would offer to a good friend. It’s about acknowledging our shared humanity and accepting that we are all works in progress.

As I’ve delved deeper into my own journey, I’ve found that practicing self-compassion has transformed my relationship with myself. Rather than berating myself for mistakes or shortcomings, I’ve learned to treat these moments as opportunities for growth and learning.

This shift in perspective has not only increased my resilience but also bolstered my confidence. By treating each setback as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block, I’ve been able to grow from them rather than being held back by them.

To encapsulate this idea, I’d like to share a quote by Kristin Neff, a leading researcher on self-compassion: “Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?”

3) Prioritizing personal growth

Personal growth is a lifelong journey, and those who grow in confidence as they age understand the importance of prioritizing this journey.

Personal growth is not about reaching a final destination. It’s about continuously learning, adapting, and evolving. It’s about confronting our fears, challenging our limiting beliefs, and creating space for new perspectives and possibilities.

This requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones. It’s about embracing change, even when it’s uncomfortable or challenging.

I’ve explored this concept in-depth in one of my videos where I discuss the dark side of entrepreneurship. In this video, I share how society often glorifies the dream of being an entrepreneur without acknowledging the resilience and mindset required to achieve it.

The key takeaway from my experience is that fulfilment comes from the journey itself, not just the outcome.

You can watch the video here:

YouTube video

The journey of personal growth is not always easy, but it’s worth it. It allows us to expand our perspectives, deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfilment that fuels our confidence.

If these insights resonate with you and you want to explore living life with more purpose and freedom, I invite you to join over 20,000 others who have subscribed to my YouTube channel. You can subscribe here.

4) Rejecting dominance hierarchies

A key habit of those who gain confidence as they age is the rejection of rigid dominance hierarchies that place some individuals above others based on power, status, or wealth.

In a society that often measures worth by external achievements, it can be challenging to resist the allure of these hierarchies.

However, those who grow in confidence with age understand that our value is not determined by our place in a hierarchy, but by our inherent dignity as human beings.

This understanding fosters a sense of inner confidence that is not contingent on external validation or approval. It’s raw and honest, rooted in the knowledge of our own worth.

It also changes the way we relate to others. Rather than seeking to compete or dominate, we strive to cultivate relationships based on mutual respect, empathy, and cooperation. We see the worth and dignity in every individual, regardless of their status or achievements.

This habit allows us to navigate life with greater authenticity and freedom. We are no longer bound by societal expectations or pressure to conform.

Instead, we are free to live in alignment with our values and to engage with others in a way that honors their inherent worth as well as ours.

Rejecting dominance hierarchies is not about denying the realities of power dynamics in society. Instead, it’s about choosing not to let these dynamics dictate our sense of self-worth or our interactions with others.

It’s about choosing to value every individual for who they are, rather than what they have achieved.

5) Embracing financial responsibility

Another habit that individuals growing in confidence as they age tend to adopt is embracing financial responsibility. This concept, however, goes beyond just budgeting or saving.

Financial responsibility is about aligning our financial decisions with our deepest values. It’s about recognizing that money is not just a tool for personal gain, but also a means to effect positive change in the world.

It’s not merely about accumulating wealth, but about using it in a way that contributes to a more equitable and sustainable future.

This understanding of money and wealth fosters a sense of purpose and creative participation in the economy. It moves us away from the mindset of scarcity and competition, and towards one of abundance and cooperation.

To delve deeper into this topic, I invite you to watch my video on the dark side of entrepreneurship. In this video, I discuss how societal glorification of wealth often overlooks the resilience and mindset required to achieve it.

I emphasize that true fulfillment comes from the journey itself, not just the outcome.

You can watch the video here:

YouTube video

Embracing financial responsibility is not about rejecting wealth or success. Rather, it’s about redefining what these concepts mean and aligning them with our values.

It’s about recognizing that our financial choices have wider impacts and using our resources in a way that contributes to a better world.

6) Welcoming failure

In a world that often stigmatizes failure, those who grow in confidence as they age have a different perspective. They welcome failure, not as an end, but as a beginning.

Failure is often seen as something to be avoided at all costs. However, those who consistently grow in confidence understand that every failure is an opportunity for growth and learning.

Instead of viewing failure as a measure of their worth or abilities, they see it as feedback. It’s an invitation to reflect, to adapt, and to evolve.

This shift in perspective transforms the experience of failure. Instead of being a source of fear or shame, it becomes a catalyst for innovation and creativity. It becomes an integral part of the journey towards personal growth and self-improvement.

Welcoming failure may seem counterproductive, but it actually empowers us. It liberates us from the fear of making mistakes and encourages us to take risks, to push our boundaries, and to explore new possibilities.

And in doing so, it fosters a sense of resilience and self-confidence that is not dependent on external validation or success. It allows us to derive confidence from our ability to learn, grow, and adapt, rather than from the avoidance of failure.

7) Fostering authentic relationships

Authentic relationships are a cornerstone in the lives of those who grow in confidence as they age. As we navigate life’s complexities, the value of genuine connections becomes increasingly apparent.

These are not relationships of convenience or superficiality. They are connections rooted in mutual respect, empathy, and understanding. They offer a safe space for vulnerability, for sharing our joys and challenges, for being seen and accepted for who we truly are.

Building authentic relationships requires courage. It requires us to let down our guard, to be open about our feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It requires us to listen deeply to others, to be present with them in their moments of joy and pain.

As we grow older and more confident, we understand that these relationships enrich our lives in countless ways. They provide us with support in times of struggle, joy in times of celebration, and companionship in times of solitude.

In the words of Brené Brown, “We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.”

8) Making conscious financial choices

As we age and our confidence grows, we become more aware of the power of our financial choices. We recognize that every financial decision is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.

This is not just about charity or philanthropy. It’s about choosing to invest our money in businesses and initiatives that align with our values.

It’s about recognizing the impact of our consumption habits and choosing to support businesses that are committed to ethical practices and sustainability.

Our financial choices reflect our values and play a critical role in shaping the world around us. By making conscious financial decisions, we contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

9) Cultivating self-awareness

Another habit that individuals growing in confidence as they age often adopt is the cultivation of self-awareness.

Self-awareness is about understanding our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s about recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, our passions and fears. It’s about understanding how we interact with the world around us and how we can better align our actions with our values.

As we grow older and more confident, we understand that self-awareness is not a destination, but a journey. It’s a continuous process of exploration and discovery that enables us to live with greater authenticity and freedom.

It’s through self-awareness that we can begin to understand ourselves at a deeper level, embrace our uniqueness, and become more confident in who we are and what we stand for.

Finding confidence in the unfolding of life

The journey towards confidence is a deeply personal one, shaped by our unique experiences, perspectives, and values.

As we age, we often discover that the path to confidence is less about reaching a specific destination and more about the ongoing process of self-discovery and growth.

Each habit we’ve explored – embracing authenticity, practicing self-compassion, prioritizing personal growth, rejecting dominance hierarchies, welcoming failure, fostering authentic relationships, making conscious financial choices, and cultivating self-awareness – is a piece of this unfolding journey.

These habits don’t guarantee confidence, but they do create a fertile ground for it to grow. They invite us to engage more deeply with ourselves and the world around us, to learn from our experiences, and to live in alignment with our values.

As we grow older, our relationship with confidence may change. But if we continue to cultivate these habits, we can navigate these changes with resilience and grace.

So as you continue on your own journey towards confidence, I encourage you to reflect on these habits. Which ones resonate with you? Which ones challenge you? And most importantly, how can you integrate them into your life in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you?

If these insights resonate with you and you want to explore living life with more purpose and freedom, I invite you to join over 20,000 others who have subscribed to my YouTube channel. You can subscribe here. Together, we can navigate this complex journey called life.