Second Season Confidence | Volume 1, Edition 20

Confidence used to feel like proof: degrees, titles, and applause. But in this season of life, I see it differently. True confidence is no longer about proving to others; it is about trusting myself. It means saying no without guilt, walking away from what doesn't align, and leading with humility instead of control. 

This week in Lead Anew: Insights & Growth, I share how Second season confidence is less about applause and more about alignment, less about proving your worth and more about trusting you already have it. 

When I was younger, confidence felt like something I had to earn. It was proof. It was degrees and titles. It was the approval of others. If enough people clapped for me, maybe then I could believe in myself. But in this season of life, I see confidence differently. It is less about proving and more about trusting. Less about saying, “Look what I have achieved,” and more about saying, “I know who I am.” 

We were raised in a culture that taught us to measure confidence by external markers: how many accomplishments you have, how well you perform, and how others perceive you. That worked in our twenties and thirties because we were climbing, striving, and establishing ourselves. But in midlife, the cracks in that script start to show. Even if you collect all the proof in the world, it does not settle the question of worth. External confidence is fragile. It wobbles when the applause quiets. 

Second season confidence comes from a different place. It is quieter, steadier, and deeper. It says, “I can say no without guilt. I can walk away from what does not align. I can trust my instincts even when others do not understand them. I do not need everyone’s approval to move forward.” This kind of confidence is not loud. It does not always shout. It is the calm voice inside that says, “I trust me.” 

I used to chase confidence through achievement. The next promotion, the next project, the next degree. And while I value every step of that journey, I realize now those things were never the real source of confidence. The real confidence showed up when I sat quietly with myself and asked, “What do I want now?” and trusted the answer. It showed up when I turned down opportunities that looked shiny but did not align with my values. It showed up when I stopped apologizing for not fitting into someone else’s mold. That is the freedom of second season confidence. 

In leadership, this shift is powerful. Younger leaders often equate confidence with control, making sure every detail is perfect and every impression flawless. But seasoned leaders know confidence looks like humility. It looks like admitting mistakes. It looks like empowering others instead of needing the spotlight yourself. Teams thrive under leaders who embody second season confidence because it creates safety. They know they are being led by someone who trusts themselves enough to also trust others. 

Even in this season, there are lies that sneak in. Lies like, “I am too old to reinvent.” Or, “If I do not have external proof, it does not count.” Or, “I need to earn the right to change directions.” But those lies crumble when you realize confidence is not earned externally. It is claimed internally. 

Ask yourself this week: Where am I still chasing confidence through external proof? What decision could I make today that reflects inner trust instead of outer approval? What does confidence look like for me in this season of life? 

Early confidence is about proving. Second season confidence is about trusting. Confidence that relies on applause will always waver. True confidence is alignment with your values, even when others do not understand. Leadership confidence is not control. It is humility and empowerment. 

Confidence at midlife is not louder. It is steadier. It is rooted not in proving your worth but in trusting you already have it. So stop asking if others see your value. Start asking if you trust yourself enough to live it. 

✨ Until next time, may you lead anew with the confidence that comes from alignment, not applause. 

www.leadanewwithkim.mykajabi.com 

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