Why Doing Hard Things Still Matters in Midlife; Finding Growth Through Discomfort

There was a moment recently at Snowbird ski resort, one of the mountains we skied on a recent trip to Utah, where the trail narrowed and the drop felt very real.

My body went straight into panic.

It felt like I was hugging a cliff.

I had to talk myself through it, out loud. You can do this. One turn at a time.

It struck me how often growth actually looks like this.

Not loud confidence.

Not bravado.

But steady self-talk in discomfort.

I’ve come to see that growth in midlife often shows up not as bold confidence, but as quiet persistence; staying present, talking yourself through discomfort, and taking the next small step anyway.

I see this with my health coaching clients all the time, especially women who haven’t challenged themselves physically or professionally in a while. Growth at this stage of life doesn’t mean pushing nonstop or forcing yourself through things that no longer fit. It means staying willing to step into moments that stretch you, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Growth is learning to trust yourself in real time. To stay present when your instinct is to back out. To remind yourself that you are capable, even when your nervous system says otherwise.

At this stage of life, growth looks quieter, but it’s no less powerful. And at 54, I’m still choosing to do things that scare me a little.

That choice matters.