It’s Never Too Late to…Change Direction
I was speaking with a friend earlier recently. She’s 55, brilliant at what she does, but thinking of changing direction. This should be an exciting time, yet she found herself questioning her decision and second guessing herself:
“What if people think I’m too old to start again?”
“What if no one gives me a chance?”
“What if all they see is failure, not experience?”
What struck me wasn’t just her words, it was the shame sitting behind them. As if making the decision to change direction later in life was a flaw instead of what it really is: evidence of courage, self-awareness, and growth.
Why do we treat change like it comes with an expiry date?
We celebrate 20-somethings for “finding themselves,” for experimenting, for trying new things. But when women over 40, 50, or beyond want to shift, suddenly the narrative changes.
“Shouldn’t you have figured it out by now?”
“Why rock the boat when you’ve got stability?”
“Isn’t it too late?”
“Are you having a crisis?”
But as I always say, it’s never too late.
Every year of experience, every skill you’ve honed, every chapter you’ve walked through, it’s all coming with you.
Changing direction doesn’t erase it.
It makes you richer.
The hidden cost of staying the same
The real risk isn’t in changing direction at 40, 50, or 60.
The real risk is staying in a life that no longer feels like yours, because you’re afraid of what people might think.
People will always have opinions. But they don’t live your life. You do.
What my friend couldn’t see in that moment was that her years of knowledge, her resilience, her perspective, those are the exact things that make her more valuable now, not less.
Your second act is waiting
Changing direction doesn’t mean starting from scratch.
It means using everything you already are to create something that finally feels aligned with who you’ve become.
It’s never too late to:
Start again with clarity instead of confusion
Build something on your terms instead of someone else’s rules
Choose a path that makes you feel alive, not just “fine”
The only thing too late is waiting until regret feels heavier than possibility.
A gentle invitation
If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge that “not like this” , maybe this is your sign.
It’s never too late to change direction. And the version of you who already knows that? She’s ready.
Want to explore what’s possible? Book a free Spark Session with me, a 30-minute call to explore how I can support you to make the changes you’re seeking.
https://calendly.com/clarerobertsmolloy/spark-session