Hello, Simply Soul Family.
There’s something I’ve been quietly noticing about myself as I’ve moved from my late 40s into my 50s: my tolerance has changed. Actually, let me be honest, it has shortened.
I used to be the person who would sit with things. I would think, rethink, overthink. I’d call a friend, talk it through, weigh every angle, and sometimes still go back and forth before making a decision. I gave people, situations, and even discomfort a lot of time and space.
But now?
It takes me seconds.
Seconds to recognize what doesn’t feel right.
Seconds to decide what I will or will not entertain.
Seconds to walk away, mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically.
At first, I wondered… Is something wrong with me?
Am I becoming impatient? Less compassionate? Too rigid?
But the more I sit with it, the more I realize, it doesn’t feel like impatience. It feels like clarity.
It feels like I’ve lived enough life to recognize patterns faster. I’ve seen what drains me, what confuses me, and what disrespects my peace, and I no longer feel the need to analyze it to exhaustion. I trust myself more now. I trust what I feel. I trust what I know.
And maybe that’s what growth looks like.
Maybe growth is not always about becoming softer and more flexible. Maybe sometimes it’s about becoming firmer. More grounded. More decisive. More protective of your energy.
There are things I simply don’t negotiate with anymore: my peace, my time, my boundaries, my values. And it’s not because I don’t care, it’s because I finally understand what caring for myself truly requires.
I also think there’s a quiet confidence that comes with age. In my younger years, I felt the need to explain myself more, justify my decisions, or make sure everyone understood where I was coming from. Now, I’m okay with not being fully understood. I’m okay with choosing me without a long explanation.
And that’s new.
Sometimes I do pause and ask myself, Am I shutting down too quickly?
Am I giving things enough room?
But more often than not, the answer that comes back is this: I’ve already done the “room-giving” in other seasons of my life.
This season feels different. It feels intentional. It feels honest.
Maybe it’s not that we’re becoming less patient.
Maybe we’re just becoming more aligned with who we are, what we need, and what we’re no longer willing to carry.
And honestly, there’s something very freeing about that.
So now I’m curious… Do you feel this too?
Have you noticed your tolerance shifting as you’ve grown older?
Maybe it’s not that we’re becoming less patient.
Maybe we’re just becoming more aligned with who we are, what we need, and what we’re no longer willing to carry.
And honestly, there’s something very freeing about that.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
Xoxo
