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feel like a stranger in your own skin

Feeling Like a Stranger in Your Own Skin? Here's What Helped Me Feel Like Me Again

July 07, 20254 min read

Feeling Like a Stranger in Your Own Skin? Here's What Helped Me Feel Like Me Again

Have you ever looked in the mirror and whispered,
"Where did I go?"
Not just the lines around your eyes or the grey streak in your hair…
But the light in your eyes, the sparkle in your spirit—that unmistakable sense of you.

Somewhere between caring for everyone else, managing a home, juggling work, and showing up in a hundred little ways—you started to fade.
The clarity, the patience, the energy… they’ve slowly unraveled.
And no, it’s not just about hormones. Though let’s be real—those hot flushes aren’t exactly a picnic.

This season can be so confusing. So lonely.
And yet so many of us are walking through it quietly, wondering if anyone else feels the same.

Let me be the one to tell you:
You’re not broken. You’re not lost. And you’re most certainly not alone.


This Isn’t Laziness—It’s a Sacred Transition

Midlife is a threshold.
Not the “midlife crisis” cliché we’ve been sold… but a deep and sacred transition.
One that stirs things up—emotionally, physically, spiritually.

You may feel scattered, easily overwhelmed, or disconnected from things that once brought you joy. You may find yourself questioning your purpose, or simply feeling like… a stranger in your own skin.

Please hear this with love:
You are not lazy. You are becoming.
And that process? It takes energy. Gentleness. And so much grace.


Five Gentle Shifts That Helped Me Find Myself Again

There was no overnight transformation. No grand breakthrough. It was more like a quiet remembering. A slow, soft return to myself.

Here’s what helped me come home to who I am—one small step at a time.

1. Nourishing Myself with Intentional Food

I started paying closer attention to what I was feeding my body—and not from a place of restriction, but of love.
More whole foods, fewer packaged ones. More warm, grounding meals. Less sugar crashing and more stable energy.
My body responded with more clarity and kindness than I expected.

2. Moving in Ways That Felt Gentle and Joyful

Gone are the days of punishing workouts. Instead, I embraced movement as a way to connect with my body, not control it.
Walking in nature, stretching with music, dancing barefoot in my kitchen—movement became medicine, not a chore.

3. Slowing Down and Listening In

I stopped running on autopilot. I let myself rest. I said no. I created space to just be.
The world didn’t fall apart when I stopped hustling… in fact, I started to feel whole again.

4. Seeking Support and Soft Spaces to Be Held

I reached out—to a therapist, a coach, to trusted people in my world.
Because sometimes we need someone else to help us see the parts we’ve forgotten.
There’s so much healing in being witnessed, in being reminded you don’t have to carry it all alone.

5. Reconnecting with People Who See the Real Me

I started saying yes to laughter, heart-to-hearts, and those beautifully imperfect connections that remind us who we really are.
The kind of friendships where you don’t have to explain everything… you can just show up as you are.


You Don’t Need to Fix Yourself—You Just Need to Come Back to You

There’s nothing wrong with you. You haven’t fallen behind.
You’ve simply been pouring yourself into others for so long… that now, it’s time to pour a little back in.

Start with one small thing.
One moment of quiet. One nourishing meal. One phone call. One walk.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to begin.


You’re Not Too Late. You’re Right on Time.

If there’s something stirring inside you—a dream, a shift, a longing to feel more like you again—trust that.

You don’t need permission. You just need a little courage.
Write the story. Start the project. Share your truth. Be seen. Be a little messy. Be real.

Because this season? It’s not the end. It’s a beautiful, brave becoming.


💛 Ready for a Small, Gentle Win?

If you're craving a soft place to start, my 5-Minute Morning Routine Checklist is a beautiful first step.
It’s a calming little ritual designed to help you reconnect with yourself each day—without the pressure.

👉 [Download it here!]

And if this post whispered to something inside you, I’d love to hear.
Leave a comment or message me—I’m here, holding space for you. Always.


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Hi! I'm Louise Hopkin

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