Coming out later in life can be filled with questions on where to even begin.
It may even feel like a completely new world as you are discovering you may not be so straight.
You may constantly ask yourself questions like...
"Will I ever find love? Am I too old to find love?"
"How can I feel comfortable in this new identity?"
"Will I ever feel comfortable with the idea of dating? It's all new and I feel insecure with all of it."
"Do I have to dress or look a certain way to fit in?"
It can also be fueled with many emotions and can be overwhelming to navigate this new part of who you are...so we've created a list of 3 things to know if you're coming out later in life.
1. There is no right way to come out.
Everyone expresses who they are on their own time, in their own way. It also doesn't make you any less valid if you're unable to come out or regardless of your past history. Many of our clients have said people have assumed that because of their previous dating history, they may not be LGBTQ+. No matter what anyone says or if you're open publicly or not, you are valid and there's no "right way".
2. You deserve to live authentically you...in all ways.
Even after we see people coming out in their late 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's...they've still held onto the feelings of wanting to make sure people approve of them and they shut out who they truly are, what they want and accept people/things in their life that may not be aligned or healthy. Did you know that 68% of queer adults grew up not feeling accepted?
It's no wonder we've molded ourselves into who others wanted us to be.
When we struggle to be authentically ourselves, it holds us back from confidently being who we are beyond coming out. It can hold us back from authentic relationships, creating boundaries in relationships and just feeling at peace with who we're becoming.
3. Get involved with people who are on a similar journey!
It is so important to surround yourself with people who just understand what you're going through. We can learn even more about ourselves when we surround ourselves with people who are on similar paths. From social media to local centers, there are many ways to get involved with the LGBTQ+ community.
We're here for you on this journey, so know you're never alone! If you're ready to start feeling confident in who you are and join a community of other LGBTQ+ adults, we are inviting you to check out the Queer Happiness Collective membership here.
With love,
Dani & Keely
Visit our website for all of the Queer Happiness Collective membership, LGBTQ+ Conversation Cards, and more!