40 Prayers for 40 and Beyond: A Love Letter to Growth, Motherhood, and Becoming

“Forty isn’t the end of my youth, it’s the beginning of my power. A season where I carry my past with gratitude, my present with presence, and my future with unstoppable faith. May this be the decade I honor the mother, the woman, and the creator within me. All at once. All fully. Unapologetically.”

Dear 40,

We met last week and I have to be honest, I was feeling a bit indifferent about you. But you have proved to be the exact opposite of everything I thought you would be. You came in with a kind of softness and grace that I have never known. You brought with you the kind of laughter and love that people only dream of. And you carried with you the kind of peace where I once felt chaos and clarity where I once had confusion. 

You feel like a gentle hug and self-trust. Like a warm welcome home to a version of me that I’ve always known was there, but never fully experienced. 

This decade, I don’t want to prove or overperform. I simply want to live intentionally, love deeply, laugh freely, create boldly, and rest unapologetically. And I want to nurture myself with the same care, kindness, and tenderness that I have freely given to everyone else. 

So here are 40 prayers for 40. A collection of bold blessings and manifestations for who I am, who I’ve been, and who I’m still becoming.

  1. May I finally feel at home in my own skin.

  2. May I feel confident in the mother I am. Imperfect, intuitive, and most importantly, enough.

  3. May I experience softness that doesn’t make me feel small.

  4. May I continue showing up as the woman I was designed to be and lead with power and ease.

  5. May I prioritize what feeds my soul.

  6. May I choose presence over perfection.

  7. May my love continue to be rooted in trust, tenderness, patience, and joy.

  8. May my love continue to meet me where I am and choose me daily.

  9. May my lover and I continue to learn from one another with excitement, happiness, and wonder.

  10. May my daughter always feel seen even in my silence.

  11. May I be given grace during the moments I feel stretched too thin.

  12. May I outgrow the people, spaces, and places that no longer serve me. 

  13. May inspiration flow freely, guiding me to create without judgement and fear.

  14. May I remember that joy is my birthright and not a prize. 

  15. May my friendships continue to be a safe space for my truth. 

  16. May I always be reminded that I am still a woman outside of motherhood.

  17. May I always trust that what’s meant for me will never require me to shrink.

  18. May my home always be filled with warmth, safety, and shared joy, even in chaos.

  19. May I always love my body as she changes, softens, and carries me.

  20. May I find moments of fullness even in stillness. 

  21. May my creativity continue to blossom in unexpected ways, reminding me that inspiration lives in the ordinary.

  22. May I remember that baby steps are still steps, small wins are still wins, and that growth can still happen during moments of silence.

  23. May I trust my instincts, my choices, and the rhythm of my own life.

  24. May the unknown hold opportunities for joy, connection, and discovery.

  25. May I experience laughter-filled mornings and evenings wrapped in tender kisses. 

  26. May I trust what I can’t yet see.

  27. May my boundaries always protect the peace I’ve prayed for.

  28. May my daughter’s memories be soft and joyful.

  29. May I forgive. But most importantly forgive myself.

  30. May my beauty never have to be captured in order to feel real.

  31. May I embrace change and curiosity with courage.

  32. May I remember that my creative voice is unique, valuable, and worthy of expression.

  33. May my laughter echo through every room I walk into.

  34. May I always remain in alignment. 

  35. May I have the courage to let the good things last. 

  36. May I experience success that feels like freedom and not fatigue. 

  37. May I have meaningful conversations that nourish me without leaving me feeling drained.

  38. May my future self look back over my life with pride and not regret.

  39. May I be gentle with myself, celebrating the woman I am today while honoring who I am becoming.

  40. And may this next chapter be guided by God, rooted in love, and written with faith.

Forty is not a finish line. It’s an invitation to move forward with intention, gratitude, and love. And these prayers are reminders that growth doesn’t end at the start of a new decade, it just deepens.

So here’s to 40. May it always feel like unconditional love and faith in the woman I am growing into.

With Love,

Racquel

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Dear 30s: A Love Letter to the Decade That Defined Me