Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m too old to change” or “I’ve always been this way”? Or, tell yourself “this is just who I am”? How about the old saying of you cannot teach an old dog new tricks? These are examples of a fixed mindset—the belief that our abilities, intelligence, and traits are set in stone. However, adopting a growth mindset can open new doors, especially after 50! I run into this with women telling me “this is just who I am” or “I have never been active”. Yikes. If our life expectancy now is 89, are you happy where you are? Are you okay with your health? What about your job or your home? There is plenty of time to make a change if we want it! Having the right mindset might be just the thing you need.
A growth mindset, coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that you can improve and develop through effort, learning, and resilience. Here’s why embracing this mindset is especially important as we age. Yes, even if you are over 50! You can adapt our brain even at 70 years of age. Science shows that our brains are capable of neuroplasticity, which means they can form new connections and continue learning at any age. You can teach yourself new habits, skills, and ways of thinking. Whether it’s learning a new language, picking up a hobby, or developing healthier habits, the brain remains adaptable.
Experience that we gain, will fuel our growth. It is amazing how we learn something and then it becomes a passion. Think about the lessons you’ve learned through the years. Those experiences give you the tools to problem-solve and adapt better than ever before. If you’ve conquered challenges before, you can face new ones now, no matter your age. Once we start something new, it builds. Now think about this. For example, say you want to learn pickle ball. You would start to research areas around you that have lessons-knowing that you need to make it as convenient as possible and as easy as possible in order for it to stick. We know this. We have seen us and others start something and never stay with it. The problem is that we don’t think it is possible, so we don’t even try. Well, change this!
Overcoming Setbacks is the way we learn and how we conquer. In a fixed mindset, setbacks can feel like failures, while in a growth mindset, they’re opportunities to learn. For example, trying to adopt a new fitness routine or change your diet might seem daunting, but with persistence, your body and mind will respond. Each step is progress, even if it’s small. You have to start. Yes, things will happen or get hard and that is when we throw in the towel. Don’t let it happen.
How to Embrace a Growth Mindset and Embrace Aging with Excitement?
Welcome the Challenges. See every new challenge as a chance to grow rather than a roadblock. If you’ve never been able to stick to a routine, view each attempt as one step closer to success. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to work. If you start a 5 minute exercise routine each morning and you wake up late and need to be there...it is okay. Nothing has gone wrong. Start back up tomorrow. If you missed brushing your teeth one morning, you wouldn’t stop brushing your teeth.
Get Curious. Cultivate curiosity about the world and yourself. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” rather than, “Why is this happening to me?” Explore why it is not working as planned and make changes. Ask yourself WHY you believe something and start challenging your belief. It’s kind of fun. Why do you think you don’t look good in dark hair? Or, maybe you do like read but just haven’t had the right stuff to read.
Celebrate Progress. Focus on small wins. Growth happens over time, not overnight. Celebrate each improvement, no matter how small. It is fun to celebrate our small wins, even if they are the tiniest wins.
Remember: Change is possible at any age. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being better than yesterday. Embrace the growth mindset, and keep proving to yourself that life after 50 can be filled with growth, joy, and transformation!
You can do anything or change anything at any age. Let's adapt a new growth mindset for the last half of our story....and make it exciting!
Fall is in the air and a perfect time for change.
Have a beautiful day.
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