Let’s be real:
By the time we reach midlife, most of us are carrying around some heavy, outdated beliefs.
- “I’m just bad with money.”
- “I’m not a tech person.”
- “It’s too late for me to start over.”
- “I always screw this up.”
Sound familiar?
Not because it’s true — but because we’ve heard it, absorbed it, and repeated it until it felt like fact.
But here’s the thing no one says enough:
Beliefs are just thoughts you’ve practiced believing.
They’re not your destiny.
And you? You’re allowed to change the whole story.
Midlife is not the closing chapter.
It’s the damn plot twist. 🚀
Why We Carry Limiting Beliefs (and How to Spot Them)
Most limiting beliefs aren’t even ours originally.
They come from:
- Messages we picked up in childhood (“money is complicated,” “good girls don’t ask for more,” etc.)
- Early failures that bruised our confidence
- Cultural narratives about what “someone like us” can or can’t do
These beliefs were adaptive once.
They helped us fit in, stay safe, avoid disappointment.
But now?
They’re outdated software.
And it’s time for an upgrade.
Here’s how you know a belief needs pruning:
If it makes you feel small, stuck, or shameful — it’s not your truth.
It’s just old programming.
My Own Reset: From Fear to (Wobbly) Growth
For most of my adult life, I avoided anything that felt too “financial.”
Investing, budgeting, spreadsheets?
I would literally feel sick just thinking about it.
I told myself:
“You’re just not wired that way.”
“You’ll mess it up anyway.”
But you know what finally cracked the door open?
Adding the word “yet.”
“I don’t understand investing… yet.”
“I’m not confident managing money… yet.”
“I haven’t built the financial future I want… yet.”
“Yet” changed everything.
It didn’t magically erase my fear, but it made room for hope.
It reminded me: I’m still becoming.
Mindset Reset: 3 Steps to Start Rewriting Your Story
Ready to shift your own inner narrative?
Here’s the exact method I used (and still use daily):
🛠 Step 1: Name It (Awareness)
Start paying attention to the automatic thoughts that loop in your mind.
Catch yourself thinking, “I’m terrible at this”?
Pause. Write it down.
You’re not judging the thought.
You’re just pulling it into the light.
🌟 Pro Tip: Keep a “Belief Log” in your Notes app. Make it casual. No shame, just data.
🛠 Step 2: Question It (Inquiry)
Once you spot the belief, get curious:
- Is this 100% true?
- Who taught me this?
- Would I say this to someone I love?
Most of the time, you’ll realize the belief isn’t rooted in truth.
It’s rooted in protection, fear, or a long-past version of you.
🛠 Step 3: Reframe It (The Power of “Yet”)
Language matters.
Shift “I can’t” to “I can’t yet.“
- I’m not tech-savvy… yet.
- I’m not good with money… yet.
- I’m not consistent… yet.
This one tiny tweak keeps your future wide open.
It tells your brain: We’re still learning. We’re still becoming.
Bonus: Tiny Habits to Reinforce Your New Story
Once you start pruning the old beliefs, plant new habits that water your growth:
🌱 If you’re reclaiming financial confidence:
- Save $10 today, no matter what.
- Open a free investing app and just look around.
🌱 If you’re building self-trust:
- Keep one tiny promise to yourself today.
- Celebrate small wins — even sending one scary email.
🌱 If you’re growing creativity:
- Write one messy paragraph.
- Sketch one bad doodle.
- Start messy, start now.
Resources You’ll Love (and Actually Use)
https://youtu.be/_X0mgOOSpLU?si=zCP882mDoQV3a5H7🎧 Podcast: Second Life with Hillary Kerr – real stories of women pivoting and thriving
📚 Book: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – best small habits book out there
📺 Video: Carol Dweck’s TED Talk – 5 minutes that might change your brain
📱 App: I Am – positive affirmations that feel doable, not cheesy
Final Word: You Are Not Stuck
Here’s what I believe, deep in my bones:
You are not your past.
You are not your old stories.
You are not too old, too late, or too far gone.
You are still blooming. 🌸
And every time you choose a new belief—every time you dare to say “yet”—you’re writing a new chapter.
I’m doing it too.
And I’m cheering like crazy for both of us.
Let’s grow,
💚 Gina
P.S. Want more encouragement like this?
✨ Subscribe to 5 Bullet Sunday — real talk for real women reinventing midlife
📬 Follow my personal reflections on Substack
🎥 Find me on TikTok + Pinterest @LoveMiddleLife