101 Growth Mindset Phrases for Women Over 50 (To Rethink What’s Possible)
Life after 50 can feel like a turning point. Your body changes, roles shift, and some dreams may feel out of reach. It is easy to think, “This is just how things are now.”
But that is not the whole story.
A growth mindset reminds you that you can still learn, try new things, and create a life that feels true to you. You are not “too old.” You are not “behind.” You are still growing.
The phrases in this post are here to gently retrain your inner voice. You can read through all 101, or choose a few that speak to you and sit with them.
Use these ideas to:
- Calm your inner critic
- Build self-trust
- See this season as a fresh chapter, not the end of the book
Take your time. Let the words sink in. You are allowed to grow at your own pace.
A growth mindset is a great strategy for personal development and becoming the fabulous person you are meant to be!
Maintain a growth mindset consistently and you will learn to believe in yourself and do anything you set your mind to do!
A growth mindset will also help you develop flexible thinking skills that help you live a happier and more successful life!
Now, now let’s learn more about a growth mindset and look at 101 growth mindset phrases to ponder, especially for women over 50.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclaimer for more information. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What is a Growth Mindset Phrase?
A growth mindset phrase speaks to the concept and purpose of a Growth Mindset.
It is a positive phrase or statement that suggests people can improve themselves through hard work and effort.
These statements are often encouraging and promote a positive attitude toward accomplishing something that may be challenging.
They may also offer reminders about self confidence, achieving your goals, and the importance of a maintaining a positive attitude.
These phrases may also use growth mindset language that includes words that empower and support.
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
I learned about growth mindset back in 2007 when Carol Dweck first coined the term in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. It was a new buzzword in schools across the country while I was teaching and going into school administration. It was significant in the field of social emotional well-being, as well.
These are simplistic definitions of growth mindset and fixed mindset as I have come to know these terms through my work over the past 19 years.
Growth Mindset Definition: A belief that you can accomplish your goals, desires, and dreams through hard work, self-confidence, effort, and a positive attitude. Your intelligence and potential is not limited or fixed. You can grown in unlimited ways. You confront failure with an attitude that you just need to try harder.
Fixed Mindset Definition: A belief that your intelligence is fixed. Some things you can do and some things you will never be able to do. You shy away from challenges and you live your life without expecting to ever reach a higher potential. You confront failure with a attitude of giving up rather than trying harder.
For a couple of years, almost every Staff Development meeting in my schools was about Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset. Any educational conference I attended included multiple sessions about Growth Mindset.
All classrooms were reflective of the concept, with posters and growth mindset words on display everywhere.
*An updated version of Carol’s book was written in 2017, Mindset – Updated Edition: Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential.
Teachers used growth mindset words of encouragement; classrooms often had growth mindset slogans; there were growth mindset quotes on the walls around school buildings; growth mindset vocabulary words and growth mindset praise phrases were being used everywhere while everyone was developing a growth mindset.
To be honest, many educators thought it was just another trendy educational term that would go away in a couple of years.
But today, we know that’s not the case. Almost everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the concept of a growth mindset.
Related Article: Hard Working Women: Books, Blogs, and Boss Babes
Growth Mindset Phrases that Nurture Self-Confidence
As a retired educator and a personal growth and development leader, I have a unique perspective about growth mindset.
I’ve worked with parents, educators, families, and students to develop the concept of growth mindset. Now I write about growth mindset and related topics for self-improvement.
Really, who wants to have a fixed mindset when there is so much to learn and do in this big beautiful world around us?
However, interestingly, I often see labels and titles such as:
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Kids
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Teachers
- Positive Growth Mindset Phrases
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Parents
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Adults
- Phrases for Growth Mindset
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Students
- Growth Mindset Phrases for Classrooms
You get the idea… for women… for successful people… for motivation… for inspiration… etc… etc… etc.
But I do not believe there is a need to differentiate between growth mindsets for special populations. I’ve been living a growth mindset lifestyle for 19 years and I believe the words we use and apply to a growth mindset are applicable to EVERYONE.
In fact, I’ve always believed that growth mindset practices and phrases globally apply to self-confidence and positivity in all human beings.
While words may differ slightly to help children understand, the global concept of growth, self confidence, and positivity is what comes to mind when I think of a growth mindset.
Therefore, you’ll see that I have clumped all of my favorite growth mindset phrases together for you to ponder. I’ve added some inspirational mindset quotes at the bottom, as well. Some were on display in my classrooms and offices. Others are on display in my home today. Some are words I’ve written about here on my blog.
But all of them have special meaning to me. And I hope you’ll find them meaningful, as well.
Growth Mindset Words of Encouragement and Self-Confidence
The first 75 growth mindset statements are not attributed to any particular person. They are followed by 26 growth mindset quotes with attribution.
1. Always believe that something wonderful it about to happen.
2. Stop waiting to live.
3. Be the BEST version of yourself.
4. The best is yet to come.
5. Make your DREAMS happen.
6. I can and I will.
7. DREAM BIG.
8. Mistakes help us learn.
9. You belong right where you are.
10. You become what you believe.
11. All things are difficult before they are easy.
12. Be yourself always.
13. Embrace imperfection.
14. You are enough.
15. You will never regret being KIND.
16. Today is THE DAY.
17. You can always BEGIN AGAIN.
18. Think HAPPY THOUGHTS.
Pin to Pinterest for Later
Do you have a Sassy Sister Stuff Board yet?
19. Believe in yourself.
20. Just don’t quit.
21. We become what we think about.
22. Enjoy your journey.
23. Smile. Laugh. Love.
24. Listen to your spirit.
25. You are stronger than you think.
26. Good things take time.
27. Have courage and be brave.
28. Let me try it another way.
29. I’m on the right track.
30. I’m just getting started!
31. Is this my BEST work?
32. I will improve with practice.
33. I get a little better everyday!
34. Success doesn’t happen overnight.
35. Never stop learning.
36. I am in control of my emotions.
37. I deserve to be HAPPY.
38. Stand up for what you believe in.
39. Today I am going to be my BEST self.
40. I like myself for who I am.
41. I am grateful for all I have in my life.
42. I am open and ready to be positive.
43. Challenges make me better.
44. I’ll try a different way!
45. What can I learn from this situation?
46. It’s okay to not know, but it’s not okay to not try.
47. You only fail if you give up.
48. Everything you don’t know is something you can learn.
49. Mistakes are proof that you are TRYING.
50. I can overcome challenges with EFFORT.
51. I can train my brain.
52. Self-reflection will help me SUCCEED.
53. Be your own kind of BEAUTIFUL.
54. You are KIND…. you are SMART…. you are BEAUTIFUL.
55. Believe you CAN and you’re halfway there!
56. You don’t have to be PERFECT to be AMAZING.
57. Exercise your brain by thinking hard.
58. Try new things.
59. See mistakes as ways to LEARN.
60. Make the effort and push yourself. You can do it!
61. I always persevere. Even when I’m frustrated.
62. My effort and attitude determine EVERYTHING.
63. I’ll just laugh this off and start over!
64. Always be HUMBLE and KIND.
65. Tomorrow is a NEW DAY!
66. Be like a duck. Shake it off.
67. You have made it through all the worst days of your life.
68. I may not be there yet but I’m on the right track!
69. Worrying about my mistakes is a waste of my time.
70. Treat everyday like it’s an adventure!
71. Dream higher than the stars.
72. Plant KINDNESS wherever you go.
73. I’m not wrong. I just need to revisit my opinions.
74. I refuse to give up on myself.
75. I know I’m on the right path.
Mindset Quotes with Attribution
76. It’s not that I’m so smart. It’s just that I stay with it longer. ~ Albert Einstein
77. I haven’t failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that don’t work. ~ Thomas Edison
78. To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. ~ Joseph Chilton Pearce
79. If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake. ~ Frank Wilczek
80. I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship. ~ Louisa May Alcott
81. The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. ~ Captain Jack Sparrow
82. Whether you think you CAN or think you CAN’T, you are RIGHT. ~ Henry Ford
83. Just because you haven’t found your talent yet, doesn’t mean you don’t have one. ~ Kermit the Frog
84. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. ~ Albert Einstein
85. It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop. ~ Confucius
86. Rule your mind or it will rule you. ~ Buddha
87. The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you’re afraid to do. ~ Swati Sharma
88. I am still a work in progress and hope to always be. ~ Lupita Nyong’o
89. We cannot become what we want by remaining who we are. ~ Max Dupree
90. I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. ~ Vincent Van Gogh
91. There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in a different direction. ~ Oprah
92. Everything I need is already within me. ~ Louise Hay
93. Sometimes you win, sometimes you LEARN. ~ John C Maxwell
94. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. ~ John F Kennedy
95. It’s not about being the best. It’s about being better than you were yesterday. ~ Jigoro Kano
96. It’s kind of fun to do the impossible! ~ Walt Disney
97. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. ~ Kelly Clarkson
98. We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light. ~ Mary Dunbar
99. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. ~ Vivian Greene
100. Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you. ~ Bethany Hamilton
101. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars. ~ Les Brown
Frequently Asked Questions About Growth Mindset for Women Over 50
Q1. What is a growth mindset for women over 50?
A growth mindset is the belief that you can still learn, grow, and change at any age. For women over 50, it means seeing this season as a time of possibility, not decline. You focus on progress, not perfection.
Q2. Is it really possible to change my mindset after 50?
Yes, it is absolutely possible. Your brain can still create new habits and beliefs at any age. Change might feel slow at first, but small daily shifts in how you think and speak to yourself add up over time.
Q3. How do growth mindset phrases actually help?
Growth mindset phrases guide your inner self-talk. When you repeat them, you gently train your mind to see options instead of limits. Over time, your choices, mood, and confidence start to match the words you keep telling yourself.
Q4. How often should I use these growth mindset phrases?
You can use them daily. Pick 1 to 3 phrases and repeat them in the morning, at night, or when you feel stuck. Stay with the same phrases for at least a week, so they have time to sink in.
Q5. What if the phrases feel fake or silly at first?
That is normal. Your old thoughts have had many years of practice. You do not have to fully believe each phrase yet. Think of them as gentle reminders of who you are becoming, not who you already are.
Q6. Can I create my own growth mindset phrases?
Yes, and it is a great idea. Start with a doubt you often have, then flip it into a hopeful, honest sentence. For example, “It is too late for me” can become “I can still start something new at my age, one small step at a time.”
Q7. How is a growth mindset different from toxic positivity?
Toxic positivity ignores hard feelings and says “just be happy.” A growth mindset is different. It lets you feel sad, angry, or scared, but reminds you that you are not stuck there. You honor your feelings, then look for your next small step forward.
Q8. What is one simple way to start using a growth mindset today?
Notice one negative thought you have about yourself, then add the word “yet.” For example, “I am not confident with money yet” or “I do not trust my voice yet.” That tiny word opens the door to growth.
Final Thoughts about Growth Mindset Phrases
Number 101 is the quote I had in my email signature block for many years before I retired. It’s always been one of my favorite mindset quotes.
Growth in your 50s and beyond looks different than it did at 20 or 30. It is less about proving yourself, and more about honoring who you really are.
The phrases you just read are not magic. They are gentle tools. They help you pause, breathe, and choose a kinder thought.
You might use them to:
- Start your morning with intention
- Calm your mind when you feel doubtful
- Support yourself through big changes in work, health, or relationships
You do not need to use all 101. Start with one phrase that feels honest and hopeful. Write it on a sticky note. Put it on your mirror, your phone, or by your bed. Repeat it for a week. Notice what changes.
You are not done growing.
You are not behind.
You are right on time.
And if any part of you still whispers, “Can I really change now?” You can answer, “Yes. I am learning, and I am allowed to begin again.”
It is all about your MINDSET and has the potential to shape your life in so many ways.
We can all use some time to ponder the meaning of these valuable words whether we just need a reminder, or whether we are seeking to develop an improved growth mindset. Even the most positive people sometimes need reminders when things get tough. 😉
I believe in you! You should believe in you, too!
For additional reading, you may enjoy these related articles that speak to mindset:
- I Challenge You To Be a Difference Maker
- 17 Effective Ways to Maintain a Healthy Mindset
- 19 Powerful Reasons Why Mindset is Everything
- 35 Empowering Quotes About Midlife Growth and Change
If you found value in this article, please share it with others who may need the encouragement and support.
Thanks for reading! You got this!
Love to ALL! ~Susan
