Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “It’s too late for me…”, or “Who am I to start something new?”. If so, you are in good company, I spent a good 5 years in my 40’s with that exact mindset.

So many midlife women hold on to these beliefs that keep us stuck and second-guessing ourselves. These beliefs are not facts. They are stories we have absorbed, inherited or outgrown but not let go of.

If you have been feeling stuck, overwhelmed or unsure of your direction in midlife, you are not failing, you are Evolving! This season of life naturally brings so many questions, shifts and emotional growing pains and many of these are holding you back, they are the biggest things standing between you are your next chapter. Not your age, your circumstance, or your past.

Midlife isn’t the end of possibility, it’s the beginning of deeper clarity. This is the perfect time to release the beliefs that are holding you back and step into a more aligned, stronger version of yourself. Today, we are going to identify some of those limiting beliefs, and break them.

In midlife, limiting beliefs often shape reality because they act like invisible rules that guide decisions, behaviors and self worth, especially during times of transition like entering perimenopause or post menopause. They become pronounced as we age due to accumulated conditioning, life experiences, and cultural narratives about ageing, gender and identity.

Cultural conditioning and habitual thinking are big culprits when it comes to limiting beliefs in our midlife, as young women we are often taught to prioritize others, stick to our ‘roles’ and avoid ‘rocking the boat’ because it was culturally, societally unacceptable. That by the time we hit midlife these have become habitual messages that are so ingrained in how we think and act that it is almost impossible to see them changing.

Coupled with the life transitions and hormonal and emotional shifts that perimenopause and menopause bring it’s like a perfect storm. We are transitioning out of our roles because our children are leaving the house, we are going through the hormonal and emotional mine field that is perimenopause and menopause, we are taking care of aging parents, these trigger thoughts of self-doubt and re-enforce the beliefs of ‘It’s too late’, or ‘I must stay loyal to who I’ve always been’. This causes a negative mindset that could unconsciously sabotage our own well-being. This negativity can often lead to experiencing more severe symptoms, showing how our beliefs can directly shape our reality.

Below I have 3 common limiting beliefs that hold back midlife women from embracing their full potential. I will even give you some exercises and actions steps to take to make sure that you are on the right track to make the most of this time of your life.

This belief stems from the idea that opportunities for growth, change or success have an expiration date. There is nothing further from the truth.

Reframe: “It’s never too late to begin with. My experience is my superpower.”

Reframing Exercise:

• Write down 3 things you have always wanted to do but felt were ‘too late’.
• Next to each, list one way your life experience actually makes you MORE prepared to do it now than when you were younger.

Action Steps:

• Choose one of those dreams and take a micro-step towards it. (e.g. sign up for that class, reach out to someone in that field)

This belief keeps women in outdated roles or identities. So whether is been caregiver, dependable employee, or self-sacrificing partner, as a woman you are more than this role.

Reframe: “I honour my past while evolving into who I’m becoming.”

Reframing Exercise:

• Reflect on the role or identity you’ve outgrown. (e.g. the fixer, the good girl).
• Write a letter to that version of yourself, thanking her for what she gave you, and gently releasing her.

Action Steps:

• Identify what new value or identity you want to embody (e.g. ‘creative’, ‘adventurous’, ‘bold’).
• Do one thing this week that aligns with that new identity.

Midlife women spend decades prioritizing others. This belief makes self-care feel indulgent or wrong, even though it’s essential for well-being and longevity.

Reframe: “Caring for myself allows me to show up fully for others”.

Reframing Exercise:

• List 5 ways your well-being positively impacts those around you.
• Write a permission slip: “I give myself full permission to rest, recharge, and receive.”

Action Steps:

• Schedule one non-negotiable self-care activity this week. (massage, solo date, journaling).
• Say “No” to one thing that drains you and “Yes” to something that nourishes you.

If you hop over to my website and check under the Resources tab, you will find a Freebie that has an additional 2 reframing exercises and action steps, along with journaling prompts for all 5 of the limiting beliefs that will help you reflect, reframe and take more empowered action.

So no matter what you have been saying to yourself, you are not too late, you are more than your societal role and you are allowed to look after yourself, I would hazard to say, it’s a non-negotiable that you look after yourself, because you cannot pour from an empty cup.

So spend some time reframing those limiting beliefs you have of yourself, work on some action steps so you can shift your mindset and move forward in your midlife with confidence and power.