Flip the Script on Aging: How Language Shapes Our Mindset and Unlocks Growth at Any Age
Words Can Shape How We Age
Language profoundly influences how we view aging. The words we use don’t just describe our reality—they shape it. This is particularly true when it comes to how we think about personal development, aging, and our capacity for change. Research increasingly shows that our linguistic choices can profoundly influence our mindset, affecting everything from our cognitive performance to our physical health.
The Language-Mindset Connection
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking research introduced us to the concept of growth and fixed mindsets. Those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through dedication, learning, and persistence. In contrast, those with a fixed mindset believe their qualities are carved in stone—either you have them, or you don’t. The language patterns associated with each mindset are distinct:
Empowering Language Can Change Your Mindset
The good news is that you can change. The first step is changing your language to change your thoughts. Do away with all or nothing language. Even simply adding “yet” to an otherwise all or nothing statement implies you will accomplish your goal in the future. For example, “I don’t understand technology, so I can’t build a website—yet.” We can cultivate a growth mindset that sees aging as a journey of continuous development and possibility by consciously choosing empowering language.
From Limiting Language to Growth-Oriented Terms
When we use phrases like “over the hill” or “past your prime,” we’re not just describing age; we’re reinforcing a fixed mindset that limits our potential for growth and fulfillment. Even phrases like “aging gracefully” or “well-preserved” can diminish the richness of growing older. Instead of seeing aging as a decline, reframe it as a journey of growth, strength, and vitality.
Seemingly minor language shifts that reflect a more positive, dynamic description of aging can make a big difference in our viewpoint and the viewpoints of others. For example:
Replace “aging” with “growing older.”
Swap “slowing down” for “evolving.”
Instead of “stuck in the past,” use “keepers of wisdom.”
Instead of “senior citizen,” use “mature adult.”
The Science Behind Language and Aging
Research shows that our words become our reality. Our language and the language of others has a powerful impact on our mindset and how we age.
Compelling research conducted by Yale gerontologist, Dr. Becca Levy, as detailed in her book Breaking the Age Code, found that people who identify as being younger are physiologically younger than their chronological age. Levy's work has demonstrated that individuals with more positive age beliefs live on average 7.5 years longer than those with more negative beliefs about aging. Her studies have found that people with positive age perceptions are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, have better cardiovascular function, and experience less cognitive decline as they get older.
A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that MRI scans of individuals who viewed themselves as younger had healthier brains, with less age-related decline compared to those who felt older. This research underscores the power of mindset in influencing not just how we feel but also how our bodies age at a cellular and neurological level.
Research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health demonstrates that individuals with a positive outlook on aging tend to live longer, healthier lives.
These findings underscore how our language-influenced mindset can have tangible effects on our aging experience.
The Power of Cultivating a Growth Mindset Through Language
Adopting growth-oriented language can lead to:
Increased resilience in facing age-related challenges.
Greater openness to new experiences and learning.
Improved cognitive function and mental well-being.
Enhanced physical health through positive lifestyle choices.
My Journey of Language and Mindset Transformation
In my 60s, I chose to reframe my own aging narrative. Instead of saying, “I’m too old to begin a new career,” I embraced the phrase, “I’m excited to go back to school and to apply my life experience to my passion to help women add life to their years.” This shift in language opened the door to:
Going back to school to learn new skills and information.
Obtaining Board certification as a health and wellness coach.
Learning new technology skills (building a website).
Starting my Substack to share knowledge.
Transitioning from a 40-year legal career to becoming a Board-certified health and wellness coach guiding women in enhancing their wellness and healthspan so they can live their best lives after 55.
By consciously changing my language, I transformed my mindset and, consequently, my life’s trajectory. This personal transformation exemplifies what research has long suggested: our words have the power to either constrain or expand our perceived possibilities.
How You Can Flip Your Aging Script
Journal Your Language: Spend a week noting the age-related language you use. Are your words empowering or limiting?
Create New Narratives: Develop alternative phrases that support growth and possibility rather than limitation.
Community Impact: Notice how age-related language is used in your community and by your friends and family. Initiate conversations about more empowering alternatives.
Embracing Growth-Oriented Language at Any Age
It’s never too late to flip the script on aging. The language we use about aging and growth isn’t just semantic window dressing—it’s a powerful tool that can influence our health outcomes and determine our potential for growth and development. By consciously choosing growth-oriented language—particularly around aging—we can create more empowering narratives that support our continued development throughout life. The words we choose today literally help create the reality we'll live tomorrow.
Reflection Questions:
What phrases do you commonly use to describe aging? How might these influence your mindset?
What growth-oriented alternatives can you identify?
How might adopting more empowering language change your approach to new challenges or opportunities?
This post first appeared in the publication Sixty and Me.
I'm reminded to check my inner dialogue. It almost always needs an audit.
This is so interesting! Thank you for this read. As you highlight, the language we use (about others but also especially about ourselves) has a profound impact on our self-perceptions and world-views. Words are not just words.