GB17. The Mindset Shift for Healthy Aging in Midlife

When we think of healthy aging in midlife, we often focus on nutrition, exercise, or sleep—but your mindset is one of the most powerful wellness tools you have. In this Glow Bite, Alicia and Nicole explore how positive thinking for women in midlife can support your energy, hormones, brain health, and overall vitality.

In honor of Positive Thinking Day, they share a personal story about their dad’s “thought of the day” tradition, and why reframing your inner dialogue is a game-changing mindset shift in perimenopause and midlife.

✨ If you’ve ever felt stuck in negative self-talk or struggled with midlife changes, this quick episode will remind you that your thoughts are one of the simplest, most powerful ways to support your well-being.

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome back + why mindset matters for healthy aging in midlife
01:10 — Positive Thinking Day & the underrated health habit
02:20 — Our dad’s “thought of the day” tradition
03:15 — How positive thinking supports hormones and stress in midlife
04:30 — The science of mindset and healthy aging
05:20 — A mindset shift for perimenopause: progress, not perfection
06:10 — Glow Reflection & how to apply it this week

💫 Glow Reflection:
“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” -Marcus Aurelius

✨ Subscribe to Midlife and Glowing for weekly midlife health tips, perimenopause support, and style inspiration for women’s wellness over 40.

📌 Resources:
Our free Daily Glow Rituals Guide → https://stan.store/thedailyglowlife/p/daily-glow-rituals-guide
Yoga Nidra Sessions → https://stan.store/thedailyglowlife/p/radiant-rest-yoga-nidra-sessions
Midlife Glow Edit Fashion Style Guide for Midlife & Perimenopausal Women → https://stan.store/thedailyglowlife/p/the-midlife-glow-edit

Transcript

Nicole: 0:00

Hey there. Welcome back to Midlife and Glowing. In our main episode this week, we dove into healthy aging. The simple, powerful things you can do now to feel stronger, sharper, and more vibrant for years to come. And since Positive Thinking Day is tomorrow, we thought this was the perfect time to talk about one of the most underrated health habits there is, your mindset.

Alicia: 0:21

And this one's special for us because it reminds us of our dad. Growing up he had this little tradition, he called the thought of the day. Every morning on the way to school, he'd share a positive quote or an encouraging thought, something to help us start the day on a good note. Looking back, it was one of the best gifts he gave us.

Nicole: 0:37

It really was. And he didn't just talk about positive thinking. He lived it. And now as we're navigating midlife, we can see how much that mindset impacts not just your mood, but your overall health. Positive thinking has some pretty amazing science back benefits, and we wanna share a few of our favorites before we give you three easy habits to start practicing today. Benefit number one, lower stress hormones. Research shows that a positive outlook helps keep cortisol levels in check. Balanced cortisol means better hormone health, better sleep, more efficient metabolism, and more stable energy. Things we could all use more of in midlife.

Alicia: 1:14

Benefit number two, better heart health. Studies have found that people with a more optimistic outlook, they have a lower risk of heart disease, in part because positivity can reduce inflammation and improve blood pressure.

Nicole: 1:27

Benefit number three, longer lifespan. This one still blows my mind. Research suggests that optimistic people live longer with one study showing up to an 11 to 15% longer lifespan compared to those with a negative outlook.

Alicia: 1:41

So yes, positive thinking is more than just good vibes only. It's a serious health tool, and it's something we saw modeled every day growing up.

Nicole: 1:49

All right. Let's get into the practical side. Here are three easy ways to make positivity part of your healthy aging plan, and maybe even start your own version of the thought of the day.

Alicia: 1:59

Habit number one morning gratitude. Before you grab your phone in the morning, think of one thing you're grateful for. It can be as simple as your morning coffee or a sunny day. Gratitude literally rewires your brain to look for the good.

Nicole: 2:13

Habit number two, reframe challenges. Instead of, why is this happening to me? Try, what can I learn from this or how can this make me stronger? It shifts your brain from stress mode to growth mode.

Alicia: 2:26

Habit number three, surround yourself with uplift. Spend more time with people who make you feel good. Listen to podcasts that inspire you, and limit time around constant negativity. Your environment shapes your thoughts more than you realize, and it's contagious. When you're around people that are positive, they're like a magnet, you know,

Nicole: 2:45

Yeah,

Alicia: 2:46

and how you feel after being around them. It's just like the best feeling ever. You know, like there are certain people that it's just like they have this light around them

Nicole: 2:56

Mm-hmm.

Alicia: 2:57

they just bring so much joy and happiness and it's something that I really admire. And you know, I try to bring positivity and look at things as optimistically as I can, you know, if there's a bad situation i'm always trying to find the silver lining or, you know, the bright spot because getting stuck in that negativity trap is just not good for your health.

Nicole: 3:21

No. And it can send you in a downward spiral. You know, you get into that negative mindset trap you feel it, you don't feel good.

Alicia: 3:29

Mm-hmm.

Nicole: 3:29

It definitely makes a difference. So there's your mini positivity workout for the week, gratitude, reframing, and uplifting your environment.

Alicia: 3:38

And maybe this week, take a page from our dad's playbook. Start your day with a thought of the day, whether it's a quote, a mantra, or just a reminder of something you're grateful for.

Nicole: 3:48

And on that note, for our glow reflection, we're gonna share one of our dad's thoughts of the day, which was a quote by Marcus Aurelius. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."

Alicia: 3:59

That was always one of my favorites.

Nicole: 4:01

Yeah, I love that one. That's a good one. I will have to say though, one of my favorites is, those on top of the mountain did not fall there. If there's a favorite, there was a lot of'em, but there's a favorite, I would say that one was probably one of my favorites too. So you get two,

Alicia: 4:15

one.

Nicole: 4:16

you get two glow Reflections for today.

Alicia: 4:20

An extra dose of positivity.

Nicole: 4:23

right.

Alicia: 4:24

Okay. We'd love to know which of these habits will you try first? Come tell us over on TikTok or YouTube at midlife and glowing.

Nicole: 4:31

Thanks so much for joining us today. We hope your week is filled with positivity. If you're loving this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you would share it with a friend or write us a review so we can grow and spread more positive messages to those who need to hear it. We'll see you next time.