We are not victims of aging, sickness, and death. These are part of the scenery, not the seer, immune to change. This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being.
―Deepak Chopra
Aging is a privilege denied to many, yet, our youth-centric society has diminished the value once bestowed upon elders. With babies, we count the days, then weeks, then months as they grow, but somewhere we cross an invisible line where age is no longer something to adore but something to abhor.
Why, at a certain age, do we shift our views on aging?
Acknowledging what prevents us from owning our years is essential to accepting ourselves. Moreover, understanding what blocks us from embracing every stage of life means letting go of the delusion that one phase has more value than another.
We don’t need a revolution to alter how society views us; we need an evolution of how we see ourselves. We can stop arguing for society to see us differently by evolving into how we want to be seen.
The stigma of aging is a learned behavior imposed upon us by culture. The good news is: what is learned can be unlearned. Our perception is our responsibility, and learning to see outside of what is status quo is imperative.
Many are doing a great job circumventing the prevailing view that aging is undesirable and restricts us. They understand the mind-body connection; our emotions, feelings, and thoughts affect our body’s physiology. So it goes to reason if we stop focusing on the negatives of aging, our very perspective on living will change.
Take notice of how many things we blame on age. Yes, we change as we age, but why do we blame our forgetfulness on “that was a senior moment?” Or, when our bodies are stiff and uncooperative, we blame it on “this body isn’t what it used to be.” You are right; it isn’t what it used to be or what it will become.
However, we were forgetful when we were younger but did not attach it to youth, and we had aches and pains, perhaps from working out too vigorously, yet we relished in the good sore. Therefore, we must stop assigning our hindrances due to age.
We limit our ability to flourish with the years when we have the mindset that we can’t do something we once could. Yet, we give no credit to the wisdom and experience we can participate in now or the lifelong skills we honed along the way.
The key to aging is living. It starts with unlearning the stigma we have been taught that once we reach a certain age, being able stops. And taking responsibility – the ability to respond – how we look and feel about ourselves.
I propose we realign our thoughts, moving away from the narratives around aging and exploring the power we have to create a better now.
How do we evolve our mindset?
Research on aging is finding our general outlook and how optimistic we are, impacts how we feel and how our cells age. It further states that those who live in communities with constant moderate physical activity and where multi-generational social gatherings are customary have longer and healthier lives.
Remembering what we think, the universe will make it so. It will happen if we continue believing that obsolescence occurs with age. It is time to forgo outdated beliefs that no longer satisfy our desire to be more.
The choice is ours to make. We need to decide to live better. Changing our viewpoint will change our reality.
We do not become less with time but can become more. So, join the journey to make a real difference and make the changes needed to revolutionize your life. Our evolution will be revolutionary for future generations. Our power resides in focusing on living life to its fullest and leaving the aging to the youngsters.
On the whole, age comes more gently to those who have some doorway into an abstract world-art, or philosophy, or learning-regions where the years are scarcely noticed and the young and old can meet in a pale truthful light.
―Freya Stark
