I’m working with a group of 50 pluses to make the rest of their life the best of their life. Rather than seeing their path through the 50’s and 60’s and beyond as a decline into old age they’re seeing the potential within them that so far has gone unfulfilled. I won’t let ageing bring me down, nor will they.
To me age is just a number, and if it takes until you enter your ‘senior’ years for you to start focusing on fulfilling your potential it should matter not because it’s never too late. I made a decision that I’m not going to go through old age as a grumpy old man regretting the things I’ve done or worse still the things I haven’t been able to do. In fact although I won’t be grumpy neither am I just going to go down quietly. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from my mother, is that no human life should be wasted.
In fact I have no wish to allow decline to come my way simply because the birthdays I’ve enjoyed are mounting up. In a nutshell I’ve made the conscious decision to take on all the challenges this ageing path may throw at me, and make the rest of my life the best of my life.
I think it is essential for anyone approaching their 50’s or older to take the time to deliberately consider the years ahead of them. You have to get your attitude right and deal with any misgivings or concerns you may have. There are so many destructive thoughts you may begin to have – I’m going to slow down, feel more aches and pains, start losing my marbles, well you all know the type of negative things we can all focus on, and you need to realise this is an unhealthy attitude. Instead thing of the opportunities you have in front of you.
You must begin to see the new possibilities that the senior phase of life can bring. For your later years to see you flourish you are going to have to:
Learn how to gain a new perspective on your own ageing process
Cultivate a positive approach to your future
Enhance your emotional resilience to some of the potential challenges of later life
Learn how to gain a new perspective on your own ageing process
More often than not, aging is viewed as something to be fought off for as long as possible. We perceive it as a threat to our sense of self worth and quality of life. It is pretty much expected that middle age will bring a “crisis.”
As demonstrated by the “Serenity Prayer”, graceful aging requires the “serenity to accept the things we cannot change; courage to change the things we can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
In some ways, living with a positive perspective is like becoming your own best friend. You choose to support yourself, help yourself, encourage yourself and do the things you’ve yearned to do all your life but avoided doing them, reminding yourself of your potential and embracing opportunities and simple things that lift you. This will free you to enjoy your journey through the years of your life. Remembering most things are still possible. We have to admit we can’t be professional football players or athletes, but perhaps if you have the skills you could still train others to be so.
Cultivate a positive approach to your future
A positive approach to ageing is about consciously facing up to the challenges of later life and looking forward with excitement. I believe that by doing this we can improve our chances of having a successful and fulfilling later life.
Often looking back life seemed to have been such hard work, such a struggle, so consumed by challenges. Now there is time to re-evaluate and all those years do not seem in vain because it appears one actually did learn, and experience does count for a lot. We do actually acquire wisdom and all we have learnt can help us shape a wonderful future.
Do not see aging as offering remarkably fewer benefits than you had when you were young. It is hardly surprising that in our youth-orientated culture, older people perceive more disadvantages, but it’s your choice of perception to what you see. Most people’s communication betrays their less-than-positive perceptions of aging. I know I see the next few years ahead of me as truly exciting, delivering my dreams to the reality of my life.
I’m not only excited about the things I will be doing but also having the enjoyment of ‘watching my children grow’ both my daughters and grand-children.
Enhance your emotional resilience to some of the potential challenges of later life
Aging does not have to be associated with physical decline. Although of course we cannot “stay young” we can still stay fit, healthy, socially active, and even change career and produce an amazing legacy for our life.
I love my life. I really do. I’m a guy who loves navigating my journey through life, the thrills and excitement is still there. Two great kids who call me “Daddy” and think I can deliver everything under the sun, and amazing granddaughter who brings joy to me. I feel young. I still have all my hair even if the grey seems to be extending its reach. I still have a spring in my step even though my knees can be creaky. My potential is greater now than it’s ever been before.
I know that looking after my mind, body and soul is more important than ever before. No longer can I say I’ll do it tomorrow when I can and must do it today. So the diet, fitness program, writing the book, following my passions are all under way, and I’m determined to hold off all those challenges that can come our way into older age.
So please, no longer look at age as a guarantee of personal decline for you, and make sure you make every day count. Use it to do something amazing.
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I will not let aging bring me down instead of I will make most out of it. If you are going older don’t be panic it’s just normal. All you can do is be happy and stay healthy. Even you are young or old don’t forget to be happy because if you are happy with all your life there’s no problem becoming old.
Nope. Never. Ageing is normal.