Tips For Positive Aging

03-14-2020 Posted in 2020, Aging, Choices.

A light bulb when off in my head last week as I made my birthday wish:

AGING IS A PRIVILEGE. Living in the moment is what I have learned to do. Learning about the moments is what I am doing.

When I read years ago about how our brains are like plastic and can be remodeled or rewired, I started to change my routines by increasing mindfulness, exercise and healthy nutrition to work hard on creating the longest positive healthy life that I can. As I age, I am understanding how to benefit from “crystallized intelligence”. This simply means I use my learned knowledge with my life experiences to tackle new issues and activities. It is fascinating to have found a brand new intelligence in my fifties!

Yes our genes contribute to our makeup and what may happen to us BUT, how we handle and view illnesses, accidents and other events in our life is in our own control with some work and dedication. I believe this from the bottom of my heart. The other day someone was telling me how “this” had happened to them and “that” had happened to their other friend and so on and so forth. They continued to go on and talk about how the statistics show that “Apparently, IF we get through our 50’s, we will likely live a long healthy life”. My response to that was “WHEN I get through my 50’s, I will live a long healthy life.” The change of one word in a sentence triggers an improved and more positive energy in my brain, especially if I keep saying it over and over.

I reflect on the highlights of my life, as well as the hard times and choices I have experienced. I wouldn’t change a thing. I accept them with gratitude and appreciate what they give me today; PEACE.

I have learned to engulf myself in what I am doing everyday and choose to step away from the people or situations I am not fond of or that don’t give me complete pleasure.

Nothing stays the same forever so I concentrate on the many different parts of myself with the help of nature, the inevitable, and most importantly, my own habits and actions.

Here are some tips to age with a more optimistic attitude starting today:

Wake up every morning and say something positive, monitor your inner dialogue
Take big breathes ALL day long, focusing especially at the start and end of each day
Develop and maintain good, simple eating and sleeping routines
Add exercise everyday around your ability and schedules
Be social and grow relationships through neighbours, work, sports, family and friends
Talk about aging with your friends and share positive experiences and tips
Commit to learning some new activities and exercises that challenge your brain (sudoku, crosswords, piano or guitar, pickle ball or painting just to name a few)
Accept what you cannot change and focus on what you can change
Create a vision board or journal to set goals, being specific on how you can attain them
And yes, go to your doctor for your yearly physical and learn about age prevention
Surround yourself and follow those who inspire you to age the way you desire
Go to places that make you happy

Research shows those at 50 who hold positive self-perception, live up to 7.5 years longer. This effect is so strong that it doesn’t matter if you’re a male or a female, come from higher or lower social and economic class, live alone or not. (Levy)

I promise you you can change your attitude and habits by visualizing them to be a certain way. When I read the “Law of Attraction” years ago, I did start to believe that “like attracts like” and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, I can bring about positive or negative outcomes. “When the principles of the Law of Attraction state that you can be, do or have anything you want, that means anything”. This means you are a magnet that ATTRACTS and CREATES what you focus on, good or bad. If you look in the mirror and focus on your wrinkles, or your jiggly skin or growing tummy, your body/brain will continue to create more of that. If in its place, you focus on a younger looking face and a healthier, stronger body, the universe will take your positive energy and thoughts and start to give you what you desire and visualize.