090: Why Not Think Differently About Aging?
Did you ever wonder why aging is associated with phrases like "over the hill" or having "one foot in the grave...?"
I could add more but think about it - does an aging mindset that focuses on being on a downhill slide or being one misstep away from burial give you energy?
Sure, we say such things jokingly to lighten our mood around growing older.
Even so, seeds of discouragement get planted in our minds about the reality of age.
I'm committed to calling-out an aging mindset that's disempowering rather than empowering.
Who's with me?
Now that I've got you all fired up (or rolling your eyes right before you take another snooze in your recliner) why not decide today that you will age with power?
Look at it this way - you started aging the second you were born but it doesn't come into your consciousness until later in life.
You don't hear kindergarteners telling a third grader on the playground: "Dude, you're too old to hang on the monkey-bars...you could strain a muscle...watch your step on the ladder going up the slide...you might fall and break something...why are you dressing like a pre-K kid...dress according to your age..."
Why?
Because aging is irrelevant to the so-called young.
Why then, when we reach the age of 40, 50, or 60, does aging suddenly become a dark-cloud theme.
I'm generalizing here knowing that many (me included) theme it otherwise - seeing aging as a cloudless sky full of potential and opportunity.
Could it be that aging is not the issue but rather your mindset about it or that your age-bound habits are what's keeping you down?
Aging doesn't have to mean decay or decline, instead choose to believe that aging:
- Empowers mastery
- Produces wisdom
- Builds strength for longevity
Aging empowers mastery
What you consistently train yourself to do you will eventually master.
Mastery, of course, can be applied to productive or destructive skills.
But the essence of mastery is having arrived at a productive skill level through consistent training.
On the contrary, while mastery can be empowering relative to aging, we can curse ourselves with a disempowering mindset about aging when we say things like:
- "Hey, you're 55 now...it's no wonder you're tired all time."
- "Memory loss is normal at your age."
- "Careful doing that...you're too old."
Seriously!!
"In Japan, aging is seen as an evolution - not a decline. Elders are respected. They're expected to walk, contribute, and keep learning. Not retiring to the couch and complaining about pain.
They train for aging. Literally.
They walk daily. Stretch. Squat. They don't stop moving.
We sit more with every year and call it 'rest.' They move more and call it 'life.'" - Dr. Nikita Singh 1
Be more intentional instead of reactionary about aging and you'll feel more empowered.
Master aging by:
- Changing your language: "Stop saying, 'I'm too old.' Replace it with: 'How can I adapt this for my age?'"2
- Making movement a habit instead of a hinderance.
- Staying mentally sharp: read, listen to music, work puzzles, have meaningful (non-complaining) conversations, etc.
Aging produces wisdom
In your early years you learned by instruction and guidance.
In your teen years you learned by discipline and responsibility.
In your adult years you continue learning through a combination of each of those and more.
Along the way you became wiser having allowed yourself to experience instruction, guidance, discipline, and responsibility.
See what I did there?
Every yearly phase I mentioned produced wisdom in some way but now later in life your experience (through age, of course) has refined, renewed, and rewarded you.
That's how accumulated wisdom works.
And the gaining of wisdom never stops though gained wisdom can be lost on you unless you:
- Refine your wisdom by being a consistent learner or explorer of new ideas - never thinking you've arrived or having made up your mind.
- Renew your wisdom through keeping your mind active - never allowing your mind to be overtaken by negative or anxiety-fueled thinking.
- Reward yourself with the wisdom you've gained by sharing it - never hoard your wisdom thinking it's irrelevant, instead find an outlet (writing, journaling, a personal YouTube channel, etc).
Aging builds strength for longevity
Loss of strength is commonly associated with muscle atrophy, loss of muscle, or extended periods of being sedentary.
Muscles are meant to be used.
If you pamper them they become fragile and lack the resilience necessary for longevity.
- "Don't lift that..."
- "I'll take the elevator instead of the stairs..."
- "Let the younger, stronger ones do that..."
- "I'll just sit here and rest...ya'll go ahead..."
And you wonder why muscles weaken and get replaced with weight-gain, pain, and dependency.
"Movement isn't optional...it's medicine." 3
- Get down daily: sit on the floor, stretch, squat, play with a child, grandchild, or pet.
- Pick it up: lift something that requires you to exert some muscle energy - groceries, your bodyweight, etc.
- Walk it: park further away, take the stairs, go down the driveway, the sidewalk, or around the block...move!
If you're still intent on thinking you're "over the hill," at least use it as momentum to empower yourself as you age - longevity demands it
- Aging empowers mastery
- Aging produces wisdom
- Aging builds strength for longevity
Press on...
Eddie
Sources:
1-https://medium.com/illumination/what-the-japanese-know-about-aging-that-we-dont-and-why-you-re-slowing-down-too-soon-2e3bf3d15e62
2-https://medium.com/illumination/what-the-japanese-know-about-aging-that-we-dont-and-why-you-re-slowing-down-too-soon-2e3bf3d15e62
3-https://medium.com/illumination/what-the-japanese-know-about-aging-that-we-dont-and-why-you-re-slowing-down-too-soon-2e3bf3d15e62