A Mindset Shift Can Change Everything In Midlife And Beyond
Let’s start with a fact: you and I are aging as you read this. Every hour, minute, and second, we are getting older. Somewhere along the way, that biological truth has been twisted into a marketing ploy that fills us with angst and empties our wallets.
The incoming messages about aging and how we should avoid it at all costs come in different shapes and sizes. You can find them everywhere if you pay attention. From the comment about “how great you look for your age” to the conversations at the salon or doctor’s office to the ageism in the workplace or on your choice of screen, wherever you look, someone is ready to tell you (and sell you!) how you should keep yourself from doing the one thing every human on Earth is doing right now.
I know…it’s overwhelming! And it can wear you down.
So, how can you reduce the external noise, embrace where you are, and move forward with what feels good for you? Start with a mindset shift. It’s the component that determines whether this season feels like a burden or a gift.
Shift Your Focus to Reduce the Noise
A fulfilling life is not one derived solely from looking in the mirror. You know there’s so much more to experience!
The Eight Dimensions of Wellness are interdependent areas that help you create a healthy, full, and meaningful life. Shift your focus to this framework, and your aging journey becomes part of a bigger, beautiful picture.
The Eight Dimensions are: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual, occupational, financial, and environmental. (Read this email for definitions and a few questions to get you started). Think about each area to understand where you’re nurturing wellness and where you have opportunities to create change. This awareness allows you to tune out negative input and see the richness of life instead.
Notice the dimension where you feel pulled to start. Maybe it's reconnecting with a friend (social), starting a savings habit (financial), or picking up a book that challenges you (intellectual). Tend to that dimension for the next week or two and see how it ripples into the others.
It’s never too late to begin!
Choose Gratitude to Accept Where You Are and Love Where You're Going
If you aren’t using gratitude in your daily life, I encourage you to find a way to make it happen. Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything feels easy or that it’s all going the way you want it to. A genuine gratitude practice allows you to be thankful for what you have and what is good in your life now.
Even on the days when it feels impossible, glimmers of gratitude still exist around you. Look for them to reinforce the mindset shift you’re aiming for. Widen your view to see the hard and the good at the same time. When you do, you stop measuring this season against who you were, and you can accept and appreciate who you are. From there, you can tap into curiosity for what lies ahead rather than dread it.
This is where the anti-aging messages lose their grip. As you tend to your whole-life wellness and mindset shift, you realize you have a pro-aging attitude. You experience the joy in this season of life, feel satisfied with how you’re aging, and feel confident in the choices you make for yourself, not anyone else.
Reinforce Your Pro-Aging Mindset With Affirmations
Affirmations are an impactful tool when creating a mindset shift. If you don’t know, positive affirmations are brief statements you say or write to reinforce a belief you want to strengthen. They help train your mind to default to that belief over time. Pair them with the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, and you have a powerful combination for living well now and into the future.
To make it easy for you, I created a set of Positive Wellness Affirmations, one for each dimension, to download and print or save. I recommend visiting them at least twice each day for two weeks. Whether you repeat them to your reflection in the mirror, write them on sticky notes and read them aloud, or listen to a voice recording of yourself saying them, repetition is a key component of helping them sink into your soul.
After the two weeks, assess where you are. Continue with the ones you don’t quite believe or write your own and visit them daily. Over time, you’ll notice how your limiting beliefs around aging have dissipated.
Download your Positive Wellness Affirmations HERE.
I’d love to hear from you! What is one takeaway from this post? Comment or send me an email at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com.
xo Karli
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The purpose of this post is to provide information and education (& hopefully some entertainment!). I am not a medical, mental health, or financial professional, so please do not interpret my words as the direction of a doctor, therapist, or financial planner.
I know you're smart and will ALWAYS consult with your physician or another appropriate, accredited professional before implementing any changes to your diet, medication, lifestyle, exercise or supplement regimen, health practices, or investments. After all, you're here to live well, right??
Seriously - consult with your healthcare or financial team and assess your own risk. Verify what you find on the internet. I care about you!
