Keeping our thoughts positive, focusing on the good, and practicing healthy habits are challenging at any age. When you add the element of aging into the mix, it becomes even harder. Simple tasks we performed easily, now take more time and effort. Activities that used to bring us joy, now are accompanied by physical discomfort and seem meaningless. Social isolation, inactivity, loss of interest, and focus are very common as we grow older. The habits we created throughout our lives no longer apply and the thought of changing is exhausting. Growing old happens to all of us. It is a time of guaranteed change. How we choose to address and navigate these changes makes the difference between balancing holistically or struggling.
Our attitudes and thoughts create our 1st obstacle. How we perceive ourselves during adulthood may no longer apply. We are no longer an employee, manager, or supervisor. The skill sets that we use in our careers often do not transfer to retirement and we lose purpose and meaning. This leads to frustration, loss of focus, poor self-esteem, and isolation. The creation of new attitudes and habits is necessary to move forward and adopt positive choices.
Taking control of your growth brings enormous benefits. Adopting behaviors of flexibility, active listening, not being judgemental, letting go of the past, and engaging in self-care are steps in the right direction. Learning new skills, forming new memories, and improving communication are all obtainable goals as we grow older. Even though it is a fact that cognitive learning slows, it does not impede our ability to learn and adapt to change.
Here are 5 easy tips for embracing positive growth and change:
– Self-Reflection- I can’t think of a better way to spend time! When you take the time to meditate on, think about, and seriously reflect on yourself, you can gain insight into your behaviors, attitudes, emotions, dreams, and thinking. You can recognize patterns, and choose healthier more positive ways to live.
–Embracing Change-It can be frightening and exhilarating to choose change. The motivation to do so will have to be a desire to live healthier and be your best. Being able to accept change is an important part of developing a positive attitude. That attitude will help you to develop healthier habits and motivate holistic aging choices.
–Spend Time with Others-There is probably nothing more important than having connections with others. Those of you who do not are at a higher risk of loneliness, isolation, and developing depression. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends, you understand the bond of love that grounds you. Find a source for connection. Neighbors, clerks at the store, gyms, clubs, groups, committees, churches, restaurants, anywhere that you can interact with others and reap the benefits of socializing.
–Building a Positive Mindset – I can’t begin to share the many benefits of developing a positive mindset. It has holistic effects on mental and physical wellness, inceases your life span, improves your cognitive function, reduces stress, and promotes overall happiness.
–Learn New Ways– I think one of the areas we all fear is loss of our memory. Learning new ways of doing things, being open to new skills, and actively taking in new knowledge improves our cognitive decline by enhancing memory, helping with critical thinking, and keeping us sharp! Take a class online, watch a video, read a book, join a club, volunteer, or do anything that expands your brain.
If you choose just one tip from this chat, it is a beginning. Little steps are what lead to big changes. Choosing to improve yourself at any level is an important move towards building a positive mindset and embracing change. You are one step closer to discovering the endless possibilities of aging.
Join Us! Let’s Chat!
“If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” – William James