My new year transition begins on the 30th as I reflect on my accomplishments and the risks I took to improve my life and myself. As the new year approaches, reduce the pressure on yourself to make drastic and improbable changes as the new year approaches. As with any time in our lives, the most beneficial practice is to begin with where you are in the moment and then the outcome will blossom from that.
My most recent venture as I look forward toward my vision for myself was to become a member of a photography site of professionals where I submit my images for critiques and advice. I knew the only way forward to being a better photographer was to open myself to commentaries made by experts who know that I am there to accept their comments, learn and improve. I am excited for the changes that are going to come from that decision.
“Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.” Mike Dooley
I don’t know if I am unique, weird or just more conscious than I thought I was but my age isn’t and never has been a factor in the choices I make or the way I think, its been that way for as long as I can remember. In fact, for me celebrating a birthday isn’t about age, I celebrate my life and the accomplishments I’ve made. When I was at a crossroads in my life, I took a leap of faith and left a career that was income focused to create a life and career that is purposeful. Age was never a factor in the decision to transition, following my heart was. The level of energy I have now is much higher than I had throughout my first career. I am more creative, excited, driven and focused than I’ve ever been.
For me, this part of my life is based on a combination of living authentically, the wisdom I’ve gained and intentionality, certainly not the number of years I’ve been alive. A major factor for me is I know I was born to be a part of the transformation at a turning point in humanity. What is a major factor for you and the reason you’re on this planet? I would say a more important element than the number of years you’ve been alive.
Our bodies don’t betray us. And they needn’t deteriorate with every passing year. This is just a popular cultural belief system that is so common that when you look around, you see it everywhere. Christiane Northrup
Ageless Living – The Power to Create Our Experience of LIFE
My sister’s mother-in-law is 86, even though she has Kyphosis arthritis, she is active, lucid and smart. She lives on her own in her own home, she cleans and cooks and is socially active, does her own grocery shopping, hosts family parties and she drives. Is she an anomaly? She is aware of her age, but she doesn’t live it as if that determines her life, is what we believe and how we see ourselves the world we create? Is it possible to change by shifting the way we think and see ourselves?
Society defines growing older as becoming obsolete, ill and decrepit. My belief is that no one has to be inactive and unhealthy, rather we are at a superior point of creativity and have the freedom to live our lives as we want, living our truth. Let’s refuse to be irrelevant, as we grow older, choose to live your life agelessly, uniquely and fabulously without the predetermined mindset of how you are supposed to grow older.
Age audaciously as you live audaciously! Bruce Lipton, Developmental Biologist
Food is Not Just For the Body, it is for our SouL
While the primary intention for most people today is to eat fresh, organic whole, natural food, that just isn’t enough.
Eating is life. We are bound to food to maintain our life and it is a pleasurable part of life that forges connections between people and cultures. I love to cook and eat, but I’ve transitioned the way I connect with food from an act of self-reward to supporting my life as a physical embodiment of all that is. What we eat goes beyond diets, stressed and emotional eating, food obsessions, insecurities and embarrassments about our body. No matter the size of our body, we are first and foremost a reflection of all that is divine. When we eat we must remember to be present, relaxed, in harmony with life and be in awareness of how the food we choose to eat affects our body, feelings, mind,
View nutrition as a spiritual practice. We are charged with giving ourselves health and the ability to carry out our life purpose. Rather than giving our attention to food for all of the wrong reasons, we can remember that we are sacred beings placed on this earth to make a difference, we value and respect ourselves and choose wholesome food that helps us stay connected to the divine.
You’ll be surprised as I was when you eat mindfully. Your experience of food and eating will take on a whole new perspective. When I left dieting, scales, counting calories and carbs behind to being aware when I eat, I eat until I am content and the pleasure I experience is much more profound and I savor each bite with heightened awareness.
Over the past 10 years I’ve come to understand that eating isn’t just a function with a fork and food on a plate, it goes much deeper than that. A vital ingredient for mealtime is the spiritual context of the interconnectedness and sacredness of all things. We are much more than a human form with nutritional requirements, we are a soul wrapped in a body voyaging through life where matter and spirit unite.
DEEP, RESTFUL SLEEP A VITAL COMPONENT FOR LIVING LONGER
A vital component to a healthy and vital life is restful sleep. The lack of at least 6-8 hours of peaceful, undisturbed sleep disrupts the body’s innate balance, weakens your immune system and actually accelerates aging.
Eating the last meal of the day should happen before 7:30, I actually have my dinner before 6 to assure that my dinner meal or any food has processed and my body is completely relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep. And the only physical activity before sleep could be an easy and relaxing walk.
If you have anything going on that may roam your mind and keep you awake, write your thoughts in a journal to get them out. Your mind must be free of whatever challenges your faced with to assure a healthy night’s sleep.
A dark room is essential to a restful night’s sleep. too much light or exposure to bright light at the wrong time can effect the body’s circadian clock. In order to assure that you have a deep, restful sleep, you should be in bed around 10 and awake by 6. If you’ve had a restful night’s sleep, you’ll feel energetic and ready for the day when you wake up, if you’ve had a poor night’s sleep you’ll feel tired and lackadaisical. Insufficient darkness throughout the night can lead to wakefulness throughout the night.
An undisturbed night’s sleep should be free of pharmaceuticals, alcohol, computers, television or any electronic devices that bring additional light to the room.
Studies have consistently shown that sleep deprivation or sleeping less than five hours a night can lead to major health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and ultimately an increased risk of mortality. (Everyday Health)
Fresh and essential Strategiesto a strong and ABLE BODY
Scientists are learning more about our body’s functions that will surprise you. The more we know, the more we can increase our health and ignore the belief that we must become ill and diseased as we grow older. In order to care for our body, we must better understand how it operates.
Keep in mind that our body isn’t a static biological machine, it is in a constant state of change and is always renewing itself. Did you know that all of our organs communicate with each other to maintain health and keep our “well-oiled” machine running? Being run-down and doddering as we grow older is nothing more than a cultural belief and does not have to be our reality.
AGELESS LIFESTYLE PRACTICE – KNOWING OUR BODY’S FUNCTIONS
Avoid Disease: Avoid disease by rerouting the way you think and carefully select your lifestyle practices. Stay a step ahead of traditional aging by staying focused on having a fit, strong and flexible body. Rather than being active to reduce fat, maintain activity to avoid illness. Disease interferes with the precise way our body functions, as we learn of ways to avoid disease and work with our body’s intelligence to help support our healthy life, our body will respond with great health.
Fat Molecule Function: Your fat molecules are constantly sending messages through your body that it needs more to boost memory, when to stop eating and they alert our cells when disruption occurs. Do your research, learn how amazing your body is and what you can do to help it function properly.
Bone Structure: Fat and bone have extremely important functions, crucial in protecting our lives and the keys to overcoming modern day diseases.”As long as our bones are in optimal health, there is no manifestation of aging, our bones are both the gatekeeper and witness of aging.” Dr. Gerard Karsenty
Your Bones – Did you know that our bones are in a constant state of natural erosion and rebuilding, keeping our bones healthy and strong, Through this process our entire skeleton is completely replaced every five years.
Natural Youthful State: The same cells called Osteoblasts that build and rebuild our bone structure, also keeps our body in a youthful state.
Nutritional Information and the Body’s Energy Balance: Leptin is a molecule in our fat cells that regulates our appetite. When we pay attention to our body’s messages we will know when we are hungry, when we should stop eating because our hunger has been satisfied. The leptin molecule travels to our brain that sends signals “enough food”, suppress appetite, when we listen to our body’s inner messages, we will eliminate the need for harmful diet medications, diets and food deprivation.
Inner Body Communication – Your cells eavesdrop on what your mind is saying, so it is up to you to change your self-dialogue from “I have inherited old age problems” to “I have a strong, vibrant, flexible and healthy body that serves me well each day.”
“Taking care of your body means, first and foremost, having a healthy belief system about what’s possible physically —especially as you move through time. Then you must engage in the physical activities necessary to maintain your physical self.” Dr. Christiane Northrup
Physical Activity
Several years ago, I got into a conversation with a gentleman about growing older, he told me of his uncle at 104 and his aunt, who was 102 still working their farm in Iowa, I was impressed, so I looked into a variety of physical activities other than exercise or going to a gym that we can all benefit from.
Physical activity can be housework, yard work, walking, riding a bike, swimming or skiing, Whatever physically challenging activity you choose will do. Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, doing something to move your body will be beneficial.
Aligning with Spirit is an important part of the equation of ageless living as well. Our bodies are divine expressions meant to embody our spirit. Hippocrates Health Institute
Diaphragmatic Breathing and the Benefits WHEN WE GROW OLDER
I am a diaphragmatic breather, I made the transition from shallow breathing about seven years ago while attending a meeting hosted by an experienced respiratory techniques teacher. My health has never been better; I always feel refreshed, the occasional heart palpitations I once experienced have completely vanished.
Did you know that through the process of becoming an adult we become shallow breathers? We forget how to the maintain deep, refreshing breaths that come with diaphragmatic breathing. Shallow breathing can lead to weakened muscles, stiff ribcages, poor oxygen supply and overall sluggishness preventing you from enjoying an active lifestyle. Diaphragmatic breathing slows your heart rate and lowers or stabilizes your blood pressure increases stamina, improves your mood and helps you sleep better.
How do you transition to diaphragmatic breathing from Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School:
Lie on your back on a flat surface (or in bed) with your knees bent. You can use a pillow under your head and your knees for support, if that’s more comfortable.
Place one hand on your upper chest and the other on your belly, just below your rib cage.
Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting the air in deeply, towards your lower belly. The hand on your chest should remain still, while the one on your belly should rise.
Tighten your abdominal muscles and let them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips. The hand on your belly should move down to its original position.
You can also practice this sitting in a chair, with your knees bent and your shoulders, head, and neck relaxed. Practice for five to 10 minutes, several times a day if possible.
Free Resources ABOUT Enjoying life agelessly and Overturning the Effects of Aging
Marisa Peer is an English best-selling author, nutritionist, relationship therapist, hypnotherapist trainer and motivational speaker.
Dr. Deepak Chopra, an author and alternative-medicine advocate wrote this wonderful book on Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, here is the complimentary audio version for your listening pleasure.
A dynamic speaker and spiritual teacher, a podcast featuring Dr. Christiane Northrup on Ageless Living for Women
This is the first of a two part article to share methods and ideas that will help you bring awareness to the journey of growing older. Everyone is at the helm of their life choices, it is a matter of intention and applying the wisdom of mindful living.
Live every day as if it were your last, learn as if you would live forever. Mahatma Gandhi
Thank you for your continued support. Part 2 of Transitioning Your Thinking to Ageless Living, Your Behavior and Your Mind will be published in January of 2020.
Wisdom of a Woman's Heart 