Mindset Makeover: Reprogramming Your Outlook on Aging to Slow Down the Clock

Redefining Aging

When was the last time you felt an ache or a pain, or looked in the mirror and saw some new wrinkles, or felt tired for no reason and had the thought – “it’s because I am getting old.” And with that thought just passed it off as there’s not much you can do about it.

Where did you learn to think like that?

Have you ever noticed how society often portrays aging as something to be feared or avoided? The narrative suggests that as we age, we inevitably lose our beauty, and many pains and diseases are simply attributed to aging. It’s easy to internalize these messages and dread the process of growing older. I certainly did.

For years, I bought into the notion that aging meant a decline in health, vitality, and beauty. Worries about wrinkles and other signs of aging seemed inevitable. But then, something shifted—a realization so profound that it completely changed my perspective on aging. And the best part? It didn’t cost me a penny.

It all started with a moment of reflection. I began to question the origin of these beliefs about aging and whether they served me well. Did I truly want to spend my life fearing something that was inevitable? The resounding answer was No.

Challenging Beliefs

I made a conscious decision to challenge my beliefs about aging and embrace a more positive outlook. Rather than focusing on the negatives, I started seeing aging as a natural and beautiful part of life – a journey filled with wisdom, growth, and new experiences.

This mindset shift didn’t happen overnight. I began to notice a pattern of what I call “old person talk” in my thoughts and conversations – a subtle resignation to decline as an inevitable part of aging. I committed to reframing my mindset and eliminating these verbal references.

Choosing Positivity

For example, I stopped thinking “it’s because I am getting old.“ Sure, there is some fact to that, but when you tend to think in those terms, there is no resolution in that thought process. It creates a feeling of “there’s not much I can do about it!” Instead of thinking that, I noticed what provoked that thought and brought a more accurate realization to it. If I felt an ongoing ache or pain in my body, I started to think, “I have this pain presenting, what is my body telling me, and what is it asking for in correcting it?” This phrasing sets me up to believe I can remedy things at any age with the correct choices and processes that I am lead to follow through with.

I noticed how common it is in the aging population that people, over 60 especially, talk about how old they are in a way that negates their body’s potential for healing. My late 30 and 40-something year old children say it’s ever-increasing in their age groups as well. As a teacher of manifestation for decades of my career, I knew that if I focused on what I don’t want to experience in the aging process, I would create more of that, so it was time to start catching my ageism beliefs and changing them. I also stopped mentioning my age in conversations with others.

Slowing Down the Aging Process

Changing my mindset about aging had tangible effects on my well-being, in all areas of my life, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and definitely physically. Studies show that those with a positive attitude towards aging tend to live longer, healthier lives. By embracing aging, we can reduce stress, boost our immune systems, and even slow down physical aging.

How can you shift your beliefs about aging? It starts with awareness. Start to notice how often you think or say, “it’s because I am getting old!” and STOP saying and thinking it. Come up with a replacement thought that is positive and creates a proactive scenario for you. Reflect on your attitudes towards aging and challenge any negative beliefs or fears. Remind yourself of the joys and opportunities that come with getting older.

Stick around, I am going to have some great articles that get into the nitty-gritty of the kinds of ageism thoughts we have and how and what to change them to! I will also be including in most articles, mindset tips of what to think to manifest an empowered aging experience.

Weekly Challenge: #EmpoweredThoughts

This week’s challenge: Replace the “It’s because I’m getting old” mindset with a more empowering thought. Shift to acknowledging the experience and exploring choices for improvement.

Ready to begin? Take the first step today towards a happier, healthier, and more empowered approach to aging. Your future self will thank you.  See you in the Facebook group.