AGING IS A CHOICE Part 6 – Spiritual Steps to Aging
by Robert Manni
The process of aging often literally hits us in the face, and the body. When we think of getting old, we think about our bodies and our minds physically slowing down. But often, over the years, the human spirit gets tired, too. We lose our drive and our appreciation for the small gifts we are granted each day. This month I’ll focus on a few tips to step into aging without losing any of our spiritual foundation. In fact, if we make the right choices, a few key spiritual steps can keep us young at heart, in mind, and of course, in spirit.
Accepting yourself for who you are
By now, you’ve lived longer than many others. You’ve experienced some wins and losses, and guess what? You’re still here. So, you might as well finally get comfortable in that meat suit you’ve been wearing and realize that wherever you go, there you are. Aging means easing up on yourself and being kind to the most important person in your life. You. This does not mean there isn’t room for improvement or change. It simply means that accepting who you are, for better or worse is an important realization in the aging process. And you may as well love yourself while you’re at it.
Look back at your life lovingly
With all that water under the bridge, it’s easy to judge yourself harshly. Why did you do this or that? You think of all those bad choices that came back to bite you in the butt. Guess what? It’s all in the past now so it really doesn’t matter. When you do drill down into some of your more questionable life choices you now may see the results of some of these decisions differently. Relationships and jobs that did not work out brought you to where you are now and brought your personal growth. Accept the past for what it is. It’s over. All you have is the here and now. And isn’t it good to be here?
Keep looking ahead
It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly looking back and thinking about the things that could have been. Try not to fall into this trap because it’s not going to help you move forward and live a vital existence. If you are stuck in the past, you are using up valuable psychic energy and that can be used in your life now. Colonel Sanders established Kentucky Fried Chicken in his sixties. John Pemberton developed Coca-Cola in his fifties. Ray Kroc developed McDonalds in his fifties. The list goes on and on. The one constant is that all these late life success stories were the result of high energy, maintaining a dream, a belief in what they were doing in life, and not looking back.
Show gratitude
We have all been gifted to be living on this beautiful planet right now. The more were learn about GAIA, its galactic history, and why so many species want to be here, it’s obvious that we are all in the right place at a very special time. Think about the multitude of technological and cultural advances that have taken place and continue to take place in an ever-hastening pace. We live in a time like no other in the history of our planet, and every one of us is along for the ride. Regardless of your personal circumstances, do your best to be thankful for the wonderful gift of life that we’ve all been afforded.
Focus on what makes you happy
Seniors today deal with a lot of stress and are forced to deal with too much unwanted bureaucracy and red tape concerning just about every aspect of their lives – from health care to Social Security to Medicare, and just about everything. The government wants your money. Big pharma wants to control your body. Our food supply is suspect. And, over the past three years life expectancy has decreased. How do you find any joy in a world that feels like it’s trying to get rid of you? I suggest not sweating the small stuff, turning off the television, and investing your golden years on yourself. Whatever makes you tick and whatever makes you happy are the most important aspects of senior life. You’ve invested years in the system and hopefully you’ve got something to show for it. Start by focusing on what interests you and what rocks your world. It is your world, isn’t it?Time marches on and we continually get older. That is the truth, and it’s the truth we all must live with. But that does not mean we need to shut down or throttle our spiritual growth. In fact, your golden years can be the most rewarding period of your life if you remain mindful of who you are, what you are and how you serve. It’s up to you.
