5 Essentials for Aging Gracefully

We live in a youth-obsessed society, which tells us that our value declines as we age. The truth of the matter is – we all age – it is inevitable. There is nothing more heartbreaking than the desperate desire to prevent something that is going to happen, no matter how hard we try to prevent it.

But what if we didn’t buy into these societal messages that say age is devaluing?

What if instead of seeing aging as something to conquer, we were to embrace the things that get better with age? Perhaps we could find peace and contentment on this inevitable and wonderful journey. After all, wisdom comes with age and how to embrace aging, requires some wisdom.

So, I looked over the research on how to age well, I found 5 common suggestions that help us to embrace age with more openness, kindness, and wonder.

1. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – the longer we have been on this planet, the more challenges we have faced. At a certain point in life, you can say, “I’ve been through worse, and I survived.” We no longer have to be bothered by the small things; we have already overcome so much.
2. Keep Moving – At a certain age, you know yourself well enough to know what activities you enjoy. Do those things regularly. Incorporate a couple new things, along the way. Activity breathes vitality into your life.
3. Be Confident in How Much You Know and Keep Learning – you have wisdom that you are not even aware of. You have learned so much through life experience. All this knowledge gives an upper hand in dealing with anything that comes your way. At the same time, keep learning – read, listen to podcasts, keep up with technology.
4. Connect with Others – You know the types of people you enjoy being around, so surround yourself with those people. Life is too short to be around toxic people. You’ve already discovered this. Choose well who you share your time and energy with.
5. Stay Positive – the number one correlation with happy aging is maintaining a positive attitude. A positive attitude will lighten your mood and attract other positive people into your life.

Instead of clinging to youth, we can keep joy alive by staying connected to ourselves and others, while balancing wisdom with wonder and confidence with curiosity.