051: Live Longer, Age Better: How Your MINDSET Shapes Your Future

In this special 1st birthday episode of The Strong Bones Coach Podcast, Carly celebrates the blessings of ageing as she shares 5 actionable tips to help you feel more positive about getting older.

From reframing your mindset to focusing on what your body can do, Carly’s advice will help you shift your perspective on ageing and live with more joy, gratitude and connection.

Tune in to learn how a healthy relationship with ageing can improve your health and well-being.

Reference
Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging.
By Levy, Becca R.,Slade, Martin D.,Kunkel, Suzanne R.,Kasl, Stanislav V. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 83(2), Aug 2002, 261-270
LINK 

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Transcript

Carly: 0:37

Hello and welcome back to the Strong Bones Coach Podcast with me, your host, Carly. And this week is a super special week. Now, it was especially special last week because we hit our 50th episode. episode, but this week we are celebrating the first birthday of the Strong Bones Coach podcast. So yes, a whole year has gone past already. I do not know where that time has gone. But it has been an incredible year. As always, and again, I am so thankful for each of you that are tuning in, supporting, and sharing this journey with me. So today we are diving into a topic that feels particularly close to my heart, as always, it's our relationship with aging. Now, if you're like many people, the thought of getting older might stir up some negative feelings. We often hear about those big birthdays, the ones that can feel daunting or scary, or remind us of how much time has passed and that perhaps there is less time left, although we never truly know how many birthday candles we get to collect. But personally, I've always been happy to collect another birthday candle each year. I see it as a privilege to have another year and to focus on putting life into the years that I am living. And this topic is well worth talking about because there is some really compelling evidence that shows that how we view aging has a direct impact on our health. So research by Becca Levy at Yale University has found that people with a positive outlook on aging live on average seven and a half years longer than those who hold negative perceptions. So a healthy mindset towards aging leads to better physical and mental health outcomes. So in today's episode, I'm sharing five tips to help you shift your perspective on aging and feel more positive. as you embrace each year. So let's go. So let's start with tip number one, reframe aging, see it as a blessing, not a curse. So first, let's start with the mindset shift that I love to talk about seeing aging as that privilege or that blessing, not a curse, not a negative, not something to be dreaded. Every year we get to live is another year filled with experiences, growth, new opportunities. And yes, not all of those opportunities and not all of those experiences might be the ones that we hoped for, but you never know, there could always be something better around the corner. So when we focus on the gift of aging, rather than the losses or the limitations, it changes how we approach our days. As we age, we gain more wisdom, more memories, more chances to create the life we want. So instead of dreading another candle on the cake, let's celebrate it. Each year you have a chance to become stronger, more resilient, physically, mentally, and emotionally. And that is something to truly honour. Tip number two. Let's focus on what your body can do. So as we get older, it can be easy to get caught up with what our bodies can't do anymore. But this mindset is limiting in itself. As much as there comes a time in our life when we won't be able to do quite as much as we did when we were younger, this isn't something to just sit back and wait to happen. We can do plenty to support our bodies as we age, making sure we support our bodies to do as much as we can for as long as we can. So instead, let's focus what our bodies can do. Maybe you've lost some flexibility or noticed you're not as fast as you used to be. But you might also have gained some strength, stability, endurance in other areas. So let's celebrate how your body has carried you through life's ups and downs. That's well worth appreciating. Perhaps you can engage in activities that celebrate your body's current abilities. Whether that's in strength, training, walking, yoga, swimming, because when you appreciate your body for what it can do, you build a positive relationship with it. And that way those positive vibes will help to serve you well in more years to come. And if you're looking for an example of how this is possible, you'll refer back to an episode where I told the story of Rosalie, one of my clients who started the gym at the age of 75 and is still going strong, even with osteoporosis, that can't be medicated. So I will link that episode in the show notes for inspiration for you. Tip number three. Cultivate gratitude for every stage of life. Now we often talk about gratitude, but it's worth mentioning how crucial it is when it comes to ageing. When we focus on gratitude for every stage of life, it helps us to appreciate the journey rather than wishing we were younger, looking too far into the future. With a focus on gratitude, we can use this to ground us into the present moment, because realistically that is the only moment that truly exists. So let's not waste time. wishing things are different, trying to return to a state that might be a phase that just isn't for us anymore, especially when we start to progress through menopause. Menopause in itself is a totally different type of phase of life, and it's there for a good reason. As we progress through the years where Raising children might not be the main focus, we may raise grandchildren. We get to use our wisdom, our experience to share in our own lives, to do the things we might not have been able to do when it was family time, if family has been the focus, and to start to embrace a different type of life. Whether we share our wisdom with community groups, or whether we spend that time exploring things we didn't get time to do in our earlier years. So take a moment to think about all the things you're grateful for today. For your health, your experiences, the people you've met, the lessons you've learnt. By focusing on what you have rather than what you've lost or fear losing, you can develop a more joyful relationship with ageing. And tip number four, stay social and stay connected. The social connection plays a huge role in how we experience aging. And the research shows that having strong social ties contributes to longer and healthier lives. This is something we've talked about before on the podcast, within our episode on the Mediterranean diet. And as well noted within the blue zones around the world, these are areas in the world where more people live to over 100. You may have heard of this. So it's worth emphasizing, isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, which overall has negative impacts on both mental and physical health. So make time for friends, family, and community. Perhaps join a club, start a new hobby, or participate in fitness classes where you can meet people who share your interests. Staying connected helps you feel supported, keeps your mind engaged, and provides a sense of belonging, all of which contribute to a positive aging experience. And finally, tip number five, prioritize self care and listen to your body. As we age, self care becomes even more important than ever. Prioritizing your health, both physical and mental, should be at the top of your list. So listen to your body's needs, whether it's getting enough rest, moving in ways that feel good, and seeking support when you need it, making time for activities that nourish you, That might mean regular exercise, healthy meals, meditations, or even breathwork. The better care you take of yourself now, the more likely you are to age with strength, vitality, and a sense of well being. So to sum up all of this, Aging truly is a blessing and how we think about it can greatly impact how we experience it. So by shifting your perspective, focusing on what your body can do, cultivating gratitude, staying connected and prioritizing your self care, you can foster a healthy, positive relationship with aging. And if all of that sounds a bit overwhelming right now, I'd love to invite you to sign up for my free Overwhelm Unpacked workshop, where we'll dive deeper into strategies to overcome the overwhelm that can sometimes accompany midlife and beyond. You'll walk away with some practical tools, so you can feel more empowered and in control of your journey. The details to sign up will be in the show notes, so head over there after this episode. So thank you for joining me today and being part of this incredible year long journey so far, still counting, with the Strong Bones Coach podcast. I can't wait to see what the next year brings. So until next week, stay strong, take care, and remember to embrace each year with joy and gratitude.