Keeping A Positive Mindset And Moving Forward As We Get Older
When we are young and full of energy, life seems pretty good. Of course, we had to deal with the worries and stresses of working and raising our families. But all in all, we enjoyed just about every moment.
And then middle age arrives, and life seems a bit more settled. Our kids are growing up and heading off to college or starting jobs. We have more time for ourselves. Life can slow down a bit.
And before we know it, we are grandparents. And as joyful as having grandchildren can be, we now start to think that we are also getting old. Our children now have their own lives, complete with jobs and children.
And admit it, we all kind of miss those days—those days of making lunches, nagging about homework, and taking them to basketball practice. We were sometimes quite frazzled and tired. But those were the good old days.
Do you remember when you suddenly realized those cute grandbabies are now playing volleyball and basketball? Where do the years go?
Now is the time when many of us feel a bit lost. We look in the mirror and wonder what happened. It feels a bit like we have lost ourselves. Where do we go from here?
We have reached the point where we are slowing down in both body and mind.
Our energy levels are down. We now have aches and pains that sometimes plague us.
We find ourselves forgetting things. We start worrying about our brain not being as sharp as it was.
But it's not all bad. We still have lots of good years and good living to do.
Now is the time in our life that we have to start challenging ourselves a bit. I know that is probably not something you wanted to hear. But we need to keep ourselves motivated and, yes, even inspired.
Get in charge of your motivation-
Keep a positive mindset. Try to look on the bright side of things. Search out things, thoughts, or even memories that make you feel good.
Strive to be your best every day. Forget trying to be that 30 year old you once were. Try being the best 50, 60, or 70 year old you can be.
And while you are striving to be your best, don't forget to strive to look your best. Sure, you can't look like you did at 30 or 40, but you can still look pretty damn good if you make an effort. My husband used to tease me that I look good for my age. You know what? I'll take it.
Being the best you can be can give you a super boost in confidence. Confidence can be very motivating and inspiring. Which in turn leads to living your best life.
Challenge yourself every day. Maybe set some daily goals. Make a goal of walking a mile. Or make it a plan to get in touch with family or friends a couple of times a week.
Have a routine that includes exercise and socializing.
Do something every day that makes you happy.
Ditch anything that is not working for you.
Laugh and laugh some more. Laughing is so good for you. Laughing is good for your heart and can boost your immune system. It also makes you happier and can lessen anxiety.
Do something nice for someone. A card sent, or a quick visit, or even a phone call. You can genuinely make someone's day. And you will feel good also.
Make a list of all the good things in your life.
Do something extra nice for yourself.
Spend some time with the grandchildren.
Look for the good in things. See the glass as half full, not half empty.
Enjoy those simple little things in life like the sound of rain on the roof, the smell of coffee in the morning, and the sound of birds outside your window. Sometimes it is those little moments that can bring us the most satisfaction.
Remember, each new day can bring new challenges. But remember, the control is ours as to how we see things and how we handle things. Things are easier to deal with when you keep a positive attitude. A positive mindset can be a powerful and motivating thing.
So stay positive and keep on moving forward and living your best life.