It all starts with a little thought – I can’t or I shouldn’t.
It doesn’t matter if you believe the thought - or not. The thought is there now, in your subconscious.
It will reappear whenever you doubt yourself.
Whenever a part of you wants to do something and part of you doesn’t or is afraid to.
It could be a physical task – walking to the store, hanging up a picture, or climbing a ladder.
It could be a mental task- completing a crossword, doing math in your head, or meeting someone new.
Or it could be making a decision - something as simple as buying a piece of clothing or going on a trip.
Do you remember the day you started to feel old? Probably not, it most likely happened gradually.
For most it isn’t a ‘fixed time’ in their memory. After all, does one ever ‘choose’ to be old?
I am sure it was after a few ‘oh shit I can’t do this’ moments and eventually, well you believe you ARE old.
Ok.. so now you think you are old. What does that MEAN to you. Does it mean you shouldn’t hike anymore? Or walk down to the store by yourself? Does it mean you shouldn’t drive? Or wear bright coloured clothes? We all have different concepts of what is appropriate for our age. Concepts formed by societal norms and accepted without question. Many people do stop to ask an important question “Hey! Who made these rules?”
For me, it is interesting that once you DECIDE you are old, you BECOME old. I have watched a few people change completely within a few months. From being an avid outdoor person, to sitting on a chair with a blanket. It was fascinating that it happened so quickly, but now that I understand more about how our brain works, it makes sense to me.
Once with start to believe something, our brain will continue to give evidence to back up our new belief. It isn’t surprising though, if we consider that we can only process a certain amount of info per second AND our brain helps us by filtering the information it receives.
We think we are old, and we get evidence that we are old. Eventually… we are what we believe.
So… let’s consider changing the story. Instead of allowing that thought to take over your concept of your age, look at the evidence that you are not old. Find moments that validate that you are still young enough to do many things.
Maybe your body is showing signs of wear & tear, and climbing a mountain is a questionable activity, but you can still walk around the block. Maybe you feel uncertain when going downstairs, but if you strengthen your core, and work on having better balance, you can have more stability.
Rather than have an excuse as to why you can’t do a task – ask yourself what do I need to do to be able to do that task? Take an inventory of ALL the things you can STILL do!
Remember…just because you have a thought, it doesn’t mean that it is a fact.
A thought is just a thought...you don’t have to let your thoughts change your reality
Yours in Health,
Susan
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