I have a simple question I want you to answer. When does middle-age start? Keep the first number that pops into your head. It’s an important one … and may tell a lot about how you view aging.
Now, if you want to use math … that’s fine. The Centers for Disease Control says a woman’s average life span is 81. Your answer would be early forties. If you’re in your forties (like me) let me tell you BOLDLY I am not middle-aged (despite what my kids think). But if your brain went to math … pause … and think about how old you feel. Do you feel middle-aged?
When you have that number, the follow up question is when does old age start?
These questions create a continuum for how we perceive ageing and how we embrace life.
One study out of London found people who think old age starts earlier accept physical decline earlier. They start believing they’re frail, so they start walking slowly and hunch their shoulders. They start talking about their achy joints and frail health and accept this deterioration as inevitable.
Now, contrast this with someone who sees old age as something that happens later in life. She may be more conscious about health and fitness and feel empowered about staying in shape and eating nourishing foods. Most importantly, she’s not focusing on aging on but how she’s living.
The bottom line - If you believe you’re old, you’ll act old.
If you believe you’re young, you’ll act young.
Try not to (immediately) blame ageing. Instead, ask yourself some questions - have you been eating whatever turns up on your plate? Drinking sodas and wine regularly? Have you moving less and struggling to stick to a fitness plan? These feelings may not be age-related, though “being old” is an easy scapegoat. Focus on what makes you feel young, on something new you’d like to try. Let the answers come …you may be surprised by the shift that happens.
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