Mind Over Age: Turning Back Your Clock – Imagine a world where the clock moves differently, Benjamin Button-style, and where our traditional versions of aging become just a number on a piece of paper rather than a limitation.
I am a HUGE believer in the power of our mindset and what our minds do with it. I explain to clients that when we buy into a belief on what our age means, we also take on the ideas of what we think that number represents. I LIVE this!
Our cells will correspond to our beliefs about how we are supposed to look, feel, and be when we “act our age.”
“Age isn’t anything but a number. And that number is none of your business.”
HOW? Let’s say you believe being a 40-year-old means certain things in your mind:
Many believe at 40 the body starts showing signs of aging like changes in metabolism, weight gain, loss of muscle tone, and the onset of gray hair and wrinkles.
Add the notion that hitting 40 might trigger a midlife crisis for some individuals, which manifests as questioning life choices, feeling restless or dissatisfied, or making drastic changes in career or personal life.
It may also mean you’re supposed to have achieved a level of financial and career success. With the expectation, you’d have a solid grasp on financial matters, including savings, investments, and retirement planning. You may feel pressure to secure your financial future.
Guess what**?** The body starts to follow these age-related belief patterns. The aches and pains, questioning your life choices, and if you haven’t been living your best life financially, you might start to feel awful about yourself.
Now picture this – you don’t have a belief about your age and what it means, and half the time, you forget how old you are.
- You’re active.
- You have fun.
- Maybe you play team sports, go out dancing because you like it, or still get excited about things like you did as a kid.
Then people start to treat you differently and you stop noticing how you feel in a negative way. You don’t complain about the issues of your age. And your body responds, people saying they have no idea how old you are!
Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but what if I told you it’s not only possible but has been demonstrated right here on planet Earth? Thanks to Professor Ellen Langer, a visionary researcher from Harvard whose groundbreaking study rewrote the rules of aging.
In the late 1970s, Dr. Langer embarked on an experiment that would challenge the very fabric of what aging can mean. Her subjects? Eight men, seasoned by life in their 70’s, and not immune to the wear and tear it brings.
These men, though not decrepit, were slogging through life with the typical burdens of aging: slow movements, nagging pains, and a weariness that seemed to seep into their bones. Each of them complained about easily being fatigued and the seemingly “normal” complaints among men their age.
The stage was set at a retreat center in New Hampshire over five days, but this was no ordinary getaway. It was a portal to the past, a time capsule transporting the men back to 1959, an era they fondly remembered from their 50s.
Vintage television shows danced across screens, Eisenhower’s presence loomed in the White House, and the crack of baseball bats echoed as the Dodgers and the White Sox battled for glory.
But it wasn’t just the ambiance that shifted; it was their mindset.
Dr. Langer orchestrated an environment where the men were treated as they would have been in their prime. No coddling, no one offering to help them, no concessions to age—just a subtle nudge to inhabit their younger selves once again.
Mirrors vanished, ensuring they couldn’t catch a glimpse of the years etched upon their faces and break the enchantment.
Then came magic.
Over five days, Dr. Langer administered a battery of tests, measuring both physical prowess and cognitive agility. And the results? Nothing short of astounding.
Like characters in some fantastical tale, the men seemed to shed the weight of years, their mental and physical performance markers soaring to levels reminiscent of decades past. Aches faded, movements quickened, and minds sharpened, defying the conventional narrative of decline with age.
What sorcery was at play here?
The answer lay not in potions or elixirs but in the power of their own perception. About themselves. Dr. Langer’s study, aptly dubbed the “Counterclockwise Study,” revealed that the mind held the key to unlocking the secrets of youth. By immersing themselves in an environment that rewound the clock, the men rewrote their own biological script, proving that age need not dictate capability.
But perhaps the most remarkable lesson from this isn’t just about defying the ravages of time but about embracing the boundless potential of your human mind. As a reminder how our thoughts wield a profound influence over our reality, shaping not only how we perceive the world but also how we experience it.
So, the next time you find yourself groaning about your years or saying, “at our age …” remember the tale of these intrepid men who dared to defy it. And STOP ACTING YOUR AGE!
Want more ideas on how to use your mindset to support your goals? I’ve got you! Reach out for support.
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