Our outlook can go a long way to how youthful we feel and how we are perceived by others, say experts
LIZ FROST
Have you ever met anyone, who despite their years; despite the signs of a life-well-lived on their skin, just seems somehow youthful? Conversely, have you ever met someone who, despite their young age and flawless skin, just seems... ‘old’? It isn’t just by chance, there’s a reason for this. According to Mariel Witmond, yoga instructor, expert life coach and founder of wellbeing platform Mindful Sonder (mindfulsonder. com), our inner reality reflects our outer experiences. “The way we think affects our health and happiness,” she says, “and studies show that our mindset can even impact how fast or slow we age, and as a result, how long we live.”
There’s no doubt thoughts play a powerful role in how we experience life. For example, those who are positive thinkers, with an abundance of gratitude are likely to have a more enjoyable life, whatever happens along the way, than those with a negative outlook. “Whether we believe we can, or we can’t, either way we are right,” says advanced law of attraction coach Salarah Starre (salarahstarre.com). “If a person believes that they are past their time, they will put limitations on what they can do day to day and also roadblocks along the path to achieving their dreams. A positive attitude towards getting older, on the other hand, lessens the stress response and enhances the production of wellbeing hormones.”
It’s more complex than whether we think positively or negatively, though. As we grow older, we can have a tendency to buy into age stereotypes that may have been instilled in us when we were young. “When we lose someone close to us, their age can become a marker for us subconsciously of what we consider to be ‘old’,” says Mariel. “As we approach a similar age, we buy into the narrative we have created that we are reaching the end of the line, even though that may not be true for us. Again, we may give in to our assumed fate.” It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Think about how you see a grandmother, possibly with a white bubble perm and thick glasses, using a walking frame. Whereas, in reality, grandmothers nowadays are much more youthful, active and vibrant.
As we age, the habitual worry that plagues some of us can lead to stress and anxiety, which can cause chemical reactions in the body that age us physically. Also, too much time spent focusing on emotions like envy or disappointment can keep us in a state of inaction and a mindset of lack, all of which can
