Mind, Body & Spirit > Healthy Body & Mind > Age Is Attitude

Age is Attitude
by Greg Anderson

The most up-to-date research in gerontology has uncovered a shocking conclusion: as much as 80 percent of what we now call "old age" is NOT related to biology. Instead, it has its roots in expectations and attitudes. True, the 20 percent that is a product of biology may incapacitate us and even result in our death. But the good news is this: if we concentrate on improving and changing the unnecessary 80 percent, we stand to profit beyond our most optimistic expectations.

The Law of Lifetime Growth is at the heart of this approach.

Everyone - young, old, rich, poor, healthy, diseased - absolutely everyone has the capacity to change, to learn, to evolve, and to grow. Yet we succumb to a set of cultural beliefs that classify and restrict people to roles that create anything but total wellness. It's high time to take seriously the Law of Lifetime Growth…

…The Law of Lifetime Growth is inextricably intertwined with the idea of vital curiosity. It works for children, young adults, career trackers and seniors. The idea is to constantly explore, to seek, to have an attitude and bearing that says, "I'm interested in finding out what life holds"…

…A commitment to lifetime growth is the key. Attitude-altering attempts are not the exclusive domain of government. Ultimately, we are each responsible for creating and satisfying our curiosity about life. Our efforts make all the difference! The list of great men and women who have committed themselves to this law is long and inspiring.

Thomas Alva Edison, who attended school for only three months and was deemed mentally slow by his teachers, patented a total of 1,033 inventions! His work spanned a lifetime, with his first patent issued at age twenty-one, his last at age eighty-one. Much of the technology of the twentieth century derives from his achievements, of which the electric light bulb and the generation of electricity are but two.

The lessons: genius does not depend on advanced degrees or the approval of others; pursue your God-given talents throughout your life. That's the law of Lifetime Growth…

The comedian George Burns, born on New York's Lower East Side, after the death in 1964 of his beloved wife, Gracie Allen, was expected to retire. Instead, he became even more involved in his work and in life. At the age of eighty he won an Oscar for his role in The Sunshine Boys. He was also booked to play Las Vegas on his hundredth birthday. That's lifetime growth.

The lessons: overcome loss; rise to new and greater possibilities; never let age be an excuse. That's the Law of Lifetime Growth…

…The lessons: never retire - except to put personal excesses to rest. Always aspire - for the greater goal. That's the Law of Lifetime Growth.

The Law of Lifetime Growth demands both a cultural change and a mega shift in our own thinking about all life can be.

This law of wellness represents a great hope for people of all ages, all states of wellness, all cultures.

Grow. Learn. Pursue. Contribute. Enjoy. Make the commitment. You'll know fulfillment as never before. It's the non-negotiable Law of Lifetime Growth.

Condensed From:
"The 22 (Non-Negotiable) Laws of Wellness," by Greg Anderson