It saddens and frustrates me when I see people in their fifties or sixties moping around talking about how “it’s not easy getting old.” On the other hand, I am inspired when I see an older person, someone in their eighties or nineties, living a vibrant and productive life. It gives me hope and further proves my theory that there is a huge difference between aging and getting old.
So what’s the difference between these two groups of people? Why are some, still in mid-life, seeming to be on their last legs while others, old enough to be the parents of the first group, still going strong?
While the answer is complex and involves several facets most of which are covered in my new book, it really boils down to a couple of key differences.
It Takes Passion
The first of these and perhaps the most important is passion. Older people who are living vibrantly are passionate about their life. Their outlook is positive and they are motivated by something outside themselves. They have a purpose. They are engaged in life and are pursuing something that matters to them.
Whether it’s a career, a hobby, a cause, or something in between, they have dreams and goals and are living life to it fullest.
In Don’t Let an Old Person move Into Your Body I wrote about Isagenix distributor Jimmy Smith who, past the age of eighty, is on a mission to carry a message of physical health and financial wealth to people all across the globe.
It Takes Power
Beyond attitude, passion, and purpose, living a full and productive life requires power; spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical power.
You can’t “go for the gusto” if you’re too weak to get out of bed.
Spiritual Power
A regular practice of prayer and meditation, the former, talking to God and the latter listening, will help you develop and maintain a strong connection with our Creator. It has been proven that people who have a relationship with a Higher Power are happier, more at peace and tend to live longer then those who do not. Spend time each day in quiet reflection and contemplation. This simple act will do more for your well-being than anything else you might do.
Emotional Power
You can develop and strengthen your emotional power by devoting some time each day visualizing your ideal life. Sit quietly, close your eyes (assuming you’re not driving), and create a “mind movie” of you living your ideal life. See the sights, hear the sounds, smell the smells, and taste the tastes you’d be enjoying if this were happening for real. Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real and what is vividly imagined. Your subconscious will accept your visualization as real and, by virtue of the Law of Attraction, will begin bringing it toward you and inspiring you to take action toward it.
Mental Power
You can develop your mental powers by paying attention to your self-talk and replacing any disempowering thoughts with positive affirmations. Read positive and uplifting information daily to maintain a more productive state of mind. Commit to personal development and learning as a life long endeavor.
Physical Power
Of course, without physical power and energy you’re not going very far. It is essential, as we age, to take an active part in maintaining our health, whatever it maybe. I wrote in Don’t Let an Old Person Move into your Body to accept what you cannot change and change what you can. However you can probably improve more of your health then you think.
There’s a lot of scientifically based information about health and nutrition available today. People are becoming better informed and seeking, and finding, solutions to what were once thought to be “incurable” aliments.
Of course, exercise is important too. As a society, we do not move enough. Our high-tech lifestyles have enabled most of us to expend the minimal amount of physical energy in our day-to-day life. One of the best actions a person can engage in, especially as we age, is yoga. The gentle stretching helps us maintain not only fitness but flexibility as well and the deep breathing goes a long way to helping us relax and reduce the stress in our lives.
How you age is up to you. You can live your life vibrantly and productively, or you can just get old. Decide now to take decisive action to make the rest of your life, the best of your life.
Excerpt, Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body
A butcher for most of his adult life, Jimmy Smith was content with living a modest, middle class lifestyle. He was a happy man blessed with a loving wife and six children, until at sixty-two years of age he had the rug pulled out from under him. Due to his failing health and being unable to stand all day cutting meat, he was forced to leave the job he had held for most of his life.
While this is surely something that would be a challenge to anyone, in his situation it could have been devastating. Fortunately, for Jimmy, a friend introduced him to the network marketing industry, providing him an opportunity for self-employment and a chance to build a business of his own.
After being in the business for a time, Jimmy Smith found his passion in both the leading edge products and the business opportunity offered by Isagenix International, a company whose vision is to make a positive impact on world health and free people from physical and financial pain, and in the process create the largest health-and-wellness company in the world.
I have personally experienced the Isagenix products and found them to be one of the highest quality nutritional products available as have two of my colleagues John Gray and Jack Canfield.
Jimmy had found his calling. With the the health benefits he realized from taking the Isagenix products and the business opportunity it provided, he was on fire and ready to tell the world about his new business.
When I met Jimmy Smith, a few years ago, he was turning eighty and had the energy and stamina of a man half his age. Not only does he look and feel great, he went on to become the top earner in his company, making himself and his family very wealthy, while building a lasting legacy for his children and grand-children.
Perhaps what best describes Jimmy’s energy and passion for what he is doing is the experience that I had while attending an all day event with him. I was leaving the event after being in the hotel for over 12 hours. Riding the elevator down to the lobby with Jimmy’s daughter Grace, talking about what a long day it had been, I asked where her dad was. “Oh, he has a few more meetings,” she replied. We both laughed at the fact that while we, decades younger, were both ready to call it a day, Jimmy the Butcher was still going strong.
Jimmy Smith is the perfect example of what can happen when a person’s passion is ignited by something larger than himself. If you ever have the opportunity to meet Jimmy Smith, by all means, do so. It’s a life changing experience. Excerpt, Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body
I realize that, for many people affirming this can be a real challenge, however, it’s really important if you want to improve your situation. The key to having more of what you want, whether it’s more prosperity, health, time, fun, love, or anything else, is to first acknowledge that which you already have and then, to share it.
By appreciating and acknowledging what you have you evoke the power of the Law of Attraction, which as you probably already know, teaches us that “like attracts like.”
Put another way, we attract more of what we focus upon or hold in our hearts. By “hold in our heart,” I’m referring to the feelings we have for they, even more than what we say, are what attracts our experience. Remember, “As a man (or woman) thinks in his heart, so he is.”
By appreciating and acknowledging for example, the health you already have, you are putting your attention on health, which is the only way to attract it. You cannot focus, as so many people do, on illness and attract health. It violates the laws of our universe.
So you first exercise, should you choose to play, is to choose those areas in your life you’d like to improve. Health, of course, is a great place to begin for without it everything else suffers.
You may also want to include love, career, and, yes, money for they too are important. Ideally we want to achieve a balanced life that is prosperous in all areas.
Take each heading and make a list of everything you appreciate about it as it stands now. This activity will align you with attracting more of the same.
After doing this, in health for example, you may notice you are making better food choices, exercising or any number of other activities that will have a positive impact on your health.
When you begin to appreciate the wealth in your life, don’t be surprised if you begin receiving more, sometimes from totally unexpected channels. I’ve stopped trying to understand just why this occurs. I just let it in and give thanks.
The second part of the process is to share, with others, whatever it is you’d like more of in your own life. This evokes the Law of Reciprocity, another universal law, which teaches us that it is impossible to give without receiving.
If you want more love and affection, be more loving and affectionate to the people you encounter. I’m not suggesting you start hugging total strangers . . . maybe.
My friend, the late Charlie Tremendous Jones, made a habit of hugging everyone he met and it served him well throughout his life. Everyone I know loved Charlie.
It goes without saying that if you want more money, giving some away will help you attract more. I realize how difficult this may seem, especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet, but give it a try anyway. You may be pleasantly amazed at what happens.
Even if you can only afford to give a little it will leave you feeling better about yourself and more prosperous. And, for sure, there are many, many charities and organizations who always need your help.
Making a daily practice of writing what you appreciate in your life is a powerful activity that will produce astounding results and it’s something you can start right away.
Tonight, before you go to sleep, write 5 things you appreciate from the previous day. Do this for 30 days and then decide for yourself if it’s something you want to continue. My guess is, once you start seeing the powerful changes taking place in your life, you’ll want to make it a regular habit.
“While being young is an accident of time, youth is a permanent state of mind” Frank Lloyd Wright
Have you ever noticed that some people age well, becoming older with grace and dignity, looking vibrant and alive and remaining physically and mentally active well into old age? Frank Lloyd Wright, quoted above, was still designing when he passed on at 92.
Others, it seems, begin getting old in their youth. What makes the difference?
Why is such a large portion of our society aging so poorly? Why are hospitals and nursing homes overcrowded and many older people just barely alive?
Is this a natural progression or can we actually alter the way we age?
The Bible teaches us that we have a natural life expectancy of 120 – 150 years. Many of the people written about in the Old Testament lived to be over one hundred, and in some parts of the world today, entire villages live well beyond one hundred years of age.
What are the secrets of a long and productive life and what can you do about it? More importantly, how can you live your life to the fullest, enjoying an abundance of health, wealth, and happiness? How can you make the most of your life, for however long you are here?
How can you live, laugh, and love more? What steps can you take, starting now, to achieve the best level of health and fitness you are capable of reaching? How can you get back in touch with your dreams and desires and begin to experience them? How can you learn to age with passion, purpose, power, and prosperity?
In Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body, you will be asked to reevaluate and question the preconceived notions you have about aging and the commonly accepted beliefs about health. You will be asked to examine your attitudes and beliefs and come to understand the important role they play in how we age. You will learn ways to age without becoming old.
You’ll be introduced to people who have aged successfully and learn their strategies. You will learn about the latest developments in the field of longevity and identify ways you can minimize, even slow, the process of aging. You will create a compelling vision for your future and a plan for a long, active, and prosperous life.
I invite you to join me in this exciting journey into aging and learn how you, too, can develop your personal plan of aging with passion, purpose, power and prosperity, and make sure you don’t let an old person move into your body.
It is your God-given birthright to have a life of joy, happiness, health, love, fun, prosperity, excitement, abundance, and all the other wonderful things life on earth has to offer. To accept less is to shortchange yourself and your loved ones.
One of the questions I am asked over and over by radio and TV interviewers and reporters is “How can a person motivate themselves?”
While there are no simple answers to this question – we all develop methods that work for us – we can use a powerful technique known as leverage. Archimedes said he could move the world if he had a big enough lever.
In the case of self-motivation, the leverage comes from having completed a commitment exercise. If you have not yet done this, it’s quite simple.
Choose the particular goal or area of your life in which you need motivation. Take a page in your journal and write down everything you will gain by taking the action.
In the case of building your business, your list might include financial freedom, more time with your family, freedom to live and work wherever you choose, the opportunity to work from home, the opportunity to do work that you love, being able to make a difference in people’s lives, and on and on.
Write down as many things as you can think of. List every benefit, reward and pleasure you will receive from reaching this goal. This is your carrot.
Next, write down everything you are presently giving up and missing out on by not already having reached this goal. Things like working at a job you dislike, being away from your family, not having enough money, not being able to give your family what they need, always being behind on your bills, and on and on.
Write as many negatives as you can. What is the pain you experience by not having already reached this goal? This is your stick.
You can use the power of the carrot and stick to motivate yourself to action. When you feel yourself slacking off or procrastinating, or even if you feel like giving up, take out your lists and reread them.
These whys will remind you why you are doing this in the first place. Tony Robbins taught us that everything we do is either to gain pleasure or avoid pain. You can use this pain and pleasure - carrot and stick - exercise to keep yourself on track.
Keep your eye on the goal and keep reminding yourself why you want it. Doing this will keep you taking the actions necessary to reach your goals and live your dreams. Remember, you can reach any goal if you have a big enough why.
As my friend, John DiLemme said with the title of his wonderful book, Find Your Why and Fly
If you’re in the US and celebrating the Fourth of July, Independence Day (or even if you’re not), here’s something else you can do besides shoot off fireworks and barbecue.
Declare your own independence.
- Declare your independence from allowing outside forces to determine how you feel.
- Declare your independence from allowing the stock market or other economic indicators to determine your financial health.
- Declare your independence from allowing advertisers to determine how you should look and what you should eat.
The only one who can determine the conditions in your life, including how you feel and how much money you have or do not have, is you. You are responsible for your own life, and the sooner you realize this, the sooner you will have the power to change what you want to change.
Your thoughts create your life experience. Whatever you are experiencing in your life right now, is the result of the thought patterns you’ve had in the past, either consciously or unconsciously.
The Bible tells us that As a man thinketh, so is he. This idea has been repeated by every spiritual teaching for the past 2,000 years or more. It’s time we honored it and took back our own personal power. It is time we took back control of our thoughts.
Begin today to take an active role in creating your life. Choose your thoughts intentionally and with care. Monitor your self-talk. Affirm your dreams and goals daily.
Final sale days through July 4th weekend
This fourth of July weekend will mark the end of the special sale pricing for my multi-part audio programs so if you’re thinking of grabbing them, now’s the time. I assure you they will never be available at this price again.
With so many people concerned about the economy, I want to make sure you know about some of the simple, low cost resources that you can use to spark your creativity and explore additional income streams. Don’t just sit there watching the news, lamenting about how “bad things are.”
Refuse to be a victim. Take decisive action and you will immediately feel better, plus you will be increasing your income. Instead of worrying about where you can cut expenses, ask yourself what you can do to increase your household income.
A lot of smart people have used the 20 Ways to Make $100 per Day Online ebook to help them get new ideas and add income. If you missed the earlier information about this simple, yet powerful product.
Learn to put your skills, free time and mind set to work for you. Grab a copy of 44 Unusual WaysMoms are earning money in their spare time – and you can too.
Have you ever noticed that there is no shortage of people willing to give you advice, whether or not you asked for it? I’ve developed some simple rules about from whom I will accept advice and suggestions.
I do not ask for heath advice from people who are sick, I do not ask for financial advice from people who are broke and I do not ask for business advice from people who are not in their own business.
Over the years I’ve watched hundreds of people go into a business venture and excitedly tell their family and friends about their new enterprise. Big mistake! How many of your friends and relatives own their own business? Probably few or none. While they may be well intentioned and have your best interests at heart, their lack of knowledge and their own fears can sabotage your new venture.
If you want advice or input about a business, find someone who is successfully running their own business and ask them. Ask several people so you can obtain an objective view. When your choosing mentors or role models, be sure to seek out those people who have been there. Chose people who have “walked the walk” and have succeeded in doing what you want to do. This applies as much to health, finance, education, relationships and pretty much any area of your life.
If you want to be fit and healthy, do not seek advice from someone who is overweight, a smoker, and sick all the time. Find a fit and healthy person and model them. I know this sounds overly simple and obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people are listening to and even following the advice of people who do not know what they are talking about.
They are, sadly, listening to the person who is stuck in a dead-end job telling them why a business idea will not work. They are listening to an overweight, sick person who is telling them that taking vitamins is a waste of money and they are listening to the person who is living paycheck to paycheck telling them how to become wealthy.
To ensure your success, make sure your role models are demonstrating in their own lives, the qualities you seek to develop.
That’s right, these three amazing women, Carrie Wilkerson, Kathleen Gage and Mari Smith are just three of the women that make up the “Dynamic Divas series.
A while back, I wanted to do something really “out of the box.”
While lots of people have produced information series with groups of experts, this is the first program to tap into the expertise and knowledge available from an amazing group of women.
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I realize that, for many people affirming this can be a real challenge, however, it’s really important if you want to improve your situation. The key to having more of what you want, whether it’s more prosperity, health, time, fun, love, or anything else, is to first acknowledge that which you already have and then, to share it.
Have you ever noticed that some people age well, becoming older with grace and dignity, looking vibrant and alive and remaining physically and mentally active well into old age? Frank Lloyd Wright, quoted above, was still designing when he passed on at 92.
I do not ask for heath advice from people who are sick, I do not ask for financial advice from people who are broke and I do not ask for business advice from people who are not in their 
A while back, I wanted to do something really “out of the box.” 
