The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Aging Gracefully

Dear Selfless Esteem,
I’m interested in aging gracefully but I’m also dreading sagging skin, wrinkles, and everything else that goes along with aging. I see some crow’s feet forming by my eyes, which I think is a bigger deal for me as a woman than it is for a man. How can I stop focusing on this every time I look in the mirror?
Signed,
Not Forever Young

Dear Not Forever Young,

I think no one is particularly enthusiastic as they enter the aging process. But here’s the good news. “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Our physical bodies are temporary, but our spirits will live in eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). 😃

The main point of your letter is that you’re interested in aging gracefully, but you’re dreading getting older. Stressing out about it (or anything else) can cause or exacerbate physical problems, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to keep your body as young and agile as possible.

To reduce your stress every time you look in the mirror, I recommend finding a mentor, who has been aging gracefully and can help guide you through the process. Also, check out the post, “6 Effective Ways To Manage Stress.”

Of course, physical appearance isn’t the only change in our bodies. As we get older, negative emotions and memories get stored in our bodies. One of the common emotions is resentment. If that’s true for you, check out the post, “How To Avoid Resentment in a Midlife Crisis.”

Sometimes, the repressed emotions and memories result in chronic, extraordinary muscle tension. If you’re experiencing that, not only should you see a physician, but also you may consider seeing a somatic therapist, who works with the connection between your mind and body. See the post, “Somatic Therapy,” by Psychology Today for more information.

Naturally, not all memories are bad. Reflect on the times you’ve smiled and laughed, which are well worth the tradeoff of developing crow’s feet.

Still, I understand the necessity of taking care of your body. Read on for tips for aging gracefully.

Cheat Sheet for Aging Gracefully

• Eat nutritious food and avoid processed food and sugar.
• Drink water to eliminate toxins and plump the skin to a degree.
• Stay out of the sun or at least use sunscreen.
• Get enough sleep. (See “The Best Ways To Fall Back Asleep.“)
• See the doctor and dentist for regular checkups.
• Exercise to increase your energy and keep your cardiovascular system in shape. (Consult your physician first.) See “3 Successful Strategies You Need to Develop Good Habits.”
• Avoid or limit alcohol intake. See the video, “What Alcohol Does to Your Brain, Body, and Health by Andrew Huberman, PhD,” for more information.
• Moisturize your skin with essential oils diluted in carrier oils. Check out Young Living Essential Oils for some suggestions.
• Use a face mask daily for 5 minutes by mixing plain, Greek yogurt with any of the following ingredients:
  • lemon juice or lime juice
  • rice water or rice milk
  • honey
  • aloe
  • ground almond meal or cornmeal
  • egg white
  • coffee grinds
  • coconut oil
  • turmeric

Most of all, change your perspective. Take the focus off yourself and onto God’s unconditional love. See the posts, “Why Selfless Esteem Is Better Than Self-Esteem,” “The Real Truth About God,” and “How To Pray in 5 Simple Steps” for more details. And view gray hair as a “crown of glory,” signifying a lifetime of serving God and others (Proverbs 16:31).👵

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version®. Copyright © 1984 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you’ve found this blog interesting, please share it on social media. And be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest content.

Click here to ask a question about a life stressor you are facing. Your question and Selfless Esteem’s answer could be featured in a blog.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Thanks for subscribing!

Newsletter

Subscribe to receive notification of our latest content.

I agree to receive:

Promotional emails

The latest post

I accept the privacy policy.

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our newsletter.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with their terms of use

SUBSCRIBE