How to Really Live to 90
Will you live to be 90?
Nobody knows for sure. I’m actually shooting for 100. July 6, 2063. And you’re all invited to the party.
Living that long in good physical and mental health is going to take some planning and some effort. And it’s not just the eat right-exercise-have friends-get a pet-work puzzles-type things that will give you a long, satisfying life.
But I'm not talking about just 'making it' to 90. I'm talking about 'living' to 90.
Most people don’t want to be around that long if they’re just surviving, in misery and mediocrity. So what’s the secret to finishing strong? How do most 90-year olds feel about their life? If they could change one thing, what would it be?
Well, they told us. Last Thanksgiving, my baby brother Adam told me about a recent survey of people over 90 years old. 90% of them said they wish they could change one thing about the way they lived their life. Nearly every 90 year old has the same regret. They want a Marty McFly/Back to the Future time machine so they can go back about 70 or 80 years and give themselves this message:
Don’t be so scared—take a chance.
These folks had been around the block more than a few times. Even with so many different experiences and backgrounds, and all those years, they all came to the same conclusion. These 90 year olds realized that the experience and expression of their individual life was not as rich and fulfilling as it could have been. As it should have been.
Because of fear.
It may be fear of failure. It can even be fear of success. Sometimes fear can be a great motivator…but it can also keep us from our Best. We’re scared to ask someone to the dance. We’re scared to ask our boss for a raise. We’re scared to start a new business. Try something new. Follow a dream. Be ourselves.
How can we turn loose of our fear and take more risk? By remembering that mistakes are just feedback, not failure. Your mistakes/feedback gives you more information so you can make the necessary corrections to your course and keep moving down your path.
When kids are learning to walk they fall all the time. But they don’t stay down, do they. They get up and try again. They’re not worried about how they look. They’re focused on the goal. If your goal is big enough and exciting enough, your enthusiasm will help keep the fear in check.
Take four minutes and write down a few goals for yourself. Then start working to make them happen. ‘Baby steps’ can help you sneak past the fear. And help make your 90th birthday party a smashing success.
Dr. Vince
P.S. Imagine you see a little child taking his first steps. Now imagine he falls. What’s your first thought? What do you say? What do you do? Try that on yourself next time you blow it.
Nobody knows for sure. I’m actually shooting for 100. July 6, 2063. And you’re all invited to the party.
Living that long in good physical and mental health is going to take some planning and some effort. And it’s not just the eat right-exercise-have friends-get a pet-work puzzles-type things that will give you a long, satisfying life.
But I'm not talking about just 'making it' to 90. I'm talking about 'living' to 90.
Most people don’t want to be around that long if they’re just surviving, in misery and mediocrity. So what’s the secret to finishing strong? How do most 90-year olds feel about their life? If they could change one thing, what would it be?
Well, they told us. Last Thanksgiving, my baby brother Adam told me about a recent survey of people over 90 years old. 90% of them said they wish they could change one thing about the way they lived their life. Nearly every 90 year old has the same regret. They want a Marty McFly/Back to the Future time machine so they can go back about 70 or 80 years and give themselves this message:
Don’t be so scared—take a chance.
These folks had been around the block more than a few times. Even with so many different experiences and backgrounds, and all those years, they all came to the same conclusion. These 90 year olds realized that the experience and expression of their individual life was not as rich and fulfilling as it could have been. As it should have been.
Because of fear.
It may be fear of failure. It can even be fear of success. Sometimes fear can be a great motivator…but it can also keep us from our Best. We’re scared to ask someone to the dance. We’re scared to ask our boss for a raise. We’re scared to start a new business. Try something new. Follow a dream. Be ourselves.
How can we turn loose of our fear and take more risk? By remembering that mistakes are just feedback, not failure. Your mistakes/feedback gives you more information so you can make the necessary corrections to your course and keep moving down your path.
When kids are learning to walk they fall all the time. But they don’t stay down, do they. They get up and try again. They’re not worried about how they look. They’re focused on the goal. If your goal is big enough and exciting enough, your enthusiasm will help keep the fear in check.
Take four minutes and write down a few goals for yourself. Then start working to make them happen. ‘Baby steps’ can help you sneak past the fear. And help make your 90th birthday party a smashing success.
Dr. Vince
P.S. Imagine you see a little child taking his first steps. Now imagine he falls. What’s your first thought? What do you say? What do you do? Try that on yourself next time you blow it.
posted by Dr. Vince at Friday, April 28, 2006
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