Mannys' Page

In consulting and generally talking with people on the subject of age, I have found that many, if not most people have an incredibly warped and fearful attitude towards the process of aging. If only I had a dollar for each time that somebody said that "Life gets boring after you turn 25" or "I'm terrified of turning 30" I would be a very rich man indeed. We do indeed see that many of our peers seem to deteriorate and lose their vitality as the years go by, but is this necessarily something we should fear for ourselves? Perhaps this is very much a matter of attitude and lifestyle choice. I have met and witnessed many 50+ individuals who appear to be radiating in all areas of life. They have wisdom, fitness, intelligence, experience, resources, and CHOICE. At the tender age of 28, I look at the 20 year olds who consider me old and am amazed at their lack of vision for the ageing process. So many say that they want to just go wild and die before they turn 30!

I get it, but I don't get it.

There's always a tidal wave of glorification of the plasticity of youth culture in the media, and the idolatry and hype just flows down from the top of the pyramid (media) down through to popular culture, schools, social groups, families, and individuals. We minimize ourselves to plastic pop stars and photoshopped bodies, and forget that life is a vast and magical field of discovery.

Carl Jung stated in many books and interviews that there is a certain 'one-sidedness' that is common and natural in the first part of life. We must establish ourselves in the world, build ourselves from the ground up, find the right partner, buy a home, procreate, project a favorable image and be liked. In the second or mid-post-midlife stage, when work, home, financial and other needs have been satiated and met, we tend to naturally yearn for and seek meaning, connection, spirituality, and purposeful action in the world. This by no means is something that we need to put off until mid-life, but we see that it is a common and natural pattern of development for the average person. An old friend and counselor mentioned today that he is encountering many aging people who feel as though they didn't achieve their dreams, and that they are struggling with the aging process. We both agree that it doesn't necessarily have to be this way, and that individuals can make sudden changes and have profound breakthroughs and realizations at any point of life.

To make my point, aging can be an evolutionary process or one of deterioration and decline, and the choice lay in the hands of the individual. It is wiser to start at a younger age, to build a foundation of wisdom and to do (part or full time) what it is that's really in our heart. But even if we wait until midlife, the potential for breakthrough to a higher level of fulfillment is massive. Life IS an evolutionary process, with years comes a broadening of insight, of knowledge, of sexuality, the awakening of greater degrees of enlightenment; and the list goes on perpetually. But if we choose to shrink, hide, avoid, deflect and get caught up in dopamine addictions, we will find that life seems to be a process of gradual decline. Your life is in your hands, and only you can live, learn, love your life and actualize your potential. There is no magic button, sudden-or-permanent enlightenment or quick fix solution to an existential dilemma.

Let's make it practical and list just a few major avenues that can lead to the 'Evolutionary process of aging.'

Artistic self expression or Art Therapy
Community Service or meaningful entreprenurial pursuits
Reading, documentaries and short courses
Gym, Tai Chi or Yoga
Meetup groups (Meet up and chat with groups of people who share your specific interests)
Meditation and spiritual studies
Community garden projects
Travel and cultural exploration
Bush walking and nature exploration
Run your own workshops or short courses to impart your knowledge, experience and wisdom to others

Jungian psychology (depth psychology) is also very much oriented towards facilitating the evolutionary and graceful aging process (known as individuation), and has much to offer aging (also younger) individuals. There is great power in the explorative and bonding experience of therapy, and approaches such as Jungian are very exciting, as you get to explore dream analysis, art therapy and a whole range of interesting processes. This option isn't always as affordable for younger people, but is nonetheless rewarding for those who engage with it.

This blog is all just intended to shake up your outmoded views and clear away some of those cobwebs. No way intended as a comprehensive article on the topic but as food for thought. If you are interested in the topic matter, feel free to reach us via the contact form and we can shoot you some more resources to suit your interests needs.