009. How to age gracefully: stay positive and change your mindset, with author and midlife encourager Christy Largent

Is it possible to make your midlife your happiest life? 

Professional speaker and positivity expert Christy Largent helps women achieve just that as the founder of the “mid-life, happy life” community. The secret is the power of your mindset. In other words, “you’re as happy as you think you are.”  

Drawing from stories about her father’s confidence and energy, Christy discusses how positive thoughts and embracing the “opportunity mindset” are a path to a life well lived. She explains that you think these thoughts, which in turn become actions, which ultimately reinforce your mindset. When you make positivity a practice, you can change the way you interact with the world and open yourself up to new opportunities – no matter what your age is. 

Takeaways from this episode:

- Embrace aging. Instead of thinking, “I’m getting older,” you can think, “I’m glad to wake up this morning.” We can’t change aging, but we can change the way we view it.

- Avoid using age as an excuse – use it to motivate yourself instead. In other words, abandon self-defeating mindsets.

- Find ways to stay active. If you can’t run, try yoga or chair exercises. 

- Rediscover yourself. If you didn’t have time for hobbies in your past, find something you’re interested in now.

- Be more intentional and pursue what you love with your time. Imagine your ideal life in 5 years and take steps to get there. Find ways to keep progressing in life.

- Rewire your brain through positive self-talk. Consider: Would you talk to others the way you talk to yourself?

- Enhance your happiness through gratitude exercises, such as journaling. 

- Think beyond yourself and consider volunteering to instill a sense of purpose in your day-to-day. 

- Identify healthy coping mechanisms when times do get tough later in life. Dedicate some time for self-care, getting enough sleep, and other beneficial habits. 

Topics discussed:
- Staying active as we age

- The relationship between mental health and diet

- Caring for older parents

- Dementia patients 

- The importance of support groups

- Finding volunteer work and hobbies 

- The opportunity mindset

- Practicing gratitude 

- Giving yourself grace in tough times

Connect to Christy Largent: https://www.christylargent.com/
https://twitter.com/ChristyLargent
https://www.facebook.com/ChristyLargentSpeakerPage
https://www.instagram.com/christylargent/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ChristyLargent/

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Encouraging Words for Working Moms Podcast with Christy Largent:
https://www.christylargent.com/category/podcast/

Daughters of Dementia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/497680387070865/

https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/blog/31
Positive Communication Skills Devotional for Women: Encouraging Words to Help You Speak Your Truth with Confidence:
https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Communication-Skills-Devotional-Women-ebook/dp/B00YHLMW5O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1454798905&sr=8-1&keywords=31+positive&linkCode=sl1&tag=wwwchristylar-20&linkId=28973638c178fb5a718e72b592a4ebca

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https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/