§ We came to this world to LIVE OUT LOUD!

Think Yourself 10 Years Younger!

Mar 9, 2021
I was astounded when I realized what I’d been telling myself. No wonder my body was breaking down! And I’ve been training my mind to create my reality for years. Yikes!
We all know that our mindset plays a huge role in everything. “Whether we think we can or we think we can’t – either way we’re right,” the saying goes.
I’ve been working with my mindset for decades. Transforming limiting beliefs into empowering ones, beliefs that would have me create what I want in my life.
I’ve taught thousands of people how to do it. And they’ve had tremendous results too!

That’s why I was caught off guard when I realized that my mindset was aging me prematurely.

As I’ve been writing over the past two weeks, I was completely disillusioned when my body started breaking down about a year ago. Weird aches and pains. Uncomfortable gastric issues. Riding on the back of a motorcycle because my knee was so inflamed, while the group of ten women I was traveling with hiked the mountains near Oaxaca, Mexico. Ughh!
So… I investigated. I talked to health experts – doctors, naturopaths, healers, nutrition experts, exercise gurus – and I made some changes in my life.

I changed how and what I eat and drink and how and when I exercise.

But I also realized that these changes, while indispensable, weren’t enough.

I needed to shift my mental paradigm around getting older.

This was pretty shocking to me because I had done tons of work around getting older with grace. My life has consistently improved. My 30’s were better than my 20’s and my 40’s were way better than my 30’s.
I have never felt better – more centered, at peace, and happy with my life – than I do at this point in my life.
I truly believe that getting older has brought me all that my heart desires.

And I know this from interviewing hundreds of amazing women in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – as long as we take care of our health and strive to live consciously, life just gets better and better.

So, what was the issue?
Here’s what I think it was: I turned 50 last year. And truth to tell, I felt pretty good about it. It wasn’t that big of a deal for me. It was actually an opportunity to take stock of my life (which is pretty awesome!) and dream of an even better decade to come.
But…. People around me kept making a big deal out of my turning 50.
“Wow! 50! How do you feel about that?”
“Mom, you’re ancient!”
“You know after 50 everything starts to break down. Well, really after 40 but especially after 50.”
“After I turned 50, I started to get ……. (fill in the blank with every ailment imaginable).”
I tried to not pay attention to all this negative commentary… but I’ve come to realize that it seeped in anyway.
I started to see myself as getting older. I started to think that maybe the body does break down after 50. I began to no longer think of myself as young and vital.
It was like I aged 10 years as I listened to these comments!
And I know the power of the mind!

I know that our mind plays a huge role in how we see ourselves and how well our body ages.

As soon as I realized what happened, I knew that it was imperative that I shift my mental paradigm around getting older.

Here’s what I did:

1. Erasing Ritual

The first thing I wanted to do was to erase the impact of all those negative comments I heard. I’ve always been fond of the Native American Ritual of Saging (burning dried sage sticks) to purify people and spaces. So, I lit up my Sage stick and set my intention to erase all the negative comments about aging which I heard. I then smudged myself (waved the sage stick all around me from head to toe), allowing the smoke to clear all the negative thoughts, beliefs and energy.

And now, whenever I hear somebody say anything negative about aging, I imagine that sage stick just smudging their words away. I remove them from my energy field, and I replace them with “I’m youthful, energetic and healthy”.

2. Empowerment practice

I envisioned all the women I know and remembered all the stories I heard about amazing women doing all kinds of incredible things in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond. Women over 50 I’ve interviewed who’ve.
Got in the best shape of their lives
Competed in triathlons
Biked 5,000 km across Canada
Traveled the world solo
Moved countries sight unseen
Started businesses and projects that changed the world
Found soul-shaking love
Had 50+ orgasms in a single session of lovemaking
Found a deep, rich connection to their spiritual life
If they could do it, so could I! So can any of us! Thinking about these women reminded me that it’s all in our minds

“Whether we think we can or we think we can’t. Either way, we’re completely right.” – Henry Ford.

3. Visualization

Every morning, I take a few minutes to imagine the future I want to create. I’ve been doing it for years (and it works! I’m now living the life I used to envision!) So, I decided to add another component to the visualization. I visualize myself happy, peaceful, energetic and with a zest for life. I envision myself hiking mountains, doing yoga, engrossed in my HIIT workout, playing rambunctiously with my grandchildren.
I imagine running into people who, when I proudly tell them my age, say, “You’re how old? I thought you were 20 years younger!” Notice, I didn’t say “look 20 years younger” because for me, it’s about feeling youthful, vibrant and zestful while having the benefit of all the wisdom that comes with living the years I’ve lived.

As I’ve done these practices, along with changing how and what I eat and drink and how and when I exercise, I find myself feeling amazing. I have way more energy and zest for life

My body has begun to feel the difference and reap the rewards. I’m in better shape than I’ve been in years and those aches and pains are just a memory.

I feel 10 years younger!

This past Sunday, I went on a three-hour hike in the mountains (up and down), and I felt terrific during and afterwards. I feel so blessed for my body’s ability to heal itself and to think ourselves youthful, vibrant and beautiful!

What about you? What do you tell yourself about aging? How’s it affecting your body?

I love connecting with you! Leave a comment below or send me an email at natalie@nataliematushenko.com.

Happy Tuesday!

 xoxo,

Natalie

 

P.S. Check out my FREE Wisdom Wednesday Series!

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2 Comments

  1. judy
    judy on March 9, 2021 at 20:32

    I am 71 and my friends tell me I look about 50.What is my secret?
    I am interested in things around me and always learning something new,enjoy music and dance at random,
    being grateful for all that I have and being happy for no reason,travel the world on my own.Having a loving husband
    certainly help

    Reply
    • Natalie Matushenko
      Natalie Matushenko on March 10, 2021 at 09:24

      Hi Judy! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes!!! That’s it exactly. Curiosity, interest, passion, zest for life… all add up to looking and feeling younger.

      Reply

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