Estimated Reading Time: 10 Mins
Introduction
The idea of change, after years of growing accustomed to a certain way of living, can be daunting.
Unfortunately, countless people become afraid to step beyond this comfort zone.
They fail to recognise a fundamental truth — age should never determine what someone can accomplish.
Whether you have 15 or 50 years left, which we can never know for certain, the fact remains: you can do something you’ve never done and change your experience of life at any point.
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The Cycle of Physical & Mental Care
So, let’s start with a question.
What does ‘being old’ really mean?
Thanks to the advances in medicine, humanity is living longer on average than ever before.
What we must consider is that it’s not the age you are that matters, but the age you feel.
This article by Women of Faith explores this particular concept perfectly.
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Have you ever met someone and assumed their age, only to be shocked to discover your assumption was completely off — for better or worse.
What I’m saying is, looks can be deceiving, but at the same time, how you feel can greatly influence how you look.
The mental state of our brain and the brain of our stomachs have greater impact than we often realise.
Let me explain.
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How you think or what you think consistently, can influence your overall wellbeing.
In turn, your wellbeing can also manifest in your physical health.
Similarly, what we eat can impact our physical health, which in turn affects our mental wellbeing.
For example, our mood can influence our appetite, while our diet can affect our mood.
What I’m explaining is that both compliment and influence each other — and together, they can shape how we approach and experience life.
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We must think well and eat well to live well — and physical activity should never be overlooked.
Doing so can improve our wellbeing, not only increasing longevity but also enhancing our outlook and enthusiasm — essential ingredients for meaningful growth.
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We feel more vibrant, optimistic, and fulfilled when our state of being is balanced — mind, body, and soul.
When I was extremely inactive and living an unhealthy lifestyle, for a 26-year-old, I felt physically closer to what many might associate with ‘old age’.
It’s now been well over ten years since then, and although I’m closer to 40 at the time of writing, I feel — and somewhat ironically, look closer to 26.
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My point is that age itself doesn’t matter.
What truly determines your quality of life is the state of your mind, body, and overall wellbeing — shaping how you feel most of the time.
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State of Being & Life Elevation
If we commit to elevating our mental and physical state, we can become unstoppable — regardless of age.
When we feel stronger — with greater stamina, self-confidence, and a sense of mental calm and emotional balance, it becomes easier to pursue our ambitions with intention.
More importantly, it becomes easier to remain consistent, which increases our ability to achieve our life goals.
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Another question.
If age weren’t a factor, and money was no concern, what would you like to be doing with your life right now?
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The reason I place such emphasis on mental and physical wellbeing is because the state we’re in forms the foundation of our ‘ability-capacity’.
The more capable we become, the more we can achieve in life.
At our core we become more grounded and robust — and mentally, we’re less susceptible to the ever-changing external conditions of life.
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Investing in our holistic health can transform our lives because it transforms us — for the better.
It will aid us in reshaping our patterns of perception, and once we rise above the mental constraints of fear and doubt, anything becomes possible.
The way we view ourselves becomes more fortified, and our belief in what we feel is possible gradually strengthens.
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We must never feel bound by the expectations or judgements of the world around us.
It’s our opinion of ourselves that matter most — after God’s.
The world may view our dreams and ambitions as delusional or unrealistic, especially when age is seen as a limiting factor.
But when we go on to achieve our goals, the same thing is often praised as ingenuity.
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So no — age doesn’t matter.
Rather, it’s the state of your being that matters more.
So whatever your response was to my earlier question, that is what you should begin pursuing.
We get one opportunity at life — there are no retakes, repeats, or playbacks.
This is our one chance to make it count.
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Acting Now, Not Later
All the external noise we tend to fear will one day be gone — and none of it will have mattered.
We must not restrict ourselves because of social norms or expectations.
We have one opportunity to do what we feel we’re meant to.
One chance — first and final, to turn our aspirations into reality.
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Our age may, at most, only put us at a slight disadvantage — and even then, it’s nothing we can’t overcome.
Don’t forget that many successful individuals have risen from far more disadvantaged backgrounds — often under more extreme circumstances.
Ultimately, age is never reason enough to limit your development, goals, or growth.
When you decide to pursue a better path, regardless of how that journey unfolds, you’ll likely only wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
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Choose Your Hard
Making meaningful changes to my life has been one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, things I’ve ever decided to do.
Not because the changes themselves were impossible, but because I was becoming aware that this was a life I was choosing — permanently.
After years of clinging to my comfort zone, I chose to abandon what I had always done and start again.
The real challenge was adjusting to make what once felt uncomfortable my new normal.
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I was choosing consistency, I was choosing discipline.
I was choosing to ignore negative emotions and the opinions of people — and to do it again and again.
As challenging as the process was, life has never been the same.
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Life will be hard whether we choose to act or not.
It’s far better to go through it capable and equipped, so it happens for you, not to you.
By doing so, we develop a deeper sense of self-respect and admiration for who we become.
What we once saw as our comfort zone becomes unrecognisable — in the best way.
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It’s difficult to imagine how we may elevate from our current position, but if you commit to meaningful growth, you’ll soon question how you stayed there for so long.
By working on ourselves, we build a solid foundation from which we can more easily pursue our dreams.
The skills and character we develop in the process will positively influence all areas of our lives.
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Summary
As you venture into unchartered waters, I encourage you not to give up at the first sign of discomfort or failure.
Value your time, direct your intent, and if you fail — which is perfectly normal, remain resilient.
Most importantly, your age should never discourage you from what you’ve set out to do.
Instead, view it as a guide — reminding you of the time you have to make things happen which should serve to help you plan monthly goals with purpose.
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You can achieve everything you’ve set out to do, regardless of your age — because what you think matters more.
Our opportunity to excel never ends until life itself does.
Until then, there’s always room for growth, if were willing to embrace it.
Never let your age be a hindrance — because it really is, just a number.
For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16: 7 (b)
