Conditioning

My mother told me the secret to aging many years ago.

"You will get older, " she stated, "but you won't ever feel older."

Generally, I believe this to be true but context and perspective are everything.

What I believe most is, as we progress through life, the way we each encounter and respond to all of her nuances and complexities, ultimately comes down to how we are conditioned.

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I make plenty jokes about myself being an old woman. So much so, it drives my older brother crazy. He starts chastising me, every time, about how we have the ability to speak life or death into our situations. And, although I think I am joking, it's been my experience that what you speak into the universe generally comes to be. It's a manifestation of mindset.

There are times I feel just as I've been thinking -- miserably. Then, there are times I feel as energetic as a kid -- unable to pinpoint where I've found the energy to finish something. Since I started practicing yoga, I've learned to have more control over my physical body, my mind, and my breathing . I've learned to create space -- space within myself, and externally; to grow. I'm less reactive; calmer, even. I am more flexible -- physically and mentally. I am more agile -- I have better balance and dexterity. I've learned to better protect my space.

This has a trickle down effect.

I reassess and reaffirm my value daily. And, because I find myself valuable, I treat myself better. I make better eating choices, I get more exercise, I make room for more laughter, more joy, and I begin to minimize the space I allow for defeated thinking and speaking in my life. And, as expected, when you change the way you think and speak, you change the way you behave. It's crazy to remember myself, literally, falling down flights of stairs at 26 but, now I'm running up them with grace at 31.

I was still a novice to the hardships of life in my early to mid 20s. There was a lot of chaos and I hadn't quite established the core strength - faith, family, and solid friendships that I needed to support myself back then. Experiencing life, really experiencing life -- all the losses, pain, and grief -- can build up your faith and endurance, if you will allow it. Growing pains hurt.

My God! That is an understatement! Growing pains (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.) can be downright catastrophic! But, when we look back on the events of our lives, most of us can see some development. Some progress. Some growth. That is conditioning. It's preparation for all that is to come, equipped with the victories, experiences, and lessons you've already faced.

We will grow older; that part is inevitable. But, how we respond to the aging process, and the experiences and life lessons that come with it, ultimately determines how we feel and how quickly we physically deteriorate. This is how it is possible to have friends declaring game-over at 31 and still see someone physically and mentally chasing their dreams at the age of 75.

It's all about conditioning.

You will only reach as many goals as you allow yourself to accomplish. You will only go as far as you allow yourself to travel. And, so, you will only ever feel as young or old as you allow yourself to feel.

It is my prayer that you allow yourself to live in whichever season of vitality currently suits you best.

-Asha