Aging Like a Guru | The courage to change the things you can

— from Rosie Kuhn —

Through my group at the Senior Center here on Orcas, it has come to my attention that most individuals are aging with an addiction to thought patterns that actually create isolation, loneliness, hopelessness, and dis-ease. This is no different than those of us who become addicted to substances and behaviors that create isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness.

In all cases there is a fear of abandonment or rejection if one were to share their authentic experience of being human and going through this sometimes insane experience of existence. So, we learn to be secretive, to deny our true thoughts and feelings and continually use substances, behavior,s and thought patterns that, if only for moments at a time, alleviate suffering.

My client Pam is 68. She goes to doctors and medical appointments 2-4 times a week. And most of what she wants to talk about is her physical symptoms and how no one seems to know what to do to fix or heal these symptoms. On the inside Pam feels helpless, hopeless, and powerless; however, rather than allowing herself the truth of what she is experiencing and being with the discomfort of these feelings, she thinks and talks about her physical circumstances and goes to medical visits — even though none of that is truly empowering her to be well.

The symptoms of decline that we experience as we age are generally considered “normal” due to aging. It’s part of the paradigm of a system that is sickness-conscious, not health-conscious. Our whole “healthcare” system is dedicated to keeping people focused on what’s wrong, what’s not working, and that out there — somewhere — is the magic bullet, the magic pill that will bring about a miraculous cure.

Dr. Kelly A. Turner wrote a book called Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds (2014). In it she shares the findings of her research of thousands of individuals who’ve experienced what we think of as spontaneous healings or miraculous cures of cancer. Though these individuals used many different healing modalities, there were nine key factors that every single person included in their treatment plan. They are:

• Taking control of their health
• Following their intuition
• Using herbs and supplements
• Releasing suppressed emotions
• Increasing positive emotions
• Radically changing their diet
• Embracing social support
• Deepening their spiritual connecting
• Having strong reasons for living

Only two of these key factors are related to food, medicine, and supplements. The other seven key factors relate to empowering oneself to engage differently with themselves and their world, and to make choices that will alter their levels of self-respect, self-trust, and self-control. 

Instead of feeling disempowered by a disease and unquestioningly turning our power over to medical practitioners who have a very narrow view of what heals the body, we each have the capacity to empower ourselves to change the way we see ourselves and the world, as well as the way we engage with ourselves and the world. This is key to creating a life of well-being, regardless of our age and our physical conditions.

I believe that what Dr. Turner reveals about radical remissions related to cancer are necessary factors regarding the symptoms of any dis-ease and of aging itself. For instance, the negative thoughts and fears around aging creates dis-ease, which inevitably creates decline into decrepitude, perhaps sooner than is required.

Scientific research has shown over and over again that increasing positive emotions and increasing positive thoughts does create healing and well-being in our bodies. So why is this not part of every treatment plan for every person working with their health practitioners?

We may not be able to answer that question; however, that doesn’t stop us from creating a self-healing practice of our own, utilizing these nine key factors that Dr. Turner, practitioners, and scientific research so clearly articulate.

To age like a guru we need to attend to every aspect of our being — not just the physical being. We have access to tons of information that supports the utilization of these factors. So, to access that information is easy. To empower ourselves to practice these factors is totally up to us.

We each have the capacity to make choices that will bring about well-being. And as always, I encourage you to just get curious about what you are willing to shift or change in order to have the life you want as you age and change. It’s all up to you! How great is that? 

“Have a Great Day, Unless You’ve Made Other Plans!” (an AA Slogan) 

For more blogs, books, videos, or if you are interested in coaching or training with Dr. Rosie, check out her website:  www.theparadigmshifts.com. And her podcast can be found at aginglikeaguru.podbean.com. The book Aging Like a Guru – Who Me? and Dr. Rosie’s other books are available at Darvill’s Bookstore, the Cottage Gift Shop, and Amazon.