1. Recharge Your Life and Renew Your Spirit
Kristina von Rosenvinge
“It takes courage to grow into who you really are” ee cummings
Have you ever felt that your life could use a recharge? Most
people have, especially by the time they enter their second half
of life. This is the time of life when we have a renewed
opportunity to figure out what gives meaning to our lives, decide
how we want to live our lives and then go about making it
happen.
The desire to keep evolving is a natural developmental stage
that every person experiences. It is especially strong when we
enter the second half of life. Unfortunately some people when
they hear that inner voice do not heed it. Instead, they
rationalize it away with their limiting belief system. We all know
people who settle for a life that is less than it could be.
Limiting beliefs are powerful because they seem so real. For
instance, how often have you heard the following: I am too old,
it is too late, at my age people are set in their ways, or this is
how life is so accept it. I believe that these rationalizations are
really a cover for not knowing how to create the desired
changes.
People know that they are capable of so much more but don’t
know the steps to create what they want. In order to grow in the
second half of life there are three necessary ingredients for
growing successfully.
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2. 1. Need for energy which is the energizing source for living
fully
2. Have a vision which gives purpose to living
3. Willingness to take action in order to be fully engaged with
life
Let’s start with the first one. Ask yourself: what gives you
energy? What makes you feel energized?
It is a fact that people as they get older find that their energy
level drops. Yet in order to enjoy life and perform well we have
to have energy. There are two ways of creating energy: physical
and emotional.
CREATE PHYSICAL ENERGY
Physical energy comes from how we use our bodies and what
we feed our bodies. Exercise is vital for creating energy.
Getting in the habit of engaging in regular exercise will do
wonders for a sense of well-being. Decide on what exercise
appeals to you because you are much more apt to stick with
something that you enjoy. It could be walking, bicycling, ball
room dancing, gardening, pilates, yoga, or any other form that
appeals to you. It is important to incorporate exercise as a
regular habit. When exercise is a routine part of your life you
will feel energized.
Another way of creating physical energy is by what we eat.
Learning which foods increase your energy level and which
deplete your energy is important. Knowing about nutrition and
then making the life style changes necessary are clear
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3. indications that you value your body. Additionally, getting ample
sleep and drinking enough water increases your energy level.
CREATE EMOTIONAL ENERGY
The second way of creating energy is emotional. Strengthening
emotional well being is a must for having a second half of life
that is satisfying. We know from studies that people with a
positive attitude about life are happier and healthier.
Appreciating the beauty of nature, getting joy from a bouquet of
flowers, enjoying people, seeing life as an opportunity are all
energizing ways of experiencing life. If there are habits that zap
energy like holding on to anger and stress this is the time to
learn healthier ways of dealing with these emotions.
Relationships can be energizing or toxic. Cultivate the ones
that empower you and let go or change those that limit you.
Remember that the way we deal with others is learned and
therefore can be unlearned. Making changes in this stage of
life is easier because people become more tolerant and willing
to stand up for themselves.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION?
Vision gives purpose to living. In the second half of life there is
a renewed search for meaning. You may find yourself asking:
What else is there for me? What do I still want for myself? What
dreams have I pushed aside because of demands of job and
daily obligations? How are my wants connected to my values?
When you connect your vision to your values you increase the
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4. likelihood that you will bring passion, perseverance, and
commitment to whatever you do.
TAKE ACTION
Action is what makes change possible. It is a fact that most
people use only a third of what they are capable of and
consequently never really know what is possible for them. In
addition to having a plan for creating energy and having
clarified a vision there needs to be a commitment to being fully
engaged in their life. To grow and make changes means
moving beyond one’s comfort zone.
STEP ONE
It is best to start with small steps. It is through the act of doing
that you will find yourself moving forward. By having a vision of
what you want for yourself each little step is a building block
that moves you towards what you want for yourself.
Learn to hold the vision before you as a goal for what you think
is possible for you. Hold it loosely because as you move toward
it you may find that it may develop in ways that you could not
even envision. Structure your exercise, cultivate a positive
attitude, and have specific task steps that move you towards
what you want for yourself. Dreams alone are not sufficient you
have to translate your vision into action.
All great masters are distinguished by the power of adding a
second, a third and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line.
Many a man has taken the first step. With every additional step
you enhance immensely the value of your first.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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5. RECHARGE YOUR LIFE
The second half of life can be a vibrant energizing time of life.
There may be health and economic obstacles on the path but
even then a positive attitude and a growth mindset will make a
big difference.
All of us, at various times in our life, need to recharge our life
and renew our spirit. This is especially true throughout the
second half of life. It is a time for bringing forth who we are
meant to be, loving who we are, and appreciating the joy of
being alive.
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