Self-knowledge and acceptance are the keys to a harmonious transition to maturity
Rediscovering portraits and rereading diaries is a way to retrace phases of life. On a rainy Sunday, during a change of house or cycle, it is normal for that box to appear that takes us into the time tunnel. These documents are witnesses of who we were at different times. When we find them, we can review our history with the necessary distance of reflection.
This happened recently with publisher American Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and the Thrive Global portal. Almost seventy years old, in July 2023, he spends time with his daughters and sister in the family home in Los Angeles, and, while cleaning the garage, he comes across dozens of old diaries and notebooks, with pages full of i your 20s.
“As I reread half a century of notes, I’m struck by four things. First, how old I was when I knew what really mattered in life. Second, how bad I was at acting on that knowledge. Third, how all my worries and fears they were all-consuming. And fourth, how little those worries and fears ended up mattering,” he wrote on his LinkedIn, echoing the perception of many of us.
Learnings over time
Collecting the lessons learned from each phase of existence and recognizing aging as a gift is the great task of those who desire a long and productive life. “In every stage of life there is a seed of power that must be cultivated,” says transpersonal therapist Ana Fanelli. Nutritionist and Mindfulness and Mindful Eating instructor, Ana leads the retreat “Maturity and prosperity: growing old by reformulating who we are”.
The dives are guided by the seven-year theory of philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner. According to her, each seven-year cycle contains an invitation and an internal vibration, which can be compared to a planted seed. This will go through phases until it bears fruit, which contains a new seed. “Perceiving these cycles opens space for new possibilities for healing and transformation,” Ana emphasizes.
Spiral of wisdom
Every seven years, according to Steiner, there is a basic tone that shows the possibility of growth. To the two-day meeting Ana also brings an interpretation of the book “Cycles: Vibrant Energies That Affect Our Lives”, by Sara Marriott, in which each phase has a key word. From birth to 7 years, in the formation of the physical body, the verb is to breathe. Then, from 7am to 2pm, the word is possessing, thinking about emotional growth. From 2pm to 9pm, getting to know each other, it’s time for studies and concentration on the mental body.
And so on: from 9pm to 10pm. From 28 to 35, let go. “This is a transition point, when you realize that your family’s standards are not always yours,” Ana says. From 35 to 42 years old, the verb is to progress. From 42 to 49, refer. “Until then, it is normal to have immature, turbulent and restless relationships. This phase invites us to better deal with the universe of emotions.”
Arriving at maturity, from 49 to 56, the verb is to renew, in the sense of seeking new knowledge and roles. From 56 to 63, recognize. “What contribution will I leave?” Finally, from 63 to 70: reaching, glimpsing the meaning of life and strengthening its legacy. From 70 onwards, the following seven years invite transcendence. It’s time to contemplate, recognize limitations and, above all, be grateful.
Perspectives on Aging
OR aging it is associated with wisdom in almost all spiritual and philosophical traditions. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung explains: “If you want to live, you will have to fight and sacrifice your nostalgia for the past, to reach the height that is yours. And, when you reach the midday height, you will also have to sacrifice love for your own height, since it is not possible for him to stop. Even the Sun sacrifices its greatest strength to move forward, towards the fruits of autumn, which are seeds of rebirth”.
It is a shame that, in the Western world, maturity is not always seen with the dignity it deserves, much less with good humor and lightness. Aging is often treated as a disease to be avoided. It’s the call shame of age (ashamed of growing old).
“The problem is to think of aging as a countdown,” emphasizes Ana Fanelli. In the culture that pushes mature women towards invisibility, we must forget about comparison, stop considering this phase as a loss and count the advantages it brings. Among these, self-knowledge. “It’s turning the camera inward, acknowledging the internal world, and knowing that, in every moment, we can learn,” the therapist suggests.
Always take care of yourself
Finally someone saying something positive about it menopause. I talk to Dr. Julia Sahão, who specializes in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and she outlines a beautiful approach to the menstrual cycle and menopause. In the eyes of the Chinese, each organ has physical, emotional and spiritual significance. “The uterus is sacred, a symbol of fertility and creation, and has an energy channel to the heart,” she says.
In this view, menstruation is considered a detox. Every month there is an exchange of energy from the heart to the uterus. At the end of the reproductive phase the cycle reverses. Energy goes from uterus to the heart. “It is a phase in which the woman no longer needs to give herself to create a new life and she can direct this energy towards herself. An opportunity to develop self-mastery.”
Since it is not uncommon for some women to undergo removal of the uterus for health reasons, Dr. Julia explains that, even with the organ surgically removed, the acupuncture meridian remains present and the energy channel that passes through the The organ continues its journey. In other words, it follows us.
The kidneys also deserve attention. “At birth we receive ancestral energy, coming from our father and mother, which is stored in the kidneys. All excesses consume this energy and the reserve is emptied. Therefore, self-care for one’s health is essential from a young age, if we want healthy longevity.”
In integrative medicine, disease prevention comes first and longevity is linked to autonomy. The doctor cites the example of the entrepreneur Abílio Diniz, who died at the age of 87, while still working. “Health starts on horseback and returns on donkey,” he says, reinforcing the need for a healthy lifestyle at all stages.
Pillars for a good life
There are four pillars: Taking care of emotional health. “I have patients who eat organic food, but don’t talk to their father, for example. I recommend a family constellation.” Secondly, sleep hygiene. “The ideal would be to stay in bed between 10.30pm and 11pm, waking up at dawn. The ideal would be six to eight hours. Any excess creates imbalance”, she warns.
The third point is physical exercise which, for people over 50, must be understood bodybuilding. “Independence in old age will come from your muscles,” she emphasizes. And, in the fourth pillar, food. Without going into the types of diets, what matters is eating “real food”, in three basic meals, as fresh as possible, low in sugar and processed.
“I like the colorful dish. I suggest including complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, good fats, such as ghee and coconut oil, without forgetting antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, honey, pollen and spices, such as turmeric, cloves and cinnamon, which help prevent rust”, lists the doctor.
The courage to learn
As we build the thread of life from age seven, we understand that taking what we learn is a source of courage to adopt the attitude of an apprentice. “In maturity, as in childhood, everything is new. We are the ones who put the burden on. Let’s cultivate support networks, groups of friends, and let’s not get into the Gabriela syndrome, ‘I was born like this, I will always be like this'”, suggests Ana, evoking the song by Dorival Caymmi.
Reviewing old diaries and notebooks can be a good exercise, as Arianna did. “If we’re lucky and stay healthy, there’s no reason why we can’t continue to build and create,” says she, who, at 55, founded the Huffington Post and, at 66, Thrive Global, a company that provides technologies for behavior change. .
“When you don’t think of death as the end, growing old is a liberation. Maybe because there is less time in front of me than behind me, I don’t waste it on things that don’t matter,” he argues. After moving from a state of struggle to one of grace, the entrepreneur says she loves being 70. “Knowing what not to fear makes me feel more like myself than at any other time. Plus, I don’t miss the mystery of life.”
On this journey it is worth being guided by the question: “What does not age in us?” “Include and honor all that you have experienced. What matters is the being that we are. We came to this world to do a series of tasks to see if it reveals itself. Sometimes we miss a lesson, recovery stays, difficulties, but continues”, recalls Ana Fanelli.
Therefore, by honoring and respecting the cycles, we collaborate with our nature, allowing each phase to make us flourish.
By Rosane Queiroz – Vida Simples Magazine
He is a journalist and singer. Believe that it is possible to start anything at any stage.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
