1-30-16 Post: Listening to your inner wisdom.

Question/Comment: There are always people telling me what they think I should do even though I don’t ask their opinions. How can I tell people to mind their own business without being rude or hurting their feelings?

Response: I’m guessing that if people are offering their opinions, it is because they care about you. Could you politely let them know that you appreciate their caring and interest in you while also letting them know that you have your own way of making decisions and choices for yourself?

This is a matter of setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries in a loving and kind way. At the same time, you might ask yourself if you are listening to your inner wisdom and following through with appropriate action in your self care and in your decision making for your life. What ever the situation, it is imperative to listen to your inner guidance and then weigh options and information with intelligence and clarity.

No one knows what the right path is for another. We each have to determine what our talents and skills are as well as the most joyful way to apply and use them in life. What is a right path for one may not be a right path for another even if they have similar goals, talents and skills. We each are unique individuals with our own soul directed trajectory.

It is also important to know ourselves well so that we don’t make choices out of anger or revenge or fear or rebellion. Meditation or some other means of knowing yourself is very helpful in this process. Know who you are and the emotions motivating your choices and actions. 

If you take a course of action because it brings you joy, you are probably right on track for your personal path. If your dread your life or some aspect of it, you may be off track. Listen very deeply to your innermost self and at the same time treat others with love and respect. 

I am not advocating abandoning someone you have an obligation to: I think there is always a way to work out the situation to meet your needs and theirs. And, in a relationship between two adults who are together by choice, when one changes, the other has the option of allowing that choice and embracing the new. 

1-11-16 Post: When do I have to consider myself old?

Question/comment: Everywhere I turn I get messages that I’m old. I don’t feel old and I don’t appreciate others attempting to limit me by their beliefs in old age. Although, I must say, I do appreciate senior discounts.

Response: Something I learned from Dr. Wayne Dyer’s 2016 calendar: Never let an old person inhabit your body. How you think will definitely determine how you live your life. If you believe you can’t, you won’t even try. If you believe you can, more than likely you will. 

Will you do a thing at age 70 the same way you did it at age 30? Probably not. That doesn’t mean what you do is not as good; it is just different. Leave out the criticism and judgmental attitude. If you want to travel, travel. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to start a new business or a new relationship, start it. No one can limit you but you. 

Accepting assistance from others is not admitting inability to function independently. If someone offers you help, take it. Maybe their perception of you as old spurs them to make the offer but accepting their kindness does not make you old. By accepting the offer, you are simply allowing love to come to you. 

You can even make clear to the person, that you could manage on your own, but it is so delightful to receive such a kind gesture that you would never turn it down. Everything is in the interpretation. Appreciation is everything.

If you feel youthful, you will be. If you love yourself, feel gratitude and take the best possible care of yourself that you can (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically), then you will have a life of joy regardless of age. Let love, joy and kindness flow to you from you and others. Life can be more and more joyous the longer we live.

If your body has a difficulty it did not have at a younger age, love it even more. Take even better care of your body and be gentle with it. Don’t push and demand a performance from your body causing damage and pain. Lovingly appreciate your body for what it can do and focus on that.