"I know the best is yet to come!" Christiane Northrup, MD, age 65, women's health guru
"Really?! She seriously believes that??" Me, age 58, upon hearing her comment
Let me tell you, I was pretty shocked at myself. After all, I work with women over 50, helping them tap into their spiritual center-- the timeless, ageless, divine part of themselves-- and then live their lives from there. The rewards are tremendous: self-acceptance and self-kindness, curiosity and openness to the future, and a new claim of power and purpose. I love my life at 58 and imagine a rich and full life ahead of me!
So, really, why did Dr. Northrup’s statement trip me up?
I often share with clients that long-held assumptions seem true because we have believed them for so long. We accept them as fact. We don’t even know that they are there and the effect they have on the decisions we make in our lives.
When we identify and question these assumptions, we can let go of beliefs that
a) aren’t necessarily true, and b) no longer serve us.
So I asked myself, “What are some of my assumptions about my 60’s, 70’s and beyond?”
Here are three:
Assumption #1: Nothing can top being a hands-on mom and that part of my life is done. Hmmm, It’s true that the hands-on mom part of my life is done. But do I really know for sure that that is the best part of my life? No, I don’t. For example, I know grandmothers who say that grandmotherhood tops parenthood…
Assumption #2: My creaky knees will get creakier and will not let me do what I love. I love walking and hiking in nature; it is a big part of my spiritual practice because it centers me and fills me with gratitude.
Do I know for sure that my knees will stop me from doing what I love? Well, no. My knees have been creaky for a long time and they actually aren’t any worse than they were 10 years ago and creakiness hasn’t stopped me so far…
Assumption #3: Old age equals small life. I see my parents at 85 and 86 and worry that my life will become narrow like theirs.
Do I know this for sure? Well, first of all, I don’t even think they would necessarily consider their lives narrow. They seem pretty content. Second of all, I have absolutely no idea what my life will look like at 85.
So, back to Dr. Northrup’s statement, “I know the best is yet to come.”
Do I know for sure the best is yet to come? No.
Do I know for sure that the best is behind me? Absolutely not.
So why not live as though the best may very well be ahead of me? This thought adds lightness to my day. It increases my optimism. It lifts my energy. And in this frame of mind, I will look for ways to make it come true.
Here is my wish for you: May the best be yet to come in your life too.