Conscious Growth.

“Our old skin will become too constricting, too unhealthy, too rigid to support a being who is growing.  So, conscious eldering requires us to become conscious of and to release those aspects of ourselves that, if we hold on to them, will constrict our energy and won’t serve us moving forward.  This includes attitudes, beliefs, attachments to ways of identifying ourselves, stories about who we are, resentments, regrets, and habits.   Equally important, the path of conscious eldering calls us to become conscious of qualities, attitudes, beliefs, gifts and wisdom that are truly our strengths and that can form the foundation for the new beginnings ahead of us.”—Ron Pevny

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview Ron Pevney, author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging, for the Aging Well Podcast. It was actually more of a conversation than an interview. It was a reminder of the power of Purpose—of the importance of Purpose in the pursuit of well-centered fitness. Purpose is the center of well-centered fitness. Growth with Purpose is essential to living well.

When I speak of longevity and health, I often list five, now six pillars or essential lifestyle considerations. These are exercise and physical activity, healthy diet, healthy body composition, sleep hygiene, not smoking, and social connection. I tend to leave it implied that our social connections should be healthy relationships (i.e., spending time with people who foster our Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social growth and well-being). After my conversation with Ron, I realize that I have been omitting a key dimension to social connection, as well as the other pillars of health and longevity—PURPOSE. Purpose (capital ‘P’) gives meaning and motivation to all that we do. This is “conscious growth.”

“It is the belief that our lives, our part in the whole of things, truly matters. Having a profound sense of who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going, we choose to believe that mattering matters. It is thus a mindset—a choice.”—Richard Leider

We are often overly focused on the “what” in life. We forget the “why.” Moreover, we shy away from the “why not.”

Purpose in life is less of a pursuit and more of an intention. It is a choice—a choice that the Universe intends for us. Purpose drives us to….

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!