Written by Tanya Tsikkos, CEO
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewelry designer who promotes mental health and well-being. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewelry creations and empowering messages.
Keep thriving into every stage of your life, accepting change, and rewarding yourself with a positive balance between vigour and wisdom.
Who says that growing older means you must lose your youth?! Wrong! You most definitely can grow into the next phase of your life and still bring along your inner child for the ride.
I am going to step into my older self gracefully and bow out of my younger years with appreciation and gratitude for the lessons learned and the wisdom gained. But I will always bring that youthful playfulness and childlike awe into every chapter of my life, because she (my inner child) should see and experience the wonder of things to come too.
For a short while now, I have felt quite scared at the prospect of getting older. Yes, you heard me right, I’m scared. There, I’ve said it!
I have progressively thought of older age as a bad thing, leading to the introduction of the invisibility cloak I’d have to start wearing, because as we have all been led to believe over the years, through media and whatnot, we start to disappear into the background and are not as useful or as needed as we once were (once upon a time when we were young).
I’m not the only one to think this way most likely, although with the changing times, I am happy to say that older age is now becoming more recognised as an asset and a joy to look forward to. Hey, they might be baby steps, but we are all heading in the right direction!
Try these simple tips to help you to continue to thrive, for years to come:
Observe your value
Start realising your worth and all that you really do have to offer, to yourself as well as to others. Your contribution to the world is so huge. Recognise your qualities and use them to your advantage. Many people don’t make it as far as you have, so that in itself is worth celebrating for a start.
Imagine for a moment that life is one gigantic pie; each one of us is a special ingredient that gets mixed in, and we are all a special piece of that pie. The perfect pie of life (have you guessed yet that I’m a bit of a foodaholic?!).
Think of the things you have experienced, the lives you have touched, the lessons you have learned and will still learn.
Keep being interested in your unique self and all that you bring to the table of life. Never underestimate your worth as a human being and be proud of the energy you provide.
Gracefully keep your spirit alive
Be inquisitive and seek out wondrous new things that will spark the flames within. You could take up salsa dancing, (just for the heck of it – great exercise too!), maybe you’d like to be extra adventurous and take yourself away on a mini break, (see new places, and feel new experiences), or perhaps you could lend a hand within your community, (volunteering for a cause you are passionate about and want to share your skills in). Consider the ways in which you could do something meaningful and enjoyable, as that is the very essence of living your best life.
Something I’m quite interested in myself, and would like to explore again, is bicycle riding. As a teenager, I remember I used to love riding my mountain bike around my neighbourhood and in my local park. There was something so exhilarating about pedalling along the street, with the wind coursing through my hair, making my fresh-faced skin vibrant, and giving me a feeling of buoyancy in spirit.
Stay mentally and physically active
We all know the importance of eating and drinking well, sleeping well, and exercising well. It goes without saying that moving regularly and giving your body healthy nourishment will keep you in tip top condition. Self-care is always vital, but especially so the older you get. A common phrase is that ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it.’ And that will most definitely never do. Not on my watch anyway!
Make it a habit to exercise your body every day (even walking for a little while is good at keeping the engine oiled, so to speak), as well as eating healthy meals and keeping yourself regularly hydrated (and I’m not talking about guzzling down copious glasses of Pernod here. Although I'm not averse to a drop or two). And don’t forget to factor in a good amount of sleep hours into your routine as they don’t call it ‘beauty sleep’ for nothing.
On top of all that, it’s always a good idea to keep your mind working well. Challenge the brain regularly with some mental activities, in the form of crosswords or puzzles, cooking recipes, new games or sports, or even learning a new language. Keep mentally thriving and let those neural pathways fire on all cylinders.
Maintain connection
Some of us are very sociable creatures. Others not so much. Whichever way you sway, there’s always room for staying connected. A social butterfly for example can find ways of making new friends and being part of the community. Think about new classes or support groups to join. You could get together with a like-minded neighbour and enjoy new activities together.
And for those who are not looking for meaningful connections but would like the odd dip into social situations, then there’s nothing to stop you from making the effort to stop for a chat with a stranger, (maybe while you are waiting in line for your Grande Caramel Macchiato at your local coffee shop, or as you stand at the platform ready to board your train into work).
And if you are lucky enough to have a good mix of friends and family that you would like to continue and improve relationships with, then now is the time to keep those connections fresh and vibrant. Try to stay in touch regularly and keep the relationships thriving.
Live your moments
This must be the most basic key to happiness. The moment is all we know. Immerse yourself in it every time. The past has been lived, the future we know nothing about yet, but the moment we are in now is our current experience. So why do most of us miss it?!
It’s true, sometimes our minds run away with us, worrying about things that may never happen, or ruminating over things that already have. It can be difficult to be present, with stress and anxiety beating us up all the time. But, when you become aware of these unhelpful thought patterns, try packing them away for another time and bring yourself back to the moment you are in now.
Practice being aware of your moments as you are in them. Really take on board how you are feeling and be grateful for the time spent with yourself or loved ones in that moment. Let your senses deeply experience it all right now.
Keep prioritising the now and enjoy what you have. Acknowledge how precious time is and use that to make your moments explode with joy!
Keep up to date
With technology evolving faster than the speed of light, some of us can feel as though we’ve been left behind, and that we are older than our years. Encourage yourself to keep updated with the tech world, without letting it completely control your life and impact you negatively.
Technology does shape the world we live in, but we should also learn to switch off regularly. If we balance it well, there’s no reason we can’t use it to our benefit, helping us to feel like we are embracing change and pleasantly moving forward in life.
Adapting to the world and learning new things keeps our brains hot-wired, and our souls satiated. Keep that childlike curiosity about all new things happening and allow yourself healthy time and space to explore it.
Try that new app, let your nieces and nephews show you how to play that new game that’s been circulating for a while, be interested in discovering new gadgets and what they can do. In whatever form it appears, there’s no harm in looking. Just be sure to step away from it from time to time and give yourself sufficient respite. Don’t be bound to it but let yourself explore it regularly so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or helpless by it.
Fill your days with wholesomeness
Put energy into the things that promote your health and well-being. It could be daily nature walks that entice you and make you feel good, or maybe you are the arty type and prefer to spend time crafting. Perhaps you like to practise gentle yoga exercises that fill you up with the endorphins that keep you going, or it could be that you enjoy the world of literature and cannot beat a read of a good book whilst sipping on a wholesome cup of herbal tea.
Consider the things that never fail to produce the feel-good factor in your life and keep doing them. Let them fill you up with pure goodness and bask in the comfort they bring you.
Living life this way and giving yourself the simple pleasures you desire creates the joyful essence to your continued journey of life.
Choose your emotions
Some of us still can’t get our heads around the fact that we have choices. We can decide how we want to think, feel, and behave. I know it can be hard sometimes, especially when our emotions naturally seem to get the better of us at times. But when we can accept and let go of the need to hold on to our negative emotions and learn how to use them to better understand ourselves instead, that’s when we can begin to feel better about the life that we are living and how it can serve us best.
I often let my emotions take over, and I have to stop myself by asking myself if it’s worth sacrificing my happiness today for an emotion that leaves me fearful of something that may or may not happen in the future, or for some feeling that has resurfaced from the past that has already been lain dead and buried as it should be. The answer is always a resounding no! Why put your current moment in jeopardy like that?!
The power lies within you and only you can determine the way you want to live. Really think about what matters the most to you and choose your emotions well to get the best out of your day-to-day life.
Engage with your purpose
Ask yourself what your basic reason for living is. What do you feel is most important to you? Do you want to help others, and be the reason that people feel good? That might mean that you join a positive community, volunteering your support and skills for the greater good. Maybe you’d like to travel more and experience diverse cultures. Perhaps you want to explore new creative hobbies or think about starting your own small business.
Consider the things that will nourish your soul and ignite your passions. Give your life direction and unlock fulfilment from your core.
Finding a meaningful purpose in life is the very thing that energises you and lights you up from the inside. It’s something only you can create for yourself, so remember to take your values into consideration and really think about the things you can do that will make your life journey more joyous.
Approach every chapter of your life with gratitude, acceptance, forgiveness, and self-love. A positive attitude will always steer you well.
Never fight change. Instead learn to embrace it and allow it to show you what is possible.
Wear your age as a badge of honour and keep bounding towards it with a smile and with grace!
For more empowerment and inspiration, join my mailing list! Subscribe to my website for free and find out more tips on Tanya's blogs
Tanya Tsikkos, CEO
Tanya Tsikkos is an innovative jewellery designer who promotes mental health and wellbeing. COVID-19 left her with emotional challenges, and she found a way to cope and to improve her mental health with her jewellery creations and empowering messages. She has since dedicated her life to helping others to always feel good and empowered . She is the CEO of EntityUK, an online fashion jewellery company, that combines jewellery with empowerment in each design. Her mission: To inspire, uplift and empower all, to live their best lives, with confidence and style!
