ThePeopleAlchemist Edit: The Fountain of Youth is a Life of Purpose - Be your best self - #SmashYourCeiling, change starts from within -Business & Lifestyle Experimentation for #TheWomanAlchemist

The Fountain of Youth: A Life of Purpose

Welcome back! Imagine eternal youth… Want it? Well, change starts from within! We have always looked at the possibility of eternal youth – and while science has found ways to extend life expectancy, living a life of purpose is entirely up to you! The retirement age used to be 65, but now, however, this no longer applies in the UK as we can go on living and working for a further twenty, thirty, or even forty more years. Showing us that age is no longer a yardstick for our capacity to add value. But is it really living if we are bed-ridden, comatose, or without any zest for life? I can’t imagine a life without laughter or helping others. I love having a sense of purpose! And, if this sounds familiar, it is because I mention all of this (and more) in my previous blog as vital components of resilience. As the series for this month is resilience, I want to expand on the benefits of resilience and the role that it plays in contributing towards a long and fulfilled life. Studies show that resilience increases your life span – but did you know that it does even more than that? Having a sense of purpose is a key component found in highly resilient people. Dan Buettner studied people, particularly those who were in good health despite being in their 80s, 90s, and even 100s. He found that having a reason to get up in the morning was a significant contributing factor towards enjoying a meaningful life.

Purpose

To #SmashYourCeiling, you must know exactly what your ceiling is and the role it plays in your life. Look back at the writing prompt that I posed to you before: “What is a woman’s place? And what’s YOUR place?” Additionally, I pose another to you: “What is a woman’s purpose? And what’s YOUR purpose?” By looking at both questions, first individually, and then together, you will get a better sense of what your life currently looks like, and what you want it to look like. Your vision for your future must exceed the boundaries of retirement, push past the barriers of stereotypical health, and fulfil you completely - leaving you not just with a sense of purpose, but with a road map towards a long and fulfilling life. Resilience is, in the language of psychology, the mythical ‘Fountain of Youth’. My advice to you: Drink deeply from this fountain, don’t just sip! Until next time x