Hiya Gorgeous,
Last time I saw Christiane Northrup, MD on stage at an I Can Do It! event, I knew I had to share her most recent work in shifting our perspective on aging with you. One thing that came to mind when I saw her speak was just how fun and free this great woman is. She embodies being herself and loving every inch of her bad-ass awesomeness. If that’s what growing older like a glorious goddess is all about, count me in!
Dr. Northrup is board-certified ob/gyn and the author of countless New York Times best selling books that have changed the landscape of women’s health. Most recently, Goddesses Never Age was released into the world showing readers how to embrace aging just like she has—this woman walks the talk! She’s funny, hot and feisty. She’s also an incredible Tango dancer who lives for pleasure. When I grow up I want to be Chris. 🙂
I know that many of you will resonate with her empowering vision—she’s showing us all how to strip away the stigma of the stereotypical old lady and replace her with a glowing, vibrant, thriving goddess. You don’t want to miss the wisdom and tips she has in store for you today. Whether you’re a twenty-something or a sixty-something, Christiane’s approach will revolutionize the way you view your age with each day that passes.
Take it away, Dr. Northrup!
Thanks, Kris! When it comes to aging, our culture’s paradigm is starting to shift. One reason for this shift is that people are starting to understand that the terms “growing older” and “aging” are not synonymous. Aging, like I mention below, shows on the outside of the body long after it begins on the inside, and is associated with deterioration, decrepitude, and decline. How you grow older is entirely up to you. That’s the shift!
If you’re reading this, my guess is that you want to grow older with gusto, not deteriorate. Trust me when I say you are not destined to have to battle with your body, trying to get it to behave. You can get off the road that leads to illness, frailty, and a reduced quality of life. With a little courage—and a look at your underlying beliefs about growing older—you can have a life that’s rich in relationships, health, social connections, and everything your heart desires, regardless of your chronological age.
It’s never too early to become an Ageless Goddess—someone who embraces ageless living. At our core, we are eternal beings.
Here are 5 tips for becoming the Ageless Goddess you were meant to be:
Tip 1: Reframe the term aging. As I mentioned, aging is generally used to describe the process of deterioration and decline—a process that is not inevitable. As Dr. Mario Martinez says, “Growing older is inevitable, aging is optional.” Pay attention to the words you use when you speak about growing older and the meaning you give those words.
Tip 2: Update your beliefs. Your beliefs are far stronger than your genes. What are your beliefs about getting older? Do they include the belief that at a certain age good things stop and bad things begin? For example, do you believe that after 40 it’s all downhill or all the good men are already taken or you can’t have great sex after age 50? Until you bring these beliefs to consciousness, they can adversely affect your biology. Like a stealth program, you aren’t even aware of them, and yet they play a huge role in your health.
Tip 3: Age Proof Yourself NOW! The physical effects that we cumulatively call “aging” begin early. And most of them can be prevented by lifestyle choices. In fact, what we refer to as “aging,” actually begins in childhood. For example, the famous Bogalusa Heart Study found evidence of heart disease in the arteries of children. Loss of muscle mass begins as early as one’s 20’s, if you sit all day. It’s never too late to upgrade your diet and exercise choices, and still have a positive effect on your health.
Tip 4: Stop trash talking about age. And stop blaming your health problems on your age. Your body believes every word you say. Again, notice your language about age. And step out of any negative patterns. I once went to a hairdresser who thought her life was over because she was about to turn 30. I suggest that 21 be your last “milestone” birthday. If you don’t tell your body your age, it won’t know.
Tip 5: Resolve to get younger next year. There is a huge difference between biologic (the age of your cells) and chronologic age (the age on your driver’s license). By implementing lifestyle improvements, you can quite literally reverse the clock and grow biologically younger.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your sense of humor Kris. I’m having to adjust to getting older and this book is one I will add to my Library. ” The road is long with many a winding turns to who knows where,who know where”
Hi Cindy….it’s not as difficult as your message implies. I’ve turned 70, have been widowed and had to decide whether “life was over for me”….it is NOT. I contradicted my wrinkles with a home-made coconut-and-vitamin-E- cream….AND IT WORKS!!! I use it from my hair to my toes and have never had a silkier skin in all my life. I have recently met a man with whom I have a wonderful relationship….and love is as exciting as it was at 16, at 25, at 35, at 40….ecc…..and sex too.
Remember, the saying “you’re as old as you feel” is true! So don’t sit and despair…it’s time you cuddle and love yourself. Do things that make you feel good…..rediscover the enthusiasm you had when the years were less…..
Love your perspective & your energy, Angie! Thanks so much for sharing. xo
Would love to know how you make this cream. I believe you!
Thank you so much Kris & Dr. Christine and the Beautiful & Wisdom Women Here! I haven’t felt beautiful or young even when I was for a whole host of ridiculous reasons but reading this blog reminded me that it’s not too late. Angie, I could kiss you Muah!!! I am an Ageless Goddess and from this moment forward I Live Agelessly!!! My tip I will be 51 in 3 weeks and even though I’m carrying 100 extra lbs people say I look 10-12 years younger (even my thirty year old daughter) I attribute it to the Power of Kale & Avocados. I eat them salads, sauteed, juice and/or drink them in smoothies 3x a week or more. Can’t get enough of Kale or Avocados.
bravo! great attitude and response!
I am 64, & enrolled in a teacher training, Color of Woman, a movement to empower women through art, Id their stories, change what’s running us! This dovetails so beautifully with Dr Northrop’s message!
I also love dance! … Tango, yes!!
Perfect post! This is totally what I am about. We definitely do not have to become frail and weak! Aging healthy and strong is as much about attitude as anything, and radical is the way to go! Keep RAging! Thanks for sharing, Kris!
Love this super inspiring interview!
Being part of a very “traditional family”, I am often reminded how old I am getting and that – at my age – I should start thinking about having kids, getting married, etc. This has had a huge place in my mind recently…
But I know you can create the life you really want and that there is no rule!
From today, I am going to grow younger every single day 😉
<3
Paulinw
Thanks for that! This is a very important article and issue. I suffer from chronic depression and because my condition has eaten away so many years of my life, I’m having trouble moving on and just starting where I’m at…a typical case of “too-lateism”, I guess. Plus, I’m turning 35 in 6 months…haven’t finished my degree, my marriage is falling apart and driving me crazy, I haven’t got a high paying job, and I have a lot autoimmune symptoms related to long-therm depression….These tips are very useful but I still can’t seem to get rid of that age anxiety and panic…I think it’s also supremely important to surround yourself with people who can think outside of the box about age, success, procreation….
Hi Jo, Thank you so much for sharing your experience—you’re not alone and it’s not too late! I love what you said about surrounding yourself with positive people. So true! xo, kc
Hi Jo, I am an anxiety and depression survivor. I continue to educate myself as a way to better understand the nature of these states of dis-ease within the body. I am certified to teach Hatha yoga, but really this is a gift for me. I learned to watch the messaging in my mind about myself and what I was feeling when I felt anxious. This helped tremendously, so that I could challenge these thoughts.
The next thing that really helped me was understanding that, that feeling of ADD is really a concentration difficulty as a result of anxiety. That difficulty in making decisions that made me feel stupid, was from the depression. Once I understood some of these things, I changed what I thought and kept cards around with positive affirmations.
The last thing I highly recommend is meditation. Your body can only operate in either the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight – always on during anxiety) or the parasympathetic nervous system –
(the cool, calm and collected REAL you). To get to feeling relaxed and have more mental clarity, meditation will help and has a cumulative effect, so doing it even 10 mins, twice a day, will create a natural resistance to becoming anxious and stressed, the very things that lead to depression and anxiety.
I know that this may sound hokey, but there are a lot of ways to meditate, I highly recommend, if you can, to find a yoga studio near by or there are a lot of great books that teach wonderful methods. You can choose what is right for you. I wish you a lot of luck!
Warmly,
Holly
Holly (and Jo), I’m an anxiety survivor, too, and I couldn’t agree more about meditation! I lived a life of high anxiety until I began meditating in my 50’s. Now, I’m the one comforting others on the plane when there’s turbulence, and walking down the streets of NYC unfazed by the craziness. I’m 62 and I love my life. Kris and Dr. Northrup – what a great combo! Thanks for the wisdom. XOXO
Holly,
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I was recently diagnosed with ADD and high anxiety. I know it has caused many health and mental issues for me that I struggle to work through consistently, and I am sure it is playing a part in my difficultly to lose weight. Especially baby weight around my tummy. I’ve heard stress causes cortisol production to keep fat around the stomach area it something like that. I’m working with a counselor to create anode realistic rhythm for my day so that I have time to practice deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. Anyway, I appreciate your encouraging words and knowing that there is hope for change. I’m only 31 and I want to find my turning point soon so that I can live vibrantly for myself and to better love my sweet family.
XO
Jess
Thanks for another wonderful post Kris! As always, you deliver a message right when I need to hear it. I’m going to work on my language about my age immediately!
xo
xo!
Kris,
You and Christiane make a dynamic duo! Your messages are so powerful. My personal secret is to question “Authority.” Rarely does the media give us stories of people living vibrant lives beyond age 30. There is no road map about what comes next. You two are among my favorite inspired and inspiring resources for drawing my own map of health, vitality and relevance!
Marian
Thank you so much, Mirian. And I love your personal secret. 🙂 xo, kc
Hi Kris– how FUN to see myself here on your page– alongside that rocking TRUCK!! Today is the day the book BIRTHS itself into the world. And it’s one of those orgasmic births that I have LONG been wanting to experience.!!! Wahoo. Thanks for being such a fantastic midwife!!!
Going to get the book today. You are a total bad ass and one of my idols after hearing your IIN lecture .
It’s an honor having you here. I love sharing your message with my Crazy Sexy Family. Congrats on your amazing book launching into the world! xo
Thank you Kris, and Dr. Northrup for this very positive article. At age 35, after having two children in close succession, I discovered I have Celiac Disease. My low/non-fat diet and chronic cardio lifestyle caught up with me — I was tired and sick!
So for the past 7 years I’ve been to a plant-heavy, Paleo-style diet (heavy on the good fats, etc.) and incorporated much more functional movement and body-weight exercises…. This took time, but little by little I got rid of all the bread, pasta, bagels, pretzels, non-fat cookies, etc. and those empty calories!
Wow, the change has been dramatic. I feel younger, lighter, more flexible + strong than I did in my 20s. I’m the energizer-bunny Mom in the playground, chasing my boys up the slide and playing tag with them and their friends.
Now I’m working on moving out old blocks and emotional baggage to clean out those dusty closets too 🙂
I agree with Dr. Northrup – you’re definitely only as “old” as you choose to be!
Love hearing about your success! Wishing you the very best. xo, kc
At 64, I’ve been off gluten 5 1/2 years, since my daughter had the DNA testing, and their family went off! Don’t miss 30+ #, brain fog, heart “flutters!”
I also eat good fat/ Lots of local OG veggies & local meat. Am so glad that has helped you as well!
Two words – Bikram yoga. 🙂
Kris, thank you for all that you do for women and some men around the world. I love the tips on Aging and ask that you check out the new Nrf2 technology that has been unleashed on the world. Although it is fairly new, the evidence that Making your own anti oxidants is far more powerful and effective than simply taking antioxidants…On top of eating right, exercising, we now have the ability and where with all, to protect our cells from Oxidative Stress and free radical damage at a rate of 40% in just 30 days. Clinical studies on http://www.pubmed.gov have proven this.
I am not sure if this is the vehicle in which to share this information, but the health benefits for everyone, dogs included are too important to keep quiet. Again, thank you for all you do and all the women you represent!!
I’m 70 and probably more fit, certainly more active, than I was at 40. Love walking, bicycling, yoga and have created a huge group of friends to enjoy life with. Granted, I’m very fortunate to have a fantastic, long-term marriage and wonderful, small family. But I believe that we each choose our level of joy and we can all develop what we need for positive living. I don’t think much about aging; people often believe I’m younger than I am. Life is very good.
You’re an inspiration, Marj!. xo, kc
Hi Kris! I have been a fan of Dr. Northrup for ages and she is amazing!!! Age is JUST a NUMBER and I wholeheartedly believe that like wine we definitely get better with age!!!
BTW, sex gets better 50+!!!! Trust me! 🙂
Ha! Love it, Colleen! Right on. xo, kc
I’m only 23 years old and have a lot of life to live, but even at this age I can appreciate the knowledge and lessons I have learned. I’m already starting to tell kids and college students my own life lessons when I was their age! What I look forward to in my future years are more life lessons and important life moments like purchasing my first home and my wedding day.
Beautiful. Love your outlook, Megan. xo, kc
Thank you Kris, for sharing Christine’s wisdom. I would like to share with whoever might be interested, that I have been able to reverse my perceived age thru Jenny Carr’s wellness Transformation program. She is an anti inflammatory nutritional health coach. My friends and family tell me I look ten years younger and I feel it! I am biologically 65, but look 55 and feel 45! It’s all about “elegant” thinking and eating whole unprocessed foods…..just like you and Christine tell us. Thank you for your work and dedication!
Wow, this timing is amazing. I am a student at IIN and just listened to Dr. Northrup’s lecture, which was one of my very favorites. LOVE all these tips. Can’t thank you enough.
Kris, after meeting your mother, I would say she is also a good example of maturing gracefully.
Oh my goodness, how I LOVE this post! I’m definitely smack dab in the middle of my own perimenapausal, earth-shifting-beneath-my-feet phase of life and here’s the path I find myself on…
I’m 41, my oldest son graduates high school in 3 months (full scholarship… woo hoo!), and I left my career as a teacher last year to start my own little business. I feel like I’ve been confronting one fear after another and have slowly come to realize that throughout life the fears have always been there, but somehow I just didn’t see them for what they were! I’ve always labeled it as other things… Practicality, Respect, Being Rational, Showing Consideration… all good things, when authentic.
However, something clicked in this last year and I’ve adopted a new mantra… It’s “Why the hell not???”. So I find myself thinking, Should I take that risk… why the hell not? Should I speak my mind and say what I feel… why the hell not? Should I leave an exhausting career to pursue more peace and simplicity… why the hell not? Is it okay, finally, to drop the person I always thought I SHOULD be and step fully into my own skin and just BE… well, why the hell not?
Fear is just so darn sneaky! It masquerades as a real thing, when most of the time it’s just simply a *thought*, one of millions. I think that as I grow older (and more ME), that question, “Why the hell not?”, will guide me towards more joy and vitality than just about anything else!
P.S. Sorry for all the h-words… I hope I haven’t offended anyone! “Heck” just doesn’t have the same rebellious, gosh-darn-it-anyway vibe to it!
Love “why the hell not?” That will be my new mantra. Thank you!
me too!!! Why the hell not!!!
Totally agree with this life philosophy, only thing I am struggling with is hormonal night sweats – have tried sage, Ashwaganda, vits E and C, Maca and more and each worked for a while then stopped. This is obviously causing sleep deprivation which in turn is having a knock on effect on my mental health.
Any suggestions please?
I absolutely refuse to get old & this is exactly what I tell people who complain about it! A few months ago, I celebrated the 31st anniversary of my 29th birthday (it’s a great brain exercise to do the math). Dr. Northrup’s Tip 5 is a work in progress, but …attitude is definitely everything! We all ROCK!!!
Yes we do, Gail! xo
HI! Love both of you ladies! My tips for ageing with grace..To say YES!! I was a NO person for so long and then one day I just started saying YES to everything..I spent one whole year in my late 30’s saying YES to all invitations and adventures I was a TOTAL blast! Now at 43 hubby and I are 3 yrs away from retiring and starting our new journy..We will hike the Appalachian trail all 2100 miles of it!! I love this age and every minute of every new year! What a gift to be who we are in this moment and at this age! ENJOY!!! xoxoxo