Retirement— Stress-free Maturing with Energy Psychology Self-Care

Dorothea Hover-Kramer, Ed.D., RN, DCEP

         Author of Second Chance at Your Dream

In these times of rapid change, maturing into the second half of life and retirement are becoming redefined. Gone are the days when retiring from one’s career meant sitting down for a long time, minding grandchildren to support their more active parents, or playing weekly golf/card games in a community of fellow retirees. Webster’s dictionary (2007 edition) continues to define retirement as “withdrawal from active working life... a place of seclusion or privacy.”

Even though this may still the culturally accepted view of retirement, the emerging new image of aging sees older people with increasingly good health who mentor younger people, participate actively in their communities and engage in meaningful, creative activity. The thirty to fifty extra years we’ve been given due to increase medical care, the so-called “golden years,” too often become tarnished because elders are not clear about their goals and engage in busy-ness, finding something to do rather than what has meaning and purpose for them. Much of constricted thinking about retirement is also due to underling beliefs, some cultural, some very personal.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What do I really want to do with my life?
• How can I make sure my body stays in optimal health?
• What do I believe about aging?
• Do brain cells regenerate?
• Can I activate my genetic material?
• Can my mind learn new things?

If  you have doubts about any of these areas, you may need to update your internal programming to be in step with what science is learning about cellular structures of people in their sixties, seventies and eighties. Recent research (described in Dr. Norman Doidge’s best-seller The Brain that Changes Itself) describes neuroplasticity, the infinite capacity of brain cells to create new maps in all life stages. Neurogenesis, the reproduction of brain cells, is stimulated by new learning and adventure at any age. And, genetic expression, activation of cellular DNA strands, is an ongoing dynamic directly influenced by our attitudes and beliefs. For example, anger, prejudice, feelings of boredom or stress inhibit genetic expression while relaxation, altruism and joy promote gene expression. Each person is the genius of their genes. Each person can choose to activate neuoplasticity and neurogenesis by choosing attitudes of curiosity, hopefulness and helpfulness.

Energy psychology provides leading edge insights to activate potentials for living fully until one’s last day in the physical body. Second Chance at Your Dream is filled with explanations and self-care exercises from this new field within psychotherapy and champions the development of elder wisdom. Here is a sampling of several ideas that may begin the anti-aging process for you without pills or invasive methods:

• Set your intention every morning to define your goals, not only in what you will do but what you will be. For example, “I want to be caring, positive and joyous today with my colleagues, even the difficult ones.” Anchor this intention to the body by tapping lightly on the upper mid-chest, the area of the thymus gland which is the master gland of the immune system.
• Release negativity(your own or that of another person) as soon as you are aware of it by gently massaging the heart area while repeating several times, “Even though ___ was said/ ____happened, I deeply and profoundly accept  and honor myself and choose to stay centered.” Breathe deeply and release any tension with the exhalation.
• Affirm your gifts, talents and strengths to connect with your potential for flexibility and learning. Make a list of who you are and what you most love to do. Explore how you can help in your community—it is filled with people less fortunate who can benefit from some thing only you can offer.

At one of my recent presentations, one senior exclaimed, “This is interesting ,but I thought I was supposed to sit back,  be quiet and let others take their turn!” I replied with careful compassion, “You probably heard that somewhere and what you say seems to be the current cultural expectation. However, you alone are the producer and director of the movie called ‘Your Life.’”

The responsibility to take charge of our lives at any age may feel like a burden until we begin to notice the freedoms it generates. The freedom to help a neglected child to read... the freedom to adopt a discarded animal... the freedom to find creative people and kindred spirits...the freedom to become fascinated with what may be next...the freedom to enjoy life more fully.

Truly, as a person thinks, so shall he/she be. We are the deciding factor in generating a life worth living!