Clarifying Your Mission In MidlifeUzorak

Ageless—How do we grow up gracefully?

We’re all at different stages of thinning, sagging, wrinkling, and spider veining. At midlife, our physical appearance becomes a point of obsession.

In our overly photographed day and age, the pressure only increases. A third of plastic surgeons say their clients seek help because of their appearance on social media.

In pursuit of perceived youth, many of us have become more religious about our bodies than our souls. We take supplements, apply balms, and adhere to rigorous training regimens, all in an attempt to keep things lifted, taut, and attractive. But when it’s all said and done, each of us succumbs to gravity.

That leads to midlife disillusionment—which is a good thing. We will age. We are aging.

One doctor commented, “Up to age 40, you had a free ride. Now it’s time to work for your health.” In midlife, it’s time to regard and care for our health with intentionality—and the right priorities:

Our brain. There is now evidence that our brains have the ability to change throughout life, so practice and feed your desire to keep learning. You might realize patience, grace, and wisdom have accompanied your gains in skill and knowledge.

Our bodies. “Exercise is an act of stewardship with two primary aims: to care for our bodies so we can give them more readily to the loving service of God and neighbor, and to enjoy our bodies as the divine gifts they are,” said writer and speaker Kent Annan. If you haven’t worked out in years, start, but take it easy. Get your heart rate up. Drink water. Eat more plants. Get some sleep.

Our souls. It’s easy to obsess over mind and body while leaving the soul untouched. And that’s a big mistake, because while we live in our bodies, we live out of our souls. The soul is the core, the command center, the root of all connections between both you and others and you and God. You might notice that the wisest, most solid people you know are those who prioritize soul care.

We know with certainty that our bodies will become frail, but our spirits can remain strong. May we be among those that do not lose heart. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).