There’s a longstanding belief that, as we get older, achy joints and added pounds are just something we have to deal with at a certain age. We believe that there’s nothing to be done, to avoid these problems and the side effects of aging. Through research, we’ve found that this is not true. This myth about aging has been put to rest.

There are, in fact, certain things you can do in order to repel the undesired effects of aging. For most, that starts with exercising. Walking for thirty minutes every day or doing some kind of light-resistance-lifting can do wonders for your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Not to mention, it keeps the blood pumping, so it lowers your chances of having high blood pressure. These tissues need to be constantly used in order for us to get the most out of it. You can’t leave a car parked in your driveway for 5 years and expect it to run smoothly when you turn it on for the first time in years. Same thing with our bodies. The longer you remain inactive, the less likely you’ll feel great waking up every morning.

However, it’s not easy getting in the proper mindset to begin exercising after a long hiatus from it. That’s where the technique of positive thinking comes in handy. Not only does it help reduce stress, but it’s also a motivational factor. A big reason as to why people stop doing physical activity is they get that negative thought in their mind and convince themselves they can’t run any more or swim laps in the pool any more. They think, “my old age has caught up to me. Time to retire those running shoes.” A negative thought can be very debilitating.

However, if you flip the script and tell yourself that it is possible to walk a mile every day or at the very least for 30 minutes, you might just surprise yourself. To quote Thomas Edison: “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” There’s no reason for this statement to lose its truth as you age. Picture yourself when you felt your best. Remember what it took in order to reach that level of physical fitness and then go after it! Of course, you can’t expect to make full leaps of improvement the moment you start. But that’s the beauty of physical fitness. You get to achieve small victories every time. Whether it’s adding an extra 5 pounds to your dumbbell or walking an extra half-mile, you get to see progress being made.

Being positive doesn’t have to remain solely for your level of physical activity as well. It should remain in your everyday life. Look upon every challenge as an opportunity. Getting old is no different than your first day at school or beginning your career. There will be bumps and road blocks along the way, but it will be highly rewarding when you figure out how to navigate around them.