6. Stay positive – Keep a positive attitude as you practice

   Action: Happy people usually feel like they are in more control of their lives and therefore feel more confidence and optimism. Unfortunately, our brains are wired to look for and focus on threats, based on when we were hunters and gatherers. but times have changed so it’s time for a reboot.

   Practice: Be positive about it! Instead of focusing on threats, focus on love and compassion, forgiveness and gratitude. Simply thinking about someone you love can shift you from a negative mindset to a positive one. Take time every morning, to focus on something you are grateful for, and on what it is you want to create that day and in your life. Developing this practice will immediately positively impact your day.

7. Be creative – Creativity helps us shift from the negative to the positive

   Action: Get creative! While focusing on shifting limiting beliefs into more positive and supportive ones, an expression of creativity can shift our mood and remove us from a negative spiral.

   Practice: Play with it! Start journaling and play with words; use oil pastels and play with color; garden and play in the dirt; cook and play with spices. There is no right or wrong way to be creative. The only important thing is to allow ourselves to connect with our own creativity. Have fun with it, feel uplifted.

So, the next time you find yourself falling into a negative spiral about aging and retirement, use these seven tools to tackle those limiting beliefs, and transform negative chatter into something that is supportive rather than destructive. You will be amazed at what you can create in your life.