Orli for The Natural Beauty Expert - Ageing gracefully & naturally

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age,” Sophia Lauren

The term anti aging has gained has gained immense popularity over the last few decades. It is the darling catch phrase for the cosmetic and beauty industry and is so embedded in our society that most people don’t even stop to ponder about how negative that term really is. People have become desensitized to the fact that the prevalent use of the words anti aging in advertising campaigns is successfully portraying ageing to be a disease that should be fixed. The damaging term ‘anti aging’ is advocating that people should be free from lines and wrinkles just as we should be free from any ailments or pain.

The appetite for curing this so called disease is a hugely profitable industry globally. The downside is a loss of respect for the ageing process. Ageing is a natural passage of life and a critical part of human evolution. Ageing represents the accumulation of physical, psychological and social changes over time. Like our senses, losing one of your senses sharpens another. What you lose physically as part of the ageing process, you gain in wisdom. Letting go of the physical beauty of youth is essential to develop greater maturity.

It has always been an underlying tradition in all communities for the young to be looked after and the old to be treasured and more importantly…respected. Lines and winkles are a beautiful physical map of life. If ageing becomes something that is to be shunned or hidden, it will have a damaging impact on society and human values.

The best approach to aging is the healthy one. The battle against lines and wrinkles wastes precious time, energy and resources. It’s more important to focus on developing a healthy mindset and your personal best physically, emotionally and spiritually. Foster and nurture meaningful relationships with those around you. These are the foundations of sustainable and true beauty. Truly beautiful women radiate beautiful souls.

Outer beauty fades but inner beauty can be developed. Living life to the fullest, focusing on healthy and positive values are well-researched and proven ways to enhance real beauty. Ultimately it’s inner beauty that radiates and attracts for all the right reasons.

 Aging gracefully is aging with a healthy attitude. Eating, sleeping and thinking healthy are the cheapest, safest and most effective options to preserve timeless beauty. Adults have a duty to live by example and reinforce healthy values in children. It teaches our children nothing if we are on the constant pursuit of eternal outer beauty. It sends out negative messages of ‘not good enough’ and ‘never beautiful enough’. This toxic mindset feeds through to the next generation and perpetuates a lack of self worth and non self-acceptance.

 The beauty industry would love to have you believe that collagen or miracle creams can help ‘reverse’ aging. The reality is the molecules of collagen are too big to be absorbed by the skin topically.

The only methods that physically reverse the signs of aging involve invasive cosmetic surgeries or injections. These procedures are anything but graceful. Choosing to have an injection of a known neurotoxin in order to temporarily paralyze muscles; is the classic example of risking health for the sake of physical beauty.

 Most beauty fixes involve ‘freezing’ the face and preventing facial expressions in the belief that facial expressions cause wrinkles. However facial expressions are powerful nonverbal cues and essential to making real and meaningful connections. Imagine a world where everybody refuses to laugh because they are too afraid to age. To quote George Bernard Shaw “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”

 What appear to be ‘quick’ fixes in the short term will cost more time and money in the long run. It also runs the risk of costing your health and wellbeing. A more sustainable and affordable option is to focus on nourishing your skin using the most natural ingredients in order to slow down the formation of new lines and wrinkles. Focus on gentle prevention and nourishment, not instant fixes and reversals.

 Ageing gracefully is to embrace ageing as you would a good vintage wine. Shift the focus away from ‘battling with age’ to nourishing the body, mind and spirit so that it’s in tip top shape for the wonderful journey of life. Work on cultivating a healthy body, a positive mindset and a strong spirit and enjoy the ageing process.