Amaging(TM) Growing Old On Purpose

I mentioned Dr. David Agus’s book, A Short Guide to a Long Life, in an earlier chapter. Dr. Agus also writes about developing a one-, five-, ten-, and twenty-year health strategy. Think about where you want your health to be in ten years, and then ask yourself, “What can I do differently today to get there?” Agus describes the importance of setting goals, staying focused, and having something to look forward to. He recommends making your own definition of health and then creating your own personal “code of health” along with the rules you will live by to follow your code (Agus, 2014). This code then leads to healthy habits or routines. In appendix 1, I share a fill-in-the-blank tool you can use for both short-term and long-term goals. Your goals may relate to your health strategies or other needs and wants that matter to you.

Recently, this message by an anonymous writer appeared on my Facebook feed, and it gives some small goal examples:

Start by doing one push up

Start by drinking one cup of water

Start by paying toward one debt

Start by reading one page

Start by walking one lap

Start by attending one event

Start by writing one paragraph

Start today

Repeat tomorrow

Imagine how these incremental steps will help you achieve your goals. Notice the key words start, one, and repeat. As you start, make one step initially, and then repeat. Over time, you will not only work toward achieving your goals but you will also build self-efficacy.