“I’m too old” – It’s not too late to fulfil your dreams!

It’s never too late to achieve your dreams. That’s what they always say, isn’t it? But sometimes it feels as if it is. Do you sometimes tell yourself “I’m too old” or “it’s too late for me”? If you look around, you might think that other people your age have their act together and are doing so many things with their lives while you’re just stuck in a rut. Feeling like you’re too old is a limiting belief that holds you back from building the life you really want.

“Who told you it was too late? And more importantly, why did you choose to believe them?” Richelle E. Goodrich, author

Age is just a number

We’ve all heard the saying that age is just a number. Well, it happens to be true! Your age doesn’t define you or determine what you’re capable of achieving. Just because you didn’t achieve your dreams by a certain age doesn’t mean it’s too late.

Age is often seen as a marker of progress and accomplishment. There is an unspoken societal expectation that we will finish secondary school at 18, college/university in our early 20s, and by the time we reach 40, we will have a successful career, a happy marriage, and 2.5 children.

Henry Ford was 45 when he created the revolutionary Model T car in 1908

And while there’s nothing wrong with any of those things, the pressure to have everything figured out by a certain age can be overwhelming. Anything less than this can be seen as a failure, so if someone doesn’t meet these age expectations, they may feel like they’re behind or not good enough.

This pressure to conform to society’s expectations can cause anxiety and stress, which can lead to mental and physical health problems. And that’s not a good way to live your life, at any age.

For many people, the age of 40 is when they think they will have it all together. But the reality is that life is unpredictable and things don’t always go according to plan. That’s if we have a plan in the first place!

At any age, we should feel free to pursue our dreams and goals without the pressure of societal expectations. Life is too short to worry about what other people think. It’s important to remember that everyone’s life is different and that there is no “right” age for everything.

Comparison is the thief of joy

Nowhere is this expression truer than when comparing ourselves to others. We often compare ourselves to those who are younger or thinner or smarter or more successful than we are. Or to others our own age who seem to have so much more than we do. But doing this only leads to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. Comparison can prevent us from appreciating our own lives and achievements. We forget about our own accomplishments (and there are bound to be lots!) and focus on the things that we haven’t yet achieved, which robs us of our happiness and contentment.

What to do if you are feeling “too old”

There are a few things you can do if you are feeling too old to achieve your dreams, or that life has passed you by.

First, reframe your mindset and choose to believe that it’s never too late. We can all choose what we believe, and freeing ourselves from other people’s expectations can be extremely liberating.

Second, identify your beliefs about age and challenge them. Look for examples of people who have achieved success after the age of 40, or 50, or 60… so you have proof that it is possible.

Third, identify your dreams and then take steps towards them. What would you really like to do with your life? What are your passions and aspirations? What can you do today, tomorrow, the next day to gradually move closer to them? Talk to someone who has achieved a similar dream. This can help you see that it is possible and give you some insight into how they did it.

Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first of the “Little House” books at age 65 in 1932. These books became the basis for the TV show “Little House on the Prairie”

Conclusion

Despite the fact that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams, society and the media often reinforce the limiting belief that age is a factor. They do this by perpetuating the idea that there is a certain age where you’re “supposed” to have achieved certain milestones. This pressure can make people feel like they’re not good enough or like they’re behind.

So if “I’m too old” is something you tell yourself, remember that this is just limiting belief and don’t let it hold you back. You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to, regardless of your age. So don’t give up on your dreams – go out and make them happen. Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

I’m here to help

If you’d like some support overcoming your belief that it’s too late for you to fulfil your dreams and build an amazing life, then please send me a message or book a free call and we can talk about working together.

Thank you for reading!