The key to life according to a 116 year old [Discussion]

Submitted by TreatThompson t3_11ypkve in GetMotivated

“I mind my own business and I don’t eat junk food.”

That’s what 116 yr old Besse Cooper said when asked about the key to living a long life:

Such a simple statement, but it packs so much value.

The junk food part is obvious. I’m more interested in her minding her business.

When I think of minding my own business I think of being present, not comparing myself to others, having self-awareness, and avoiding drama.

There’s so many negatives that come my way when I live outside of myself.

The biggest one I’ve felt is the urge to do the dance for validation: bending over backwards and not being myself just to get pats on the back from others.

This was the name of the game in university.

To network and get internships I had to be what people wanted to see. Business had to be my life. I had to have a fire for climbing the corporate ladder.

I’m glad I stopped that charade early though. If I kept it going I definitely would’ve compromised my dreams, values, and standards just for admiration.

Doing that across decades would’ve built up regret, resentment, guilt, shame, and disappointment that I’d carry forever. And without having the science to back it up, I think it could’ve led to a shorter life.

I think minding my own business can stretch further than that too.

I think of junk food for our brains. For me that’s family and friends that are sources for fights, news and other content that feeds negativity, and haters that shut down ideas and never water inspiration.

I’m not sure about lifespan, but blocking all those out of my life raises the ceiling for my joy.

It reminds me of this quote:

"If you care for your mind, if you nurture it and if you cultivate it just like a fertile, rich garden, it will blossom far beyond your expectations. But if you let the weeds take root, lasting peace of mind and deep inner harmony will always elude you.”

Mind management is life management.

I think Besse was on to something.

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This post was from my newsletter

I share ideas from great thinkers so we can stand on the shoulders of giants, instead of figuring life out alone

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Comments

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fengshui15 t1_jdaqzfy wrote

This helped me today, thank you

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TreatThompson OP t1_jdar8pr wrote

Happy it clicked with you!

Thanks for letting me know 😄

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TreatThompson OP t1_jd8pww7 wrote

Our minds are everything.

Thoughts and feelings turn into actions. Actions make up our life. That's why most great people famously protect their minds like soldiers.

“Most good gardeners guard their gardens like proud soldiers and make certain that no contamination ever enters. Yet look at the toxic waste that people put into the fertile garden of their minds every single day: The worries and anxieties, the fretting about the past, the brooding over the future, and those self-created fears that wreak havoc within your inner world.”

We can’t afford the luxury of negative thoughts.

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jammin0101 t1_jdb8pi0 wrote

You are 100% right that our thoughts and feelings turn into actions. To take that a step further, our beliefs about our self and the world turn into our thoughts. The key to life is to challenge any negative self-beliefs while also staying present and being conscious of our thoughts instead of letting them play out.

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TreatThompson OP t1_jdcpy4z wrote

Wow this is perfectly said!! I’m right there with you

The story we tell about ourselves is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Having negative inner dialogue or self-talk definitely hurts

Thanks for sharing 😄

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TooOldForThis34 t1_jdc4n33 wrote

What about when junk food runs parallel to addiction?

Overdoing your medication while having alcoholic beverages most evenings? Being stoned throughout the day?

That is real food for thought.

If you don’t agree with me, just pretend I’m Denzel Washington telling you this.

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TreatThompson OP t1_jdcpqo8 wrote

Yeah youre definitely right about that! That’s junk food to the extreme

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