Whenever I start a new personal project, the first thought that comes into my mind is: am I too old to start this? It’s been a question I have pondered every time and it often stops me from doing what I truly want to do. I applied this same mentality to my career and life choices. To the point where I have stumped myself into growing my highest self. We truly are our worst critic.
After learning too late that I could have created an unconventional life for myself, I am now in early 40s and realized that there is still time to do what I want. It will definitely be different since I no longer have the stamina of a 20 year old. There are little ones that depend on me for their support that so much of my energy and time go to them. Then there is office job work and also me trying to build a freelance side hustle. And not to mention, trying to keep a creative life on the side. How am I even able to keep all those things active? I don’t. I falter in one while the other is getting more attention.
This is something that most people realize in their 40s that time is fleeting if you keep yourself too busy thinking of all the excuses. But truly, time can be slowed down if we choose to. What you focus on will inevitably lead you to have more or less of what you desire. And I desire time.
While I know I can’t live on regret forever, I started making time to be creative. But am I creative everyday? I tried for a while but then one of my obligations started questioning my attention. Needless to say, it was not my family ;P.
Sometimes we just have to be mindful of where we disperse our time. We’re only given several hours of a day to do everything and serve others. And to be quite honest, sometimes we have to come at a crossroads to set our schedules to work for us.
As I overcome this stage of my life that I am too old to start something new, I don’t feel like it’s my age limiting me. I do see that activities I have started many years ago are being picked up again. Maybe it was the current technology that needed to catch up to my dreams. Afterall, I am here writing to you to share my own personal journey into creativity.
So how do you get over the “too old” limiting belief?
You have make time for what you know is a part of you. Don’t worry about the inspiration just make sure to set time aside daily or weekly for your creativity or hobby. Look for creatives in your field that have “made” it in a later age. Find online or in-person communities that are going through the same journey as you.
One of my favorite books to find motivating words is It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again by Julia Cameron .
Julia’s book is a great reminder of how we can continue to keep our creativity active as we age.
Our minds can adapt to new ideas we just have to condition it to learn new things to make our lives much more enriching.
What do you read or do in order to finally follow your creative pursuits later in life?