http://www.care2.com/greenliving/be-flexible-and-live-a-long-life.html
Be Flexible and Live a Long Life
Adapted from Grow Younger, Live Longer, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 2001).
The essence of flexibility is the willingness to let go. Surveys of centenarians (people who have lived at least 100 years) often ask, “What do you believe are the reasons that account for your long and healthy life? Is it your diet? Have you been exercising your whole life? Have you avoided tobacco? Do you drink alcohol?”
The intent of these questions, of course, is to identify common principles that could help us alive longer, healthier lives. Surprisingly, none of these questions clearly reveals the secret to longevity. The most common explanation that most of our senior citizens offer for their long life is their ability to let go.
Long-living people have flexibility and resiliency when facing the inevitable challenges in life. If you live to be 100 years old, chances are good you have experienced challenges and losses, yet these super seniors have been able to move through adversity and get on with their lives. They relinquish their hold on experiences that do not serve them. They let go and move on.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, this ability to deal with what is happening but not incur residual damage is a symptom of strong digestive power. The expression “digestive power” is applied not just to the ability to digest foods but to digest all experiences in life.
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15 comments
add your comment »I would rather live 50 happy years than 100 misserable ones.
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Yes let go and live!!!!!!!!!!!!WOW, Wonder of Wonder,
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Yes, we cling to the leaking boat hoping to stay safe. If we let go the current can carry us to shore.
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Part of letting go is letting go of being right. I believe this is the most destructive belief we have. When I practice of letting go of being right, I realize how often I am thinking I am right. It creates more love in my relationships, especially with my children and husband when I let them be right and really listen to them instead of being in my own head.
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Such an amazing concept that would serve us well in this life. Thank you Deepak!
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I had been chronically depressed for most of my life; there wasn't a day go by that I didn't burst into tears and when I was really at my lowest, I decided enough was enough so I kicked myself up the backside, got out of the black hole I'd put myself in and decided I was going to love myself more and just take life as it came AND ABOVE ALL I REALISED THAT IT WASN'T ANYBODY'S FAULT FOR MY UNHAPPINESS BUT MY OWN REACTION TO CIRCUMSTANCES. I now just live each day as it comes, I don't let anything affect me and I'm pleased to say that I've been tearless for almost two years!
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I think that as I learn to stay in the present, I continually realize that now is the time, the place is here, and i am being present to today. Living in the regrets of yesterday is death to me. Right here, right now is the only place that I can be. When I am fully present in now, I only have to let go of this moment and then move on to the next.
I've had messes to clean up from the past of course. Each one of these clean up jobs, be it making amends of clearing of a debt has been a step closer to being fully Present. Present is something that I choose to be, each day, each moment. In this way and through learning the breath I am able to continually heal my mind, my body, and my spirit. We don't deserve to suffer; there is nothing wrong with us. Letting go is releasing our egocentric condition of there must be something wrong, there's always something wrong. There is nothing wrong with you. There is nothing wrong with me.THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH US. Let go and breathe, the results are amazing. Peace, Rawleigh
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I think that as I learn to stay in the present, I continually realize that now is the time, the place is here, and i am being present to today. Living in the regrets of yesterday is death to me. Right here, right now is the only place that I can be. When I am fully present in now, I only have to let go of this moment and then move on to the next.
I've had messes to clean up from the past of course. Each one of these clean up jobs, be it making amends of clearing of a debt has been a step closer to being fully Present. Present is something that I choose to be, each day, each moment. In this way and through learning the breath I am able to continually heal my mind, my body, and my spirit. We don't deserve to suffer; there is nothing wrong with us. Letting go is releasing our egocentric condition of there must be something wrong, there's always something wrong. There is nothing wrong with you. There is nothing wrong with me.THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH US. Let go and breathe, the results are amazing. Peace, Rawleigh
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my grandfather lived to be 103 I can tell you he was like that I learned a lot from him and I continue to choose to be like him and I some day hope to live as long or longer I am only 44 now only lived a 3rd of my life! I am aming for 120 sounds good to me! I have only been married 2 years to my soul mate so I would like 75 years with him so that would make me about 117 and him 120 so yea about that long and my grandfather was healthy too he died of a broken heart he lost his wife and life long parter at he did not want to live any long with out her they were married 59 and a half years when she died and he always said it was not long enough!
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Chopra used to be globly glob for me. My eyes would cross from trying to read or listen to him. I am now amazed at how astutely and wonderfully he gets his loving guide lines and perceptions across when he shares with us. I do realize that the shift is within me. I give love, thanks, and respect to Deepak.
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