Contemporary culture is permeated with the caustic message that nothing is more important than youth, and that the natural aging process is to be dreaded, denied, postponed, avoided at all costs. The media crams our minds full of dreadful data of aging as a dire collection of disease, devastation, and loss. Cultural perspectives foster a fear of aging which dramatically affects our experience of growing older. Despite those gloom and doom prognostications, a positive and life-affirming perception of aging is taking root in America and around the globe. A much-needed shift is emerging; a cultural shift that views growing older not as a relentless march to the grave, but as a fresh opportunity for using our increased life span to explore new levels of awareness and personal power. The truth is that we weren't created to blossom early and then spend the rest of our life withering away. The time has come to challenge the myth of decline and to celebrate our new gift of longevity which is truly wondrous.

"Bestselling author and psychologist Michael Gurian, who's guided readers through the world of raising children, turns his attention to aging in this comprehensive, holistic look at the emotional, spiritual, and physical dimensions of life after 50, showing how the reader can learn to embrace and celebrate life as they age"--

As seen on OWN’s Super Soul Sunday! The need for change as we get older—an emotional pressure for one phase of our lives to transition into another—is a human phenomenon, neither male nor female. There simply comes a time in our lives—not fundamentally different from the way puberty separates childhood from adulthood—when it’s time for one part of ourselves to die and for something new to be born. The purpose of this book by best-selling author and lecturer Marianne Williamson is to psychologically and spiritually reframe this transition so that it leads to a wonderful sense of joy and awakening. In our ability to rethink our lives lies our greatest power to change them. What we have called "middle age" need not be seen as a turning point toward death. It can be viewed as a magical turning point toward life as we’ve never known it, if we allow ourselves the power of an independent imagination, utilizing thought-forms that don’t simply flow in a perfunctory manner from ancient assumptions handed down to us, but rather flower into new archetypal images of a humanity just getting started at 45 or 50. What we’ve learned by that time, from both our failures as well as our successes, tends to have humbled us into purity. When we were young, we had energy but were clueless about what to do with it. Today, we have less energy, perhaps, but we have far more understanding of what each breath of life is for. And now at last, we have a destiny to fulfill—not a destiny of a life that’s simply over, but rather a destiny of a life that is finally truly lived. Midlife is not a crisis; it’s a time of rebirth. It’s not a time to accept your death; it’s a time to accept your life—and to finally, truly live it, as you and you alone know deep in your heart it was meant to be lived.

Renowned psychotherapist and aging expert Andrea Brandt, PhD, MFT, helps you throw out the old stereotypes about getting older and move toward the welcoming new evidence that you future is alive with possibility, providing steps to thrive today and into your golden years. This book is full of exercises and tools to help you embrace a new mindset and blaze a new trail in your life fueled by passion, purpose, and creativity.

James M. Houston and Michael Parker believe now is the time for the church to offer ministry to its increasing numbers of seniors and to benefit from ministry they can offer. They issue an urgent call to reconceive the place and part of the elderly in the local congregation, showing that seniors aren't the problem--they are the solution.

“An inspirational guide for aging with confidence packed with insight and wisdom for living life to its fullest. A must read” (John Gray, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus). When it comes to getting older, there are so many destructive and limiting myths, biases, stereotypes, and misconceptions. In this book, Dr. Ken Druck, drawing on both his personal and professional experience, shows how people can make peace with—and find joy in—every stage of life. It offers a refreshingly realistic view of the aging process, touching upon its physical and psychological challenges, its aches and pains and feelings of vulnerability—as well as the new peace, freedom, and confidence it can give birth to. This practical and inspirational approach speaks to anyone who wants to redefine what it means to age and embrace the transition into a new chapter in life, filled with potential.

Over two decades ago, beloved and respected rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi felt an uneasiness. He was growing older, and fears about death and infirmity were haunting him. So he decided to embark on mission to get to the bottom of his fears. Through a series of events that included a vision quest in a secluded cabin and studying with Sufi masters, Buddhist teachers and Native-American shamans, Reb Zalman found a way to turn aging into the most meangful and joyous time in his life. In this inspiring and informative guide, Reb Zalman shares his wisdom and experience with readers. He shows readers how to create an aging process for themselves that is full of adventure, passion, mystery, and fulfillment, rather than anxiety. Using scientific research--both neurological and psychological-- Reb Zalman offers techniques that will expand horizons beyond the narrow view of "the present" into a grand and enduring eternity. By harnessing the power of the spirit, as well as explaining exactly how to become a sage in their own community, he gives readers a helpful and moving way to use their own experiences to nurture, heal, and perhaps even save a younger generation from the prison of how we typically regard aging. In this updated version of his popular book, Reb Zalman has added a brand new introductory chapter that provides insight into the shifts that have taken place in our culture since the first edition of this book came out in the 1990s. Reb Zalman speaks candidly about the role the 78 million (now aging) Baby Boomers are currently playing in how we think about aging. He provides new inspiring ideas about the importance of an elder's role in shaping society, and explains how elders can embrace the power they have to provide value and wisdom to those around them. Additionally he has added a concluding chapter in which he shares his own experience with aging and the time he calls "The December Years."

God made you to be unique. He hand-selected every aspect of your personality as a way of equipping you with the tools you need to complete the mission He has prepared for you. But sometimes those personality traits can be ignored, misunderstood, or even underutilized. What God intended to be your strength can be perceived as a weakness which could hinder your abilities. When you gain a better understanding of the unique personality traits God has given to you and to those around you, then you can more effectively impact the world for the Kingdom. Inside Colorfully Constructed you will find: An easy-to-understand explanation of the four personality colors. A simple tool used to identify those colors in yourself and others. Personal examples written from the perspective of each color. And the value of personality diversity in Kingdom work.

Here is the first handbook to help you discover how to access the secrets of the second half of life. The reward is wisdom, serenity, and deeper self-knowledge. In the first half of life we strive, work, compete, achieve, and accumulate. Will we do this until we die? Because we live in a world that worships youth, aging in America isn't pleasant; we have no imagination for the spiritual adventure that aging offers. While Embracing Wisdom doesn't shirk from the real challenges of this time of life, it points to a new understanding of how to experience loss not as tragedy but as compost for wisdom. Based upon the pioneering work of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Embracing Wisdom: Soaring in the Second Half of Life presents aging in the 21st Century as the newest frontier in human development. It sets a path and purpose for the boomer generation to complete life successfully and leave a legacy to future generations.