Lesson 7: Aging Beautifully

These workbook questions were curated by Martha Beck. The goal is to continue the conversation and go deeper into the lesson. Your answers are private, no one else can see them.

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Write a brief description of yourself at the age you are now.

Looking at what you’ve written, how many of the things relate to your looks? How many of those statements are critical? How many are accurate—that is, would your friends describe you that way?

Where are you judging yourself according to what others may think about you? Where did those principles come from—a comment your mother made decades ago, something a man you once dated said?

Do you have a number in your mind of the age when attractiveness ends? What is it? How many women can you list below who are still vibrant, beautiful and older than that arbitrary number?

Are you lying about your age? Why? What do you think would happen if you told the truth?

Have you had the experience of walking into a room and seeing people’s eyes go to younger-looking individuals? Where can you cultivate what Oprah calls “inner attraction” that will make the external changes less difficult to accept?

What’s better than it’s ever been before? What are you glad you’ll never have to experience again?

What are you doing simply to appear younger? What would happen if you devoted that time, money and effort to another area of your life?

What scares you most about getting older: being less active, losing your looks, or fundamentally not mattering in the world? Make a list of at least five reasons you do matter, no matter how old you get.

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Published on October 18, 2011

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