You must have heard a lot of wisdom along the lines of, “Here is what you should do in your 20s.” Often, one hears things like:
- Learn aggressively, try things you are scared of, make mistakes
- Build relationships and network
- Explore ideas that seem interesting
- Have fun — travel, sports, adventure
- Invest in your health — physical, mental, financial
And I think these points are 100% correct.
But then why is it only about the 20s? What changes if you are in your 30s, 40s, or even 70s? Can’t you learn new things when older? Can’t you take risks? Can’t you travel or run a marathon?
I am not saying that age has no consequences — our physical strength, financial situations, family obligations, etc. do change.
But much more than those changes are the ones in your mind. You start accepting that you can’t do certain things. You surrender to social norms. You embrace limitations and make them real.
I have seen 70-year-olds physically fitter and mentally sharper than most 25-year-olds.
Whether you are 25, 45, or 75, 90% of your limitations are the ones you created.
Victory is born in our mind. So is defeat.
– Rajan