Abundance is a mental state. It’s not because we have less that we are poor. While visiting rural areas in several countries I’ve been struck by the generosity among those who have the least. They share their meager “abundance” with pride.

Express gratitude. Be thankful. Expressing gratitude for your blessings, however great or small, has a multiplying effect. The more we identify what we have to be thankful for the more abundance we attract.

• Before you go to sleep at night, identify three things you are thankful for: meeting someone new, talking to your grandchild, attending your first opera, having enough to food and water to see you through the day…
• On waking in the morning revel in the present of today. It is yours to unwrap and to live as you wish. That’s why it’s called the “present”. How will you make the most of it?
• Before beginning your day, remind yourself of three new blessings: feeling thankful for a bed to sleep in, hearing birds sing, friends, family, being alive… Make this a habit!

No matter what you are thankful for, the simple act of expressing gratitude is powerful. As we express gratitude, we discover how much more we have to be thankful for – and our abundance actually increases!

You control your life. Only you can decide how you will think and act in any situation. Even the decision to breath is yours!

Acknowledge it’s your choice.

• Remind yourself often « It’s my choice how I think and act. I am in control.» Repeat this to yourself when you step into a new situation, lack confidence or feel threatened.
• Flash back to positive experiences where you were confident and in control. Relive those experiences in the present. Focus on what you can repeat from each positive experience.
• Stretch yourself to try something new each day. Try wearing that new color. Speak to a stranger. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s a good sign. You are opening your blinders and stretching your boundaries.

With these three easy steps you will already move beyond your self-limiting thoughts. There is no limit.

Would you like to wear a particular color or style but think you’re too old or too young? Do you worry about wrinkles and question whether you should invest in surgery or injections? Are you concerned about losing your job and being too inexperienced or over qualified to find a new one in today’s market?

Whenever we self-limit ourselves due to age we put on blinders to the opportunities surrounding us, opportunities that wait for us to open our eyes to them.

Too often people think that when a door closes, it’s the end. They’re again wearing blinders to opportunities, and to their own potential. AgeEsteemers know that although doors may be closed, they are never locked. It’s up to us to push them open.

Begin to grow your own AgeEsteem for the soul now, at the age you are today

Cultivate a positive attitude. People with age-esteem are happy, optimistic and share a positive attitude. The glass is always half full.

• Catch people doing good. Make a game of finding the qualities in people around you. Once you focus on the positives you’ll find even more.
• Keep a positive talk diary. Become conscious of what you say to yourself in thoughts and words spoken out loud. Each time you catch yourself saying something negative like « I can never remember names », change it into a positive, « I can remember every name I set my mind to ». Repeat the positive statement out loud. Do this regularly so it becomes second nature.

As it becomes second nature for you to seek positives, you’ll be amazed at the positive impact it has on all aspects of your life. Your AgeEsteem life force will draw more positive people and events to you!

The closest synonym for the word soul as it relates to AgeEsteem is « life force »: impulse of life, vital spirit, life essence. AgeEsteem is what keeps that inner force alive. It’s a way of life.

Simply put, AgeEsteem is feeling good about yourself at the age you are today, every day. It’s opening your life force to opportunities to develop your potential at every age. AgeEsteem is tuning into your life force for a positive approach to living.

Begin to develop your AgeEsteem life force.

AgeEsteem® to Focus on Growing Demographic of Older Adults

New York, New York and Geneva, Switzerland – June 1, 2009 – AgeEsteem®, one of the world’s pre-eminent organizations focused on aging and self-esteem, today launched a new web site and “how to” guidebook. The organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland, and New York, will utilize its revolutionary practices to assist seniors and people of every age with the latest techniques in enjoying life in “coming of age” in the 21st Century.

AgeEsteem® is founded by Bonnie Lou Fatio, a reknown consultant and motivational speaker on issues related to aging. The web site is being launched in conjunction with the re-launch of Mrs. Fatio’s book, AgeEsteem®: Growing a Positive Attitude Towards Aging.

“By the year 2030, about one of every five Americans, or 20% of our population, will be over the age of 65,” Bonnie Fatio noted. “If these older adults are not enjoying those years, a significant portion of the American population – and spending power – will be at risk. We must continue to develop the potential of our older adults and draw on their experience and expertise.”

Time is on our side. Women who live to 65 years of age can expect to live to 85 years of age. Many Americans facing 60 will still have the opportunity to enjoy nearly one third of their lives.

Added Mrs. Fatio, “As we grow older, we should be embracing life. This is the mission of AgeEsteem® and we are proud to have helped so many through this important process. And when we consider that one out of every two girls born today can anticipate living to be 100 years old, we see the importance of AgeEsteem for ALL generations.”

The General Secretary of the World YWCA, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, expressed excitement about the news: “Bonnie brings out the real essence of leadership as experiential, personal, relational and inter-generational. The times I have been blessed to be in Bonnie’s presence, and the many times I have read her book Age-Esteem; I have been internally nurtured. I have been urged to exercise my leadership in a transformational way; recognizing that the personal is political. Bonnie speaks to each one of us directly. Take time to read her book Age-Esteem; or more so, seek opportunity to be in Bonnie’s company! Her voice for ethical and shared leadership is what the world is searching for today.”

AgeEsteem®’s newly designed web site and blog, www.AgeEsteem.com, will focus on issues core to AgeEsteem® clients:

1. FEEL GOOD about yourself at the age you are today, every day.
2. LIVE each day and each age.
3. FEEL CONFIDENT and secure in who are you are at any age.
4. BUILD positive thoughts and attitudes towards age.
5. RECOGNIZE, SUPPORT, CELEBRATE the person you are.
6. LIVE in the present and AGE WITH VITALITY and PURPOSE.

About AgeEsteem®

The mission of AgeEsteem® is to provide coaching and consulting to older adults through a critical period of aging. Through a series of simple steps and programs, AgeEsteem® helps mature adults look ahead and envision a happy, productive and active future. AgeEsteem.com is also a member of the blogosphere. For more about AgeEsteem® and Bonnie Lou Fatio, visit www.AgeEsteem.com.