Is the fear of aging preventing you from being happy?

Fear of aging is counterproductive to your happiness, as becoming wiser, worldlier, and your own person far outweighs any negatives. Reaching a significant milestone in your midlife can be a time to take stock of what life has given you (or thrown at you), how you have coped and what lies ahead in the coming years and decades.

The transition to midlife opens up challenges and is also a time to congratulate yourself on being a bright, experienced and wise woman. Fear of aging will hold you back from all the discoveries waiting for you as this bright, new day dawns.

How to be happy and dispel the fear of aging isn't really that hard - you now have that bank of past experiences and are now in a position to forge ahead with newer, experiences with the benefits gleaned from your past. Think forward - the past is past and the future is a new exciting road.

The symptoms of menopause may seem scary - but unlike previous generations who suffered now there are solutions to make this easier - you will not turn into a bloated wreck believe me. There are homeopathic remedies and with exercise and a good diet this will pass without drama, once you feel the first symptoms take action and carry on with life. Leaving those monthly cramps and mood swings behind, for starters, has to be a good thing.

What about fear of aging in the workplace? Women are now being revered rather than cast out because of their age - and there are now, should that ugly situation arise, laws in place so you can protect yourself. This means you can change career, sharpen your skills or take an entirely new direction.

Overcoming the fear of aging needs a can do attitude - if you have been held back because you never could do that - yes - you can. Take a class, try hypnosis, get out and appreciate nature, meditate, -just do what it takes to overcome your fears.

How to be happy with this exciting new chapter of your life

Make it an adventure - set goals - you know what you always wanted to do - abseil a building, go on a safari, walk the Great Wall of China - yes, you can do it - it's all out there. Think of all the wonderful things in your life - your children, partner, family, friends, health, home - be happy with what you have - you earned it - enjoy it.

Financial constraints in these uncertain times can create problems but they too can be overcome with a positive attitude. If you can't afford that trip to your dream country or for those banjo lessons you always craved - turn your attention to something more achievable and less ambitious and set the big one as your dream - only not a pipe dream a can do, yes I will dream.

Have confidence in yourself but always remain open to other points of view. You are always learning - your brain hasn't closed its filing cabinet - so add new thoughts and ideas to it to broaden your mind.

Your midlife experience will depend 100% on your beliefs and attitudes about aging; and you get to CHOOSE these beliefs. So, what are you going to choose?