Are you one of the many people over 50 years of age who have had some setbacks in life and concluded that your age would not permit starting over? Keep in mind that, for a person to be successful, no matter how old they are, it is never too late to start afresh and go on to achieve what you have always had a longing for.
No one is doomed to a life of misery, no matter how old he or she is. You can still start over again and lead a fulfilling life at 50, even with no money.
Sometimes, a lot of people come to the sad realization that they have not lived their lives the way they should have. At 50, they sit in a chair and imagine all the choices that they could have made which they didn’t, the things they ought to have said which they didn’t say, the money they could have saved, the marriage they could have saved, etc. They find they are torn between starting over and just lapsing into defeat.
Does this seem familiar to you or to someone you know? Know this: it is possible to start over after 50 with no money and go on to enjoy the rest of your life just fine.
These are 10 Tips to help you start over in your 50s and lead a fulfilling life.
1. Acknowledge The Possibility
Whether you are starting all over with nothing or with just a few resources, you have got to acknowledge that it is possible to start over no matter your age.
After 50 years, you can start over and end well. Look around, and you will find stories of people who took hold of their lives even when they were way past fifty.
Harry Bernstein was 96 years old when he became a published writer. He began writing his first book, The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers, when he was 93 years old, the very book which gained him fame and recognition.
Peter Mark Roget got published at 73 years old. He was the one who published the Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases.
Anna Mary Robertson began painting when she was 78. Even though she lived most of her life not painting, she had always nursed the dream of becoming a painter. She made it happen at 78!
There are many more stories about people who started all over after 50 or who began to pursue their true purpose at an older age.
Draw motivation from these stories. They could do it. They were or are just as human as you. So, you can do it too. Keep your mind strong. Do not let doubt seep in and take your motivation from you. Keep your motivation no matter what. Do not read stories about people who failed and do not listen to people who say you can’t do it. The world is sensitive to energy, and we most times attract what we spend our moments thinking about.
Rhonda Bryne speaks a lot about this in her book, The Secret. She mentions that there are laws of attraction and that our mind is like a giant magnet that attracts things to us.
Listen to success stories. Listen, and don’t stop listening. No one is saying that it is going to be easy. It is not. But keep going. Keep your mind taut.
2. Deal with Your Addictions
Addictions are not uncommon even amongst individuals past 40 years old. Addiction Center published an article in November 2021, stating that about 21 million Americans have at least one addiction.
This is not to be taken likely. Addictions can, to a large degree, have a negative effect on a person’s life. It is most times the reason why people grow old and realize that they could have been better, that they could have done better.
If you want to start over, you have got to make the decision to let your addictions go. The thing with addictions is that, if left unsolved, they cause more problems which can slow you down as you start life all over after 50.
Let us imagine that you are addicted to smoking cigarettes. It means you don’t only expose your finances to danger (you spend money on cigarettes, don’t you?) but also expose your lungs to danger. If you are also addicted to consuming alcohol in large quantities, you also put your liver at risk.
So, even though you are starting over, you will sometime in the future—if you don’t deal with your addiction—be pulled back by health issues. If you had managed to make a load of money, you would end up spending that money on insurance and hospital bills.
Deal with your addictions. Seek professional help where necessary.
3. Heal / Get Therapy:
Sometimes, we carry unnecessary baggage or loads into our middle and old ages. Right here, at the point where you intend to start over, is where you drop the baggage.
You need to set your mind free so that you can be able to focus on what you should do so that your body falls in line and you get to see good results.
Do you still feel burdened by a failed marriage or relationship? By a failed business, past mistake, or have you just gotten out of jail? Heal from it.
Develop a sense of self–worth, and desist from telling yourself horrible things. You are not a terrible person; do not compare yourself to your age-mates who are doing better. You are not your age-mates. You are you, an amazing person who is going to go ahead and do great things.
Get Therapy if you can afford it. And if you can’t, talk to someone you trust.
Read: 12 Habits of Highly Successful People
4. Read More
Books are treasures. When you are 50 and looking to start all over, you have got to find a way to tap into these treasures. A good book will change your life—Literally.
Get your hands on any books that you believe will change your life, and read them. This is not to say you should read every book in the world. NO. Of course, everyone is supposed to sieve the kind of books he or she reads. But, he or she has got to read a lot still.
The purpose of reading a lot of books is to help one keep one’s mind in a healthy state. When we read books, we get to come face to face with real-life stories of people who have been in our situation. I suggest you read a lot of non-fiction books.
Read books about investments, health, etc. Some good books include The Rules of Life by Richard Templar, The Richest Man in Babylon, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, etc.
5. Exercise and Diet
So far, I have focused on the mind. Now, I will focus on the body.
When starting over at 50 years of age, your body may not be as strong as it was when you were younger, but this does not mean you do not need it. You need your body. Always. Take care of it.
Develop a healthy eating habit. Don’t just eat anything. Stay away from junk, especially. You are not 20 anymore. Also, exercise. Exercising improves how your body functions. Your heart functions better, and your blood flow improves, etc. You are at less risk of chronic diseases if you exercise a lot.
6. Make New Friends
I know you are over 50 now and most likely feel like you don’t need any more friends. But this is not true. We, humans, are made to interact. When starting over, you need to make new friends—they have to be people who are better than you, who you can look up to.
This is going to expose you to a lot of opportunities. Your new friends may be the very people who help you get your first job.
There are countless stories of people whose friends have helped. You just might be one of these people.
7. Find Ways to Make money
Many times, people who want to start all over at 50 do not have any money, to begin with. This is where most of the discouragement begins. But don’t worry. We live in an age where anything is possible. Look around, and not with pessimistic eyes, how do you think you can make some money for yourself? Can you get a job? Yes, you can.
Starting over usually means starting small. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. Starting small is going to give you ‘small’ money, but small money can always grow into big money. Tap into the power of the internet. With just a mobile phone, you can earn some money for yourself. You can become a freelance writer or anything. Just make some money.
Apply for grants. Clear your debts if you have incurred any. Learn to save and invest any money you earn. Remember, be patient with yourself. It is not going to happen overnight, but it is going to happen anyway. Read wealth-related books; The Rules of Wealth by Richard Templar is an excellent book to start with.
8. Join a Voluntary Organization:
When you are starting all over at 50, one thing you don’t want to do is stay idle. You don’t want to sit in a chair at your home while time keeps passing. There are opportunities out there.
Join a voluntary organization, even if it’s a small one. Give out your knowledge for free. The world has a way of giving back what you give it. Give something to the world.
9. Learn a Skill
Another tip to help you start over at 50 and lead a fulfilling life is to learn a skill. 50 is not too late to learn a skill. Keep focus and learn a high-paying skill—writing, photography, etc. Learn to do something new. Challenge yourself to maintain a desire to learn a valuable skill. There are many proven skills you can learn at home and master in no time.
Concentrate more on skills you can do rather than being discouraged by what you can no longer do.
10. Do What You Love
Fulfillment comes from doing what you love. You want to be fulfilled, don’t you? Then do what you love. My guess is, when you were younger, you cared a lot about what people had to say about you.
You are older now. You should care less. Care more about yourself. Do what you love. Do it long enough, and you are going to stand out, loving yourself and the world. You have got this.
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
