The Fear of Getting Old

I want to share something deeply personal with you—something I see you drawing about over and over again.

This isn’t just my fear; it’s one of the biggest topics my students explore in their art, too.

I really hope that by sharing my experience, I can help others who feel the same way.

The fear of GROWING OLD.

When the Fear First Appears

When we’re in our twenties (and maybe even our thirties), we don’t really think about aging. It feels so far away, almost like it’s happening to someone else.

For me, the fear first hit in my early 30s when my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and then had a stroke at just 52. It shocked me to the core, and I had a full-blown panic attack.

But I buried it deep inside, put on a brave face, and carried on with life, staying busy with family and work.

Then, after I turned 40, the fear came back full force.

I looked in the mirror and saw the telltale signs of aging—wrinkles, sagging skin, waking up not looking fresh as a daisy. You know the drill.

And I thought: It’s not going to get any better…

Facing the Fear Head-On

But this time, I decided to meet the fear head-on.

The thing is, what we’re really afraid of is the unknown. We don’t have a clear picture in our minds of what it looks like to grow old happily.

Our society doesn’t really talk about aging—we glorify youth, celebrate photoshopped and AI-ed bodies, and don’t see nearly enough examples of vibrant, beautiful older people. Though, thankfully, that’s starting to change.

And this is where art comes in.

Art helps you create the future you want to live. 

My Tools for Overcoming the Fear of Aging

Here’s exactly what I did to deal with my fear:

1. Started Drawing My Fear

I poured all my anxiety onto paper. (If you want details, I used models from my Basics of Neurographica course—specifically, the ARL model.)

2. Found Inspiring Role Models

I looked for inspiring older women—women who were way ahead of me but living their absolute best lives.

And wow, there are so many! I became obsessed with icons like Iris Apfel, Dame Judi Dench, and Yayoi Kusama.

But you don’t need celebrities—look around you! My great-grandmother, Claudia, was a total legend. At 98, she spoke perfect French, was sharp as a tack, and could talk about anything.

3. Made a Life Wishlist

I made a list of things I wanted to do:

• Hobbies
• Travel
• Possibly living in a new country
• New business ideas

Anything that excited me. Plan a fun life, and your body will follow.

4. Drew My Future

I created my own scenario through drawing—actually, many drawings! I used models from my NeuroTimeline course.

5. Meditated, Visualized, and Prayed

I meditated on it. I visualized. I prayed. I called in the Spirit.

I always bring Spirit/God/Absolute into my plans. For me, it’s essential to make Spirit the co-creator of my life.

Where I Am Now

Honestly? This has helped me immensely.

Do I still worry about the future sometimes? Of course! I’m not a robot. But now I have tools to help me handle those fears when they come up.

Remember this: The future isn’t scary. What’s scary is our anxiety about the future. 

And that? That’s something you can work through—especially with Neuro Arts techniques.

Try different ones. See what works for you.

Oh, and did you know that people who create art regularly live up to 10 years longer?

But that’s a story for another time.

Great news all around!

Join Us in Navigating the Future with Art

Feeling inspired? Join our Neuro Arts Membership and become part of a supportive community of artists exploring life through art. Creativity is better when shared, and we’re here to help you create a future you’ll love.