Is Age Just A Number?

The Truth About Ageing: Biology, Beliefs, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

Ageing is one of those things we all experience, yet few of us truly understand. Is it simply a biological process, or something shaped by our culture, beliefs, and mindset?

Why do some people age with grace and vitality while others struggle?

And does changing our beliefs actually change how we age? Well, look around you; some people don't appear to age as fast as others.

My friend's father is 86, looks and acts like he's thirty years younger. In between travelling, he still builds brick walls!

Politician Robert Kennedy Jnr is 73 but has a physique and strength that men in their twenties would love!

Let's explore the paradoxes and possibilities of growing older.

Is Age Just a Number—or a Social Construct?

On one level, age is straightforward. It's the number of years since you were born. Your birth certificate tracks it, your bones eventually show it, and society uses it to determine when you can drive, vote, retire, or qualify for discounts.

But beyond the biological clock, age is also deeply social. Cultures define what is "appropriate" at certain ages. One society might revere older people as wisdom keepers, while another glorifies youth and sidelines anyone over 40. In this sense, age becomes a social script we're handed roles to play based on a number.

Age can be empowering or limiting, depending on the narrative. When 80-year-olds run marathons or start businesses, they challenge the script. And when younger people feel "too old" at 30 to change careers or fall in love, they may be trapped by it.

So yes, age is both real and constructed. It's a biological process wrapped in layers of meaning, expectation, and belief.

Why Do Some People Age Better Than Others?

The answer isn't simple, but several factors are at play:

1. Genetics: Some people win the genetic lottery. They're more resistant to disease, have more resilient cells, or produce more protective hormones as they age.

2. Lifestyle: Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress all matter. Consistent movement, natural foods, meaningful relationships, and rest can slow down both the visible and invisible signs of ageing.

3. Mindset and Beliefs: This is where it gets interesting. Studies have shown that people who have a favourable view of ageing live an average of 7.5 years longer than those who don't. If you believe ageing means decline, you're more likely to experience it. But if you see ageing as a time of growth, wisdom, and opportunity, your body seems to respond in kind.

4. Purpose and Connection: People who live long, happy lives almost always have a sense of purpose and strong social connections. Having a purpose isn't just feel-good psychology; it has biological effects. Purpose lowers stress hormones, boosts immune function, and even supports brain health.

Does Changing Our Beliefs Change How We Age?

Yes—and science backs it up.

Psychologist Ellen Langer has done groundbreaking work showing how mindset can influence ageing at the cellular level. In one famous study, older men who were placed in an environment designed to replicate their youth—complete with 1950s décor and music actually showed improvements in physical strength, vision, and cognition.

Similarly, people who view ageing as a time of continued growth tend to stay healthier, take better care of themselves, and even recover faster from illness.

Belief isn't magic, or is it?. But it shapes behaviour, and behaviour shapes biology. In this way, changing how you think about ageing can literally change how you age.

So, What Does It Mean to Age Well?

Ageing well isn't about denying the reality of time or pretending we can cheat death. It's about redefining what ageing looks and feels like.

It might mean:

• Staying curious.

• Nourishing your body without obsession.

• Laughing often.

• Forgiving easily.

• Letting go of what no longer fits.

• Embracing each season of life with presence instead of fear.

It's also about rejecting the idea that ageing is something to fight. Ageing is living. And every line, every grey hair, is evidence of a life in motion.

Final Thoughts: Ageing is an Inside Job

Some people live long, joyful lives not because they avoided hardship, but because they remained open, open to learning, loving, evolving, and letting go.

If age is partly a social construct, then we can write our own version of what it means to grow older. If belief shapes biology, then cultivating a positive, empowered view of ageing isn't naive, it's wise.

So, don't ask: "How can I stop ageing?"
Instead, ask: "How can I age consciously, courageously, and well?"

Because ageing isn't something happening to you, it's something you're doing every day. And that means you have more power than you think.

As a man in later years, I refuse to see myself as an old man, but instead as a man who's at a different stage of life. I still hike and rise early because I love watching the sun rise. I enjoy working, and I dress smart. And I still enjoy playing sports. I'm actually getting healthier!