Life Transitions
Radical Acceptance and Aging
September 16, 2026
— CHRISTINE SPARACINO
Now that our Slow Read is over, I think there are many ways we can apply the material of Radical Acceptance. Our experience with aging is one such application.
For us, aging can be a disembodying experience. The relationship we have with our physical bodies changes in ways that can feel unsettling. Perhaps it’s waking with an achy knee or a stiff neck. Or maybe you find that your stamina doesn’t hold up when you go hiking like it used to. Maybe you experience small “injuries” that feel like setbacks.
No matter the occurrence, aging is a humbling experience. Many people explain, “In my mind, I feel that I am still in my 20s, but my body doesn’t feel the same.” There is a disconnect between how we feel mentally (feeling young and strong) and the reality of how our bodies feel, and this dissonance can cause emotional distress.
When we confront our age head on, it can make us feel a flurry of emotions. Sadness for the loss of youth. Fear of what’s to come. Anger for how our bodies don’t feel under our control.
This can happen when we look in the mirror and suddenly see wrinkles or lines that weren’t there before. A small moment that opens the door for a flood of feelings.
The changes with age can be imperceptible until a moment shatters the illusion. Until brain fog in midlife catches you mid-speech. Or you turn your ankle getting out of the car and it takes longer to heal than usual.
Moments like these break through and show us what is changing, catching us off guard. Then suddenly we are facing our age, our decline, without enough protection.
This is exactly when we can use what we’ve learned from Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. I can think of no better time for Radical Acceptance than when confronted with aging and the unplanned changes.
Here are some simple steps to take, to remember when you’re feeling the emotions related to aging:
Step 1: When you feel the emotion (sadness, anger, etc), take a moment to pause. In the inward place, slow down and connect with yourself. It can be as simple as asking yourself, “What am I feeling?”
Step 2: Notice how you feel in your body. The sensations you are aware of, how it feels in your body in that moment.
Step 3: Name the emotion. See if you can name what you feel, in your body and in your emotional center. No need for fancy words - just “I feel sad” or “I feel scared.”
Step 4: Extend self-compassion. Speak to yourself like you would a friend who is sharing their intimate feelings. What would you say to them? Extend that comfort to yourself.
While physical aging can be a humbling experience, Radical Acceptance can help us move through the experience with an appreciation for living. It allows us to hold the entirety of our experience - the sweetness of time plus the heartache.
