How Can Positive Thinking Help Us Age Better?
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash - Smily Face with Tennis Shoes
How does our attitude affect how we age?
Aging is often characterized as a time where life begins to slow down. In a recent Pew Research Center study, researchers developed a set of questions to understand the perceptions that older adults bring to their aging process. Their findings showed how negative thought patterns around aging are detrimental, while positive thinking has clear impacts.
According to Dr. Becca R. Levy and her research team at Yale, the data shows that negative thinking about aging can shorten a person’s life span by an astounding 7.5 years, so changing attitudes is a key to longer, healthier aging. In this same research it was discovered that subjects who thought negatively of old age did worse on hearing tests and showed heightened cardiovascular stress. When older people were exposed to negative words connected to aging like “feeble” and “forgetful” they performed with less success on memory and motor skills tests. These same test subjects were also measured as walking away from the study site at a slower pace.
These conclusive findings link positivity towards aging with:
Increased Longevity
Lower Disease Risk
Better Cognitive Functioning
Enhanced Functionality
Reduced Stress
What are the impacts of negative attitudes about aging?
Negative thinking about aging may be more prevalent in our lives than we expect. When we are forgetful or are struggling physically, it can be easy to label these experiences as aging itself. We should be careful when we use the phrase “senior moment” or even “I feel old.” While aging does include physical, mental and emotional challenges, these do not define a period of life that can be filled with meaning and enjoyment. When individuals give in to negative self talk, it can be a self-fulfilling prophecy that leads to:
Poorer memory and higher cardiovascular stress.
Faster rate of cognitive decline.
Higher risk of depression and loneliness.
Increased likelihood of physical frailty.
You can change your outlook on aging!
Despite what can seem a cultural bent towards youth culture and fear of aging, we have the power to reframe that way of thinking. Around the world, most cultures view old age as the final journey towards wisdom—when you finally have the time to connect the dots of life. You can slow down and focus on meaningful relationships. You may rediscover talents and hobbies that took a back seat to work and family demands.
When the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studied 14,000 adults >50, they identified the key areas that point to positive outcomes for older adults:
Be socially active: join a club or be involved in a community organization or church
Reject the idea that poor physical health is inevitable for older adults: start moving!
Maintain a sense of purpose by finding a project that matches your interests and values
Cultivate strong relationships with the people that matter to you
These are all attitudes and actions that can be intentionally cultivated and embraced. If they seem challenging or difficult to embrace, you are probably a good candidate for change!
In summation, viewing aging with the lens of opportunity rather than decline will have an enormous impact on the quality and longevity of your life.
Our team at Hillsborough Wills & Trusts is here to cheer you on. We encourage your long-term efforts to take good care of yourself. We also urge you to make estate planning a part of your long-term plan. Knowing that your affairs are in order and that your loved ones are cared for also increases peace of mind and personal satisfaction.
Don’t delay! Call us today at 919-245=8440.