Psychology Today: Getting Older May Be Better Than You Think
"Earlier
research points to the powerful role attitude plays in our health and wellbeing.
In the landmark counterclockwise study,
Harvard University psychologist Ellen Langer, Ph.D., and colleagues (2009)
invited two groups of men to an experiment to turn back the clock. For just a
week, one group lived and acted as though it was 20 years earlier. They turned
off their electronic devices and were invited to be who they were in 1959, for
example talking about the politics and
books of that period, sending photos of themselves, and writing a brief
autobiography as though it was 20 years earlier. The second group simply
reminisced about that era.
Notably, Langer’s research found that the process of getting older is less fixed than most of us realize. In only a week the men in both groups showed marked improvements in overall well-being, including posture, weight, vision, joint flexibility, performance on intelligence tests, and other factors. Although both groups showed positive outcomes, the men who actually lived and acted as if they were younger showed even greater improvement. The counterclockwise data makes the case that by shifting our thinking, language, and behaviors, we can let go of arbitrary limits on health and wellbeing to live as healthfully as possible at any age. Our minds have an important influence on our bodies. People with a more positive self-concept about getting older lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive stereotypes."
What I have learned from this article
- Greater optimism is linked to a more positive mood. Optimism seems to change the way people experience or interpreted stressful situations
- Accurate information and awareness of the power of your choices can help you transform your beliefs about growing older and increase your well-being
Read the full article here
💬 What negative stereotypes about aging have you been holding?
💬 At whatever age you find yourself, how can you shift toward more empowering choices and ideas about your health and wellbeing?
#stereotypes #ageing #well-being
@globalBraid3744
Insightful article and reflection, Braid! I think many of us feel anticipation about future and aging hehe, but it does help to reassure ourselves that it's something natural, inevitable and something that everyone goes through, law of life lol ~ helps in becoming more accepting and kinder to ourselves, I feel. ❤
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
I agree with you, Sun ❤ Moreover, there are also advantages to being older, such as having more life experience and some research indicates that happiness again increases after the mid-50s. This article talks more about it: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scientific-proof-that-the_n_5110179
@globalBraid3744
Glad to hear you feel the same. Now that I think deeply about it lol, yessss, there's some benefits there definitely - the article too highlights some of these.
It makes alot of sense that most people achieve a majority of their goals in life by the time they reach their 50s or more like there's a sense or stability in terms of career, relationships, life in general as opposed to the early years of "building the life" say 20s-30s which is seen as a period of all the hustle, confusions, uncertainties, heartbreaks and what not lol.
Gotta look forward to 50s then xD
Thanks for replying, Braid.❤
@globalBraid3744 Great article! There is this stigma associated with women and aging. There is this paramount pressure for women to look 'young'. I'm afraid to age because of this. Also, with age, we lose mobility and I dread that happening. This article has helped me look at aging in a more positive light. Thank you!
@comfortableNight4463
I agree with you! Unfortunately, many women dread aging because of this. I think that during this period it is important to have a partner that is fully supportive and makes the woman feel beautiful at all times. Thankfully, the rate of muscle loss is influenced by the amount of regular physical activity people do throughout their lives so it is possible to remain in a good shape despite older age.
@globalBraid3744
I'm always often told that the age around your 20s-30s are the 'prime' of your life. There are also many people that say 'enjoy these years while you can' so it always rushes me to really want "meaningful relationships" right now. However, I realized with this article and more so in general that people aging is just part of the natural process and something that we shouldn't be worried about! I still hold many reservations but slowly realizing that being old isn't as 'bad' or regretful as people make it out to be.