Everyone knows that as we age, our minds and bodies decline and life inevitably becomes less satisfying and enjoyable.
Everyone knows that cognitive decline is expected.
Everyone knows that as we get older, we become less productive at work.
Contrary to the stereotype of later life as a time of loneliness, depression and decline, a growing number of scientific researches show that, in many ways, life gets better as we get older. In fact, a growing number of evidence indicates that our moods and overall sense of well-being improve with age. Friendships tend to grow more intimate.
Our culture of youth obsession as the golden years of one's life has led many of us to believe that our happiness declines as we age. Some (rather depressing) research has found that 80 percent of life's defining moments occur by the age of 35, suggesting that there may not be much to look forward to in the second half of life. But this couldn't be further from the truth. The concentration of life's major events in adolescence and early adulthood may not be anything to feel discouraged about and it certainly doesn't mean that happiness and life satisfaction decline as we get older. In fact, a research has proven that we're wrong to think that happiness is correlated with youth. It demonstrates precisely that it's when people have surpassed many of life's big landmarks that their overall satisfaction and happiness peaks.
Happiness peaks at 69.
A highly-publicized recent study suggested that there might be two major peaks of life satisfaction - one in the early 20s and one in old age. Specifically, the ages of 23 and 69 were found to be the happiest years. After the early 20s, happiness was generally found to decline until the mid-50s, after which point is increased again into the 80s.
Whether you're old or young, chances are you think of young people as being happier even though science has proved that this isn't the case. Duke University economist Peter Ubel conducted a study in which he asked groups of 30-year-olds and 70-year-olds which age group (30 or 70) they thought would be happier. Both groups pointed towards the 30-year-olds, but when they rated their own happiness levels, the 70-year-olds scored higher.
The older we get, the more we appreciate the little things.
The types of experiences that make us happy tend to shift as we move through life. Research from Brown University, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, found that while young people tend to seek out and highly prize extraordinary experiences, such as travel, falling in love or thrill-seeking, which can help them to build a greater sense of personal identity, older adults assign higher value to ordinary experiences and everyday pleasures, and derive identity from these types of experiences.
Our confidence grows.
As we become older, we may be less likely to struggle to resist or control our circumstance; we may become more likely to realize and live the truth of the Buddha's words, "“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” Science has also backed the truth of the Buddha's wisdom: A 2013 Australian study found that acceptance of what can't be changed is a significant predictor of satisfaction in later life. As we age, we have the opportunity to accept who we are, instead of focusing on who we feel we need to become. We relax into being ourselves. Our faces start to look like who we are. And the world settles into more and more familiar patterns. That acceptance brings diminished anxiety and a higher degree of enjoyment. One of the great discoveries as we age is how much better life gets, once we have started mastering the skills of living well. Acknowledging these gains and recognizing the specific advantages gives them even more meaning. Youth is a time of searching and insecurity, trying to figure out how to live, and as time passes we gather more and more certainty about our own aims and preferences. We become less interested in comparing ourselves to others, having slowly gained an internal compass.
Our self-knowledge increases.
An expanding awareness of our strengths and vulnerabilities helps us endure difficult times with more self-control. We are not stricken around so much by other people's opinions about the choices we make and our overall sense of what we should do with our lives. It becomes a pleasure to stand our ground in tricky situations, not out of stubborn pride but because we finally know who we are. We see where we went wrong earlier on, allowing our past mistakes to inform our present situation. We can assess the pros and cons of complex choices on the basis of our lived experience, rather than having to guess about the implications of taking one path rather than another.
We get better at relationships.
One of the most significant skills gained with age is employing what we have learned about ourselves in how we conduct our relationships. With intimate partners, especially, self-knowledge allows us to be more open about our weaknesses as we try not to repeat the same mistakes we've made in the past. We appreciate the loyalty of true friends more and more, having less patience for superficial relationships. Generosity begins to occupy a central place in how we regard the value of what we do. As the decades pass, we find that we need to contribute to the greater good more than our own self-betterment. We become more sympathetic toward others, having found that we all face the same fundamental difficulties.
Our spirituality deepens.
The search for meaning goes on throughout the lifespan, but in our later years such questions become more urgent and begin to take priority. Meanwhile, petty concerns recede to their rightful place in the background. Going through grief wakes us up to the spiritual domain in a manner that shows us what really matters in life.
We become more cheerful.
The real action in life is interior. The body slowly deteriorates, but the soul expands. When we are young, we look at elders and cannot see the exciting developments going on inside. The most lively people are those who have death in sight and so are determined to live life to the fullest.
We slow down and see further.
The radiance that can often be seen in elders comes from becoming more alive. Once we stop hurrying so much, we develop a quality of attentiveness that adds new dimensions to our experience. It takes time to accept the body's imperative to slow down, but once we do we are able to access the quadrant of life where ordinary freedoms are cherished.
Unexpected pleasures become abundant.
Awareness of our mortality conveys immediacy in everything we do. We no longer waste our time, because time is the currency that has become more precious. This is our one and only life, and we recognize this more keenly than ever before. Our receptivity to joy is wide open.
 | Quates of the Day: Getting Older |
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.
George Burns
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
Madeleine L'Engle
I'm a person who gets better with practice. Getting older is awesome because you get more practice.
Zooey Deschanel
Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.
Groucho Marx
As I'm getting older, I'm enjoying my vices so much more because I feel like I've deserved them.
Brooke Shields
I actually think there's an incredible amount of self-knowledge that comes with getting older.
Jamie Lee Curtis
I don't understand people getting depressed about getting older. There is nothing you can do about it, so you might as well embrace it.
Twiggy
Why are people afraid of getting older? You feel wiser. You feel more mature. You feel like you know yourself better. You would trade that for softer skin? Not me!
Anna Kournikova
I think women should start to embrace their age. What's the alternative to getting older? You die. I can't change the day I was born. But I can take care of my skin, my body, my mind, and try to live my life and be happy.
Olivia Munn
So, every day is precious, live every moment and please take care of your health, we can't take another day like this. Remember, life is for living. The opportunities are endless. Enjoy the train ride and where ever you are going in life and GO FOR IT!!!
My passion in life is to help inspire people to take control of their health and even develop an understanding of the true factors of longevity so they may apply them in their lives.
I can help you to prevent many health conditions from happening or improve your health. Find more information about it in Anti-Aging and Optimal Health Holistic Program. Also, check Burn Fat and Lose Weight Holistic Program if you want to lose weight and Healing Chronic Conditions Naturally Holistic Programs if you want to prevent or improve your health conditions that are available in online store. With the proper care, support from healthcare practitioner and your commitment you can lead normal, happy and healthy live. Click Here to find help you deserve. Also, check Natural Whole Food Supplements and Herbs to Slow Down Aging on my website.
Best Wishes
Health Coach Zhanna
zhanna@holisticpreventive.com
(253) 564-8431