A positive attitude toward life and aging may assist you in living longer.
Do you anticipate the coming week? Do you think you're younger than you are? Do you feel like you're on a mission? If this is the case, you may have already taken steps to lower your risk of degenerative diseases and may even be extending your life.
Dr. Laura Kubzansky, professor of social and behavioural sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says, "Your outlook—having a feeling of optimism and purpose—seems to be predictive of health outcomes." Dr. Kubzansky has researched the implications of many types of psychological well-being on one's health. She discovered that emotional vitality, which she defines as "enthusiasm, hopefulness, participation in the life, and the ability to deal with life's pressures with emotional balance," is linked to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.
Emotional vitality's advantages
Dr. Kubzansky and her colleagues looked at data from the Nationwide Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), which is a long-term national study that includes both personal interviews and medical exams.
Her team revealed in 2007 that people with high levels of emotional vitality at the start of the study had a much lower incidence of cardiovascular disease 15 years later. They reported in 2015 that more emotional liveliness was linked to a decreased risk of stroke among 6,019 patients studied for an average of 16 years.
Other research has found that those who maintain emotional vibrancy while suffering from chronic disease or disability fare better. The Women's Health and Aging Study includes more than 1,000 women aged 65 and up who are disabled but still live independently. On two tests meant to measure the loss of function—walking speed and the ability to lift at least 10 pounds—women with greater emotional vitality fared much better than their less optimistic peers, who had identical levels of handicap.
Developing emotional energy is a process that takes time and effort.
It can be difficult to adopt a new, more cheerful approach if you've had a glass-half-empty mindset for decades. The following suggestions, on the other hand, may be useful.
Don't get caught up in your age. According to a growing body of evidence, people who report feeling younger than their calendar years live longer. According to a British study of 6,500 people with an average age of 65, those who claimed they felt older than their age had a 41% higher risk of dying in the next eight years than those who indicated they felt younger. When it comes to ageing, prioritizing the positive qualities such as wisdom, experience, and emotional maturity can help you live longer. Data from the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement was evaluated by a group of researchers in 2000. They discovered that men and women who had 23 A few years ago, he expressed positive feelings about ageing. Those who had lived 7.5 years longer on average than those who had negative attitudes.
Concentrate on the most vital things. According to Dr Kubzansky, a lot of studies have shown that this focus improves with age. With practice, we improve our ability to distinguish between concerns that require immediate care and those that are minor annoyances. The next time you're worried about a perceived offence or a delayed trip, consider the situation from the perspective of your entire life.
Make an effort to be mindful. A growing body of evidence suggests that practising mindfulness—focusing on the present moment and accepting your thoughts and feelings without judgment—has a variety of psychological advantages, ranging from anxiety relief to weight loss. It can deter you from returning to unpleasant ideas in the near term.
Maintain a feeling of direction. You may believe you've reached the pinnacle of your profession just as you're forced to retire. That does not imply that you must accept the fact that you are no longer as capable as you once were. Instead, you might use this significant life transition to start a business, learn a new sport, language, or musical instrument, or get involved in charity work. This could lead to new possibilities.
Pexel photo
