While aging is an unavoidable process, your attitude about it can greatly affect your experience with aging. People physically and mentally age at different paces, much of this having to do with one’s lifestyle, but a positive attitude helps as well. The way you see the aging process can be a big factor in your physical health.

Studies have shown that as you see yourself increasing in age, if your attitude does not stay positive, you may enter a cycle of decline which will halt physical and social activities, leading to faster aging. The negative state of mind of aging becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading people to live a lower quality of life. Alternatively, believing you are as healthy as ever increases the chance your lifestyle will reflect that.

Positive Perception of Aging

A positive mindset can help you live longer. Older people who have positive perceptions of their aging process while they are middle aged, tend to live over seven years longer than those who have a negative self-perception. Part of this may be due to a will to live, but a negative view on aging can have a negative effect on the occurrence of health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease as well.

It has also been found that older people who feel positive about their aging are 44% more likely than those who feel negatively to be able to recover from severe disability. The power of positive thinking is linked to improving the body’s response to stress, improving balance, self-efficacy, and increasing healthy behaviors with a sense of life purpose, which can also lower the risk of disease.

Neurasthenia

Neurasthenia was a common health condition in the 1880s. This health condition was thought to be the negative result of living too quickly, causing anxiety, headaches, depression, and insomnia among other symptoms. Many beliefs were popular of neurasthenia such as a cure of staying indoors and resting for weeks.

Today’s neurasthenia seems to manifest itself in stress due to overworking and over stimulation. Modern life does not offer the inner peace that is necessary to age gracefully.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Your lifestyle and your decision to be happy have a great positive effect on aging. While society may tell us that with aging comes weakness, one may choose instead to think of it as a time of indulgence, mental clarity, and wisdom. Having this positive attitude can be as beneficial as exercise to overall body health.

For example, people who are at a high risk for a heart attack who choose to be relaxed and live stress-free are more likely to overcome heart disease and have stronger cardiovascular health. Many studies have proved this to be true.

Choose Happiness

Don’t act your age if you want to feel young when you start to get old. If you tell yourself you are old and weak, your body will follow suit. Believing that you can be fit and healthy well into your older years can help you live longer, with a higher quality of life.

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