Potential Mental Health Benefits of Living to Age 100

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson To me, age is more a state of mind than anything else. It’s perception that comes into play, what we think about when we consider who’s old, or what it means to be old, or even what age makes someone old. Frankly, centenarians are lauded and celebrated for good reason: They’ve lived through many experiences and deserve to be honored. Thus, since through my research and personal experience I’ve found many potential mental health benefits of living to age 100, I wanted to share them. Taking Things in Stride The older I get, the less likely I am to be bothered by the little things. There are complex problems in the world, granted, yet I’m blessed with the ability to recognize that I will do what I can and make a positive contribution without falling into a negative state over that which I have no control. By the same token, the trivial upsets that may have caused me distress when I was younger don’t even register. They’re just not important to how I live each day and how I interact with others. Wisdom in Perspective Older adults have the unique ability to see different options, approaches and solutions to problems. This is based, in large part, on the breadth and depth of the experiences in live they draw upon in being able to recognize and respond to situations. Older and wiser, those approaching 100 have lived many years and experienced much. They’re often in a b...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Aging Brain and Behavior Mental Health and Wellness centenarian Elderly Memory Neuroscience nonagenarian Perspective Source Type: blogs