Chances are you are close to a person you love deeply . . .and that person appears to be aging faster than they should.
What can you do?
First, you must accept that their condition is controllable . . . by them! Adults who develop positive attitudes about aging live more than seven years longer than peers who have negative attitudes.
How can you help your loved one improve their attitude about their health?
- Point to the science. For at least 20 years researchers have known that a person’s thoughts about their health have a huge bearing on their actual health experience.
2. Lovingly persuade them to care about their health and take better care of their health. Urge them to spend time in nature, volunteer, exercise, eat well, and get plenty of sleep.
3. Help them see the gifts of aging… more compassion, wisdom and understanding. Don’t compare their physical ability to their abilities at a younger age… they will never win that game.
In this country at least, society conspires to make us fear aging as a time of loss. It can be that, but it can also be a time of life getting better and wiser. Wisdom that you gain over the years can help you stay young at heart and younger in body & mind too. One study showed that people aged 65 – 79 “are the happiest of all”.
I know that you can control your own aging and help your loved ones control theirs. Why? . . . because at 86 I’m experiencing the best years of my life, by being in control of my life. And I’m not any smarter than you are.
Do you feel better about aging? I’d love to hear from you.
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