As we age, we are more prone to feel lonelier and often, become depressed. But the truth is, old age is actually the time when we can be finally at peace with our minds. By the time you have hit 60 years young, you know a lot of things about life that others do not. Which gives you an edge over others. But what is it that truly makes older people so much better at life than others? We did a deep dive and here’s what we think:
Embracing Their True Self
It is not possible for us to accept who we are. It takes time. When we accept our self, it means we accept all our flaws too. This part is the most difficult one for many. However, with age, self-acceptance becomes easy. As we age, we don’t worry anymore about being perfect. Now is the time to relax about self-improvement. Instead of self-improvement, it is time for self-acceptance.
Not Everyone Can or Will Be Pleased
Think about it, all your life you have been trying to please the people around you. Spouse, boss, parents, friends – the list is long. When you reach a certain age, you will realize the profound truth that you can’t please everyone. It goes without saying that when you try to please everyone, it can be a disaster!
Living In The Now
All our life we keep worrying about the future. When we are young, we think about our career and when we have established our career we think about retirement. We don’t ever think about living in the present. But in our old age, we have already accepted our past and there is not a lot to think about our future. Research has also proved that living in the now is definitely better for our mental health.
Not Taking Everything For Granted
When you are standing at the twilight of our life, you don’t take anything for granted. When we are younger, we prioritize our earnings, our friends, our children and put our own likings on the backseat. We easily move aside things that we want to do and do things that would please others. Not anymore though. Since they know that they do not have many years left, they tend to find novelty even in trivial things – that’s when you find happiness. Small things do make us happy. Think again, you might remember buying your first car forever, but not your most expensive car!
Having Meaningful Relationships
When time horizon goes short, people tend to form only meaningful relationships. They want to invest in what means most to them. Even online relationships mean a lot to them. In fact, a survey has shown that going online works well for seniors and those who do they end up lowering the risk of getting depressed. What seniors can do is cultivate relationships by making regular phone calls or by sending cards.
Wisdom That Comes With Age
After 6 decades on the face of the earth, elders tend to get really wise about everything. This kind of wisdom only comes with age and it will help remove several obstacles in life too. Even better, with the kind of wisdom they gain, they can actually help others too.
Of course, along with a positive mental attitude, elders must also follow a very disciplined life that includes having a good diet, getting enough sleep and having a minimum amount of exercise every day. It is also important to have fun, make friends and socialize. Finally, experts believe that it is very important to have a purpose for your later years. It can be anything – a business venture, a volunteering experience or traveling the world. Think about your purpose from before retirement and make arrangements accordingly. For example, if you want to travel the world you will need a good amount of money, so make sure you are retiring with considerable wealth to make that happen