THE EFFECTS OF YOUR BELIEFS and Attitude
Imagine how different life would be without birth certificates, birthdays or knowing that we’re old or young. What if we lived based on how we feel and our purpose, would our chronological age matter? If you believe it does, ask yourself why and what age related dogmas you think are stopping you.
According to a variety of studies, your subjective age is more relevant, because your attitude is not really about how old you are, but how old you feel. Did you know that an advantage to feeling younger fosters openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness?
Dr. Becca Levy, at the Yale School of Public Health, has done research on the health impacts of negative age stereotypes. Her experiments suggest that ageist beliefs have a measurable impact on older people’s physical and mental abilities, including handwriting, memory performance, balance, gait speed, hearing, risk of cardiovascular event and recovery time from such an event, self-care, and will to live. Oxford Academic
Common Misconceptions and Insults We Endure as We Grow Older
- Old people live under rocks
- Waiters, doctors or other service providers talking to younger people when they accompany an older person as if the older people are unable to understand or comprehend what they are saying
- Unkind praise, “you look good for your age”, you’re young at heart”, “you’re still able to dance and exercise”,
- Old people are demented
- Birthday parties with black balloons, headstones and the focus is on death
- Comments like,”Your’re too old to do those things, you’re still driving, your clothes don’t match your age
- Being referred to as a biddy, geezer, codger, old bag, pops, old bat or old timer
- Terms like “over the hill”, having a senior moment, no spring chicken, no fool like an old fool, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, act your age, past your prime
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
From Dr. Christiane Northrup “Your beliefs and thoughts are wired into your biology. They become your cells, tissues, and organs. There’s no supplement, no diet, no medicine, and no exercise regimen that can compare with the power of your thoughts and beliefs. That’s the very first place you need to look when anything goes wrong with your body.”
10 Keys to an Ageless Mind
Our lifestyle determines the state of our body and the way we function daily. This video offers ways to improve your choices to create a healthier mind, adding years to your life.
The Three Pound Universe – Your Brain
Healthy Bones and Your Mind: Your brain never stops regenerating cells no matter your age. the opinion that as we age brain cell development slows is nothing more than a cultural belief. Did you know that osteocalcin, a molecule produced in our bones has a critical role in our memory ability? Osteocalcin carries a message to our hippocampus that says, boost memory power” in turn our brain responds by increasing its ability to memorize, your bone health equals memory health.
Did you know that one third of your memory is predetermined by genetics and biology but an impressive two thirds is in your control?
THREE VITAL ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT YOUR BRAIN’S HEALTH:
1.Sleep Well – Sleep is a miracle drug for your brain. When you sleep well your mood improves and your mind is clear.
- It is a myth that as we age we need less sleep and for most it’s a challenge to get a deep, restful sleep. To improve those odds, it is necessary to control light because we are programmed to be in bright light during the day and much less light at night.
For Better Sleep – Regulate light by aligning it with nature.
- During the day – get at least 1-2 hours of bright light, if not from the sun, you can purchase an inexpensive dawn stimulator light or blue spectrum light.
- At night – Take measures to greatly reduce your exposure to light
- Turn bedroom lights and electronic devices off a couple of hours before you go to bed
- Use a booklight or a backlit screen to read in bed
- If you have a nightlight in your room use a dimly lit without blue spectrum light.
2. Become Curious – A well-rested brain will cultivate curiosity and helps you to enjoy, engage and even be enchanted by the day’s opportunities. Being curious stimulates your brain, the challenge excites your brain and delights your brain’s pleasure centers with molecules of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps you focus on a new solution and locking into your memory.
- Try this exercise, the next time you’re faced with finding a solution, be creative push your boundaries instead of relying on the same answers, try seeking a new and different way to solve a situation. This is defined as neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to change and adapt. A new discovery found that new neurons can appear in certain parts of the brain up until the day we die.
3. Deeply Connect to Life,- A more deeply connected life can result in a more youthful brain and joyful life. We are naturally social beings so profound connections creates powerful and advantageous, protective benefits for your brain.
- Living open-heartedly activates empathy circuits in our brain. Strong, companionable connections with others reduces the fear and anxiety of being alone and misunderstood. Seeking positive,healthy social connections regularly strengthens our brain’s centers of emotion, reasoning, and judgment.
- To effectively connect with others, avoid superficial greetings and offhanded small talk, instead engage in a heart-felt, genuine and sincere conversations to give the experience more meaning.
- Savor life and engage in pleasurable, sustainable rituals such as a standing meeting with a friend or family member and see the immense benefits of strong social connections. Awakening your heart to express your true and authentic self will give your brain a reason to sing at any age!
REDUCE STRESS – ENHANCE THE QUALITY AND LONGEVITY OF YOUR LIFE
Stress doesn’t just make a person feel older. In a very real sense, it can speed up aging. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that stress can add years to the age of individual immune system cells. – Consumer Health Daily
Stress is the body’s way of protecting itself, during periods of stress, the body starts pumping adrenaline, the heart rate goes up, blood vessels dilate, breathing and sweat production increases, metabolism slows down, and muscles become tense. To learn more about identifying the causes of stress and reducing it, click this link, https://commhealthcare.com/reducing-stress-and-enhancing-quality-of-life/
AGELESS LIVING CREDO
I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to read my post.
Free Resources on REVERSING the Effects of Aging
Enjoy this mindfulness meditation, one of the methods that can help quiet your mind and maintain balance and a harmonious environment.
Deepak Chopra – A Tip to Living Agelessly
Mary Walsh gives a spirited and profound Ted talk on the joy of aging.
Celebrate the wisdom that comes with growing older and banish terms such as “anti-aging” or “having a senior moment” from your vocabulary. Dr. Christiane Northrup
For a variety of ageless living ideas, articles and a wide range of information, visit The Ageless Living Community at http://the-ageless-living-community.com/
Wisdom of a Woman's Heart 