HOW TO STAY HAPPY AS WE AGE

In this post I suggest ways to stay happy. Everyone, regardless of their age can use some of my suggestions. You can learn to be a happier person at any age. You can start applying my suggestions for ways to keep happy immediately. Happiness does not just come to you. It is a quality at which you have to work. You can adopt ways to keep yourself happy. It is essential to apply and practice these ways constantly until they are habitual. As people get older, they sometimes get unhappy because they feel that they are no longer the same person that they were when they were young. I have the following suggestions as to how we can stay happy as we age.

Focus On Your Achievements

Instead of focussing on what we lose as we age, we should focus on what we have achieved and experienced as we get older. There are many reasons for us to stay happy as we age. For example, we can look back on a successful and meaningful career and on what we have achieved in life. We can feel proud of our families, our children and grandchildren. Throughout our lives too, we have acquired many skills and much knowledge. We have developed greater self- esteem and confidence in ourselves. We should feel good at having achieved all this.

Relax

Feeling confident will make us feel more comfortable being ourselves. It helps too, that as we get older, we place less pressure on ourselves to excel professionally and in our personal lives. We can relax and just be ourselves. I find that when I do not feel stressed about achieving, I seem to do better. Also, I am able to take on tasks and cope with all the challenges that come with these tasks.

Recall the Positive

Another way to stay happy is to recall more positive events and ignore the negative ones. By doing so we can control our emotions and we can look forward to life. We view life with great enthusiasm. We feel good and our well-being is great! So when something negative comes to mind, just push it out! I find that it helps to recall happy events often as it helps me to feel good about myself. As someone once said, “Happiness is the art of never holding in your mind the memory of any unpleasant thing that has passed.”

Be With Others

To stay happy we should be with other people as often as possible. We need to spend more time with family and friends. Use the phone, the computer and see each other in person. Have lunch with a friend, join a centre for seniors, and be active in church or at social clubs. When I am happy and enjoying myself, I do not feel stressed and worried. Tell yourself to meet three new people each month and work at doing so.

My advice to seniors is to try to be with happy people most of the time as happy people will influence you to stay happy. Also surround yourself with positive people so that you too can stay positive. Positive people are the kind of people who will help you to boost your self–esteem.

Connect with others and focus on your relationships. This will bring you happiness. Being with others, especially the ones you love will make you feel good. Your sense of well-being will be enhanced if you are with others who are good to you, who enjoy being with you and who love you. Do voluntary work and help others who are less fortunate. This will make you feel good about yourself. Keep busy and keep happy. Form a group of friends and meet often. Plan outings and social events for the group.

De-stress

Another way to stay happy is to de-stress. Many older people spend a lot of time worrying about their health. They seek medical advice often. We should really stay positive about our health. The best that we can do for ourselves is to keep active, laugh and eat well. It is essential to maintain a good mood and have a positive outlook on life.

Abandon Possessions

To stay happy there is no need to surround your-self with possessions and worry about your status and looks. If you place greater importance on these things than cultural, social and spiritual values you will remain unhappy. Ask yourself what you really value and list the experiences that are important to you. Then work on these every day. Many people I know decide to have a minimalist lifestyle when they age. They keep with them just a few items and they do not worry about their status and lifestyle.

Develop Skills

Find something to do with your skills and your time. Perhaps you wish to learn a language, play a musical instrument or develop some craft work. I have found an interest in making cards and wrapping gifts. I find this relaxing and most creative. I never had the time for this before but I do now. I try to think of different ways to wrap a gift and to make it as attractive as possible for the receiver. When I finish with the wrapping, I usually feel so good about it. I urge you to find an interest and to develop it. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

Conclusion

Research has revealed that when older people stay happy, their thinking skills improve. They are better able to make decisions, particularly about the way they live. Hence it is valuable to stay happy as we age to prevent our thinking skills from deteriorating. We are responsible for our own happiness. We can be as happy as we wish. I leave you with this quote from Marcus Aurelius Antonius:

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”