STRESSED! WHO, ME?
Stressed? Who, Me? Yes, you. Stressed? Who, Me? Yes, me.
We all get stressed. And some of us STAY stressed.
But wait!! I have good news!! it gets better as you get older. Yep, the happiest people according to recent research are those ages 60-80.
There are several reasons:
The older you are, the more self-assured and confident you are.
Older people have better mental health
Your life is likely more stable the older you get
When you’re older, happiness means being content with what you have.
Let’s talk about these 4 points:
The older you get, the more self-assured and confident you are.
The search for identity is over
You’ve tried things, failed at some, succeeded in others and learned a lot. All that practice leads to self confidence (It’s why we give our kids chores – they hate them, but it helps them become confident in their abilities.).
Hopefully you, like me, have become a reformed people-pleaser. The practice of setting boundaries pays off.
2. Older people have better mental health
“Often it takes some calamity to make us live in the present. Then suddenly we wake up and see all the mistakes we have made.” Bill Watterson. Older folks have survived enough calamities to learn that lesson.
This quote by Bill Keane is an adage people who’ve lived for several decades know and appreciate.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”
3. Your life is likely more stable the older you get.
Those awkward high school years and tumultuous 20’s are seen from the rearview window.
You’ve formed solid relationships – I well remember friends we’ve known for over 30 years
You’ve been successful at work and helped your children grow into responsible adults.
4. When you’re older, happiness means being content with what you have.
As Sheryl Crowe sang, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you have.”
Happiness is not reserved just for the older generation, however. Researchers describe the “happiness curve” as a U-shaped one, with happiness at a high in your 20’s, dips in middle age and shoots back up again in your 50-60’s to be enjoyed for many years to come.
Overall, the research is worth noting – especially given the fact that many people think aging is a negative more than a positive experience. Just a little something to keep in mind if you’re dreading the number of candles on your next birthday cake.
As Gertrude Stein famously said, “You look ridiculous if you dance. You look ridiculous if you don’t dance. So you might as well dance.”