Franciscan Ministries’ Post

HEALTH & LONGEVITY BECCA LEVY ON THE ASTONISHING POWER OF POSITIVE AGE-BELIEFS   Becca Levy’s “Breaking the Age Code” is a book by a highly accomplished cognitive psychologist who researches how people with what she calls “positive age-beliefs” live longer, better, healthier, and happier than those who anticipate age as a debilitating and declining mode of being.   Levy is a Harvard-educated Professor of Public Health and Psychology at the Yale Institute for Global Health. In her research based on long-term studies, she documents the tangible advantages of nurturing a positive outlook towards aging and self-perception. Her investigations are in concord with the psychological research consensus that our convictions can profoundly impact our physiological health and longevity.   The short message is: Do not view yourself as “old” and surrender to the stereotypes that age inevitably comes with cognitive decline, physical deterioration, a decrease in attractiveness, the loss of independence, or the inability to learn new skills. Instead, adopt a mindset that accentuates capacity and potential and embracing aging as a process filled with potential for continued growth, personal enrichment, and active engagement in life. And the astonishing finding is, that positive age-beliefs can extend one’s life by an average of 7.5 years.   Mind over matter, another call for positive thinking? Living in denial? Well - maybe, sometimes. But even for the skeptics: if it works, why not make it a tool in our toolbox for an ageless lifestyle? And on a broader scale, as Levy suggests, why not challenge and transform societal conventions about aging?   Check out our Health & Longevity Section on https://lnkd.in/ge7YwPX2 with a summary of Becca Levy’s book. See also our bookstore: https://lnkd.in/g7Upscm4 #positiveagebeliefs #ageism #beccalevy #longevity #100yearlife #activeageing #aging #healthyliving #happiness #agelesssocieties #health #healthylifestyle #ageoptimising

What do longevity studies reveal about the habits and the psychology of those people who live the longest? How can we build longevity principles into our everyday lives?

So what are the keys to aging well? You may have met people who refuse to be defined by age  and maintain their peak performance well into their later years.  Is it a genetic gift or is there something we can learn from them? Strong social ties can significantly increase healthy longevity. The Harvard Study of Adult Development has studied the lives of 700 direct participants and their 1300 direct descendants for over 85 years. The researchers found that the quality of relationships was more impactful  on health and happiness than the quantity of relationships.  A few deep bonds are worth more than hundreds of weak or unhealthy ones. Dr Robert Waldinger is the current director of the Study and he and Dr Mark Schulz document the key scientific findings in their recent New York Times best-selling book “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.” The researchers looked back at the lives of the 80 year old participants  to determine what factors were predictive of healthy ageing. What did they find? Relationship satisfaction at age 50 was predictive of health at age 80. From Dr Waldinger: “It wasn’t their cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going  it was the quality of their relationships” Participants in the study who felt isolated were observably less happy and experienced notably earlier declines in health than those who felt connected. The study observed the negative impacts of alcohol and smoking  on the long-term health of the participants,  but found that loneliness impacted just as negatively. I’d love your thoughts on this. #change #careerchange #leadership #unretirement 

#blogarticle What is the secret to happiness in old age? 👵 "Ageing well is not merely a biological or socially-determined destiny, it is above all a question of individual #selfdetermination." Pasqualina Perrig-Chiello, a Swiss developmental psychologist and a leading expert in European ageing research, explains why dissatisfaction in middle age gives us the #opportunity to reinvent ourselves. 🙌🎯 💡 Read her inspiring article: https://lnkd.in/eNcNfPGB #midlelifecrisis #ownyourage #happinessreturns #selfdeterminedlife #yourlife #swisslife

This is part of the saddest news I've read for years. And it's on me, and you. All of us. We have together sacrificed our most precious gift in the world: the happiness of our children. And this is not only in US. This pattern is shown in so many data sets internationally, western Europe, the so called developing countries. It's all over the place. What used to be a U-shaped curve of happiness is now, for the younger generations, starting with low and only growing. Of course, we don't know how the curve for new generations is going to be in their later years, but this is horrible to think that now, young generations that used to be happy and enjoying life, have been through the lowest curves ever seen at any age for previous generations. That's probably one of the biggest challenge humanity has faced until now. We have created massive unhappiness for the young. We should think very quickly on inverting this horrible trend...

It's Not Just About Good Grades; It's About Building Character - Shape Your Child's Destiny As Parents, We're Architects of Our Children's Future. Let's Build a Foundation of Positive Habits Together. 👍 Lovely Habits to Build: 1. READING REGULARLY: Encourage a Passion for Knowledge and Creativity. 2. PRACTICING GRATITUDE: Encourage Appreciation for the Positives in Life. 3. HEALTHY EATING: Establish a Foundation for Lifelong Well-being. 4. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: Build Strong Interpersonal Skills From an Early Age. 5. TIME MANAGEMENT: Emphasize the Value of Striking a Balance Between Work and Play. 6. RESPECT FOR OTHERS: Promote Empathy and Consideration for Various Perspectives. 7. PROBLEM SOLVING: Equip Them With Critical Thinking Skills for Challenges. 8. REGULAR EXERCISE: Cultivate the Habit of Staying Active for Physical and Mental Health. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Nurture a Sense of Responsibility for the Planet. 10. MINDFULNESS & SELF-REFLECTION: Enhance Emotional Intelligence and Self-awareness. 🚫 Habits to Avoid: 1. EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME: Limit Digital Exposure for a Balanced Lifestyle. 2. NEGATIVE SELF-TALK: Discourage Self-deprecating Thoughts and Words. 3. PROCRASTINATION: Emphasize the Value of Timely Action and Responsibility. 4. LACK OF EMPATHY: Attention to Any Indications of Insensitivity Towards Others. 5. UNHEALTHY EATING PATTERNS: Break the Cycle of Poor Dietary Choices. 6. DISORGANIZATION: Cultivate a Tidy Environment for Improved Focus. 7. LACK OF BOUNDARIES: Emphasize the Value of Establishing and Maintaining Limits. 8. IGNORING PHYSICAL HEALTH: Stress the Significance of Regular Check-ups and Self-care. 9. IMPULSIVITY: Encourage Thoughtful Decision-making Over Impulsive Reactions. 10. OVEREMPHASIS ON PERFECTION: Encourage a Positive Attitude Towards Mistakes and Imperfections. Let's Empower the Next Generation With the Resources They Require for a Prosperous and Well-rounded Future! #parenting #childdevelopment #positivehabits #childdevelopment #parentingtips

Want to live a healthier life? Be more optimistic! 💯 The connection between optimism and physical health has been well-documented in several significant studies. Findings suggest that a positive outlook can lead to a longer, healthier life. ➡️The Grant Study tracked male Harvard students from the classes of 1939-1944 over several decades. This longitudinal research found that starting around age 45, optimism began to have a predictive value for better health outcomes among the participants. The study suggested that those with a more optimistic outlook tended to lead healthier lives as they aged. ➡️Another compelling piece of evidence comes from a study involving Catholic nuns. This research found that nuns with a more optimistic outlook tended to live about 10 years longer than those who had a more negative view of life. This difference was attributed to the positive psychological and physiological effects of having an optimistic mindset. These studies show us that maintaining a positive outlook can not only enhance our quality of life but also contribute to longevity and better overall health. To me, that's definitely worth any work it might take to be more optimistic. What about you?

🌟 Must-Read Alert: Harvard's Groundbreaking Happiness Study 🔍 For an incredible 85 years, Harvard University has been at the forefront of the longest-running scientific study on happiness in history. Starting in 1938, the "Adult Development Study" (https://lnkd.in/eMw8TPMu) began with nearly 700 teenagers, including both Harvard students and youths from some of the poorest neighborhoods. So, what makes this study stand out? It has meticulously followed these individuals throughout their lives, tracking their joys, challenges, and physical, mental, and emotional states at every life stage. The scope is so extensive that it even encompasses the spouses and children of the original participants. Key Findings? Here they are: 👉 Living alone, akin to being without a partner or friends, is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This lifestyle increases the likelihood of a stroke or heart attack by up to 40% and triples the risk of dementia. 👉 Beware: the same risks apply in a toxic relationship. We've always known that our social circles impact our emotional and physical health, but these findings are truly astounding! Check out the link for more insights: https://lnkd.in/eaUZyQxc What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below! 👇

George Vaillant in his book Aging Well (2002) based on Harvard Study of Adult Development points out that, “a stable marriage, the ability to make lemonade out of lemons, avoiding cigarettes, modest use of alcohol, regular exercise, and maintaining normal weight- allow us to predict health thirty years in the future.” The participants in the study who had four or more of these protective factors by the time they were fifty had a higher likelihood of aging successfully barring any unfortunate event. College education, regardless of where the participants attended college, helped with aging successfully. Modest use of alcohol implies limited consumption of alcohol and refraining from alcohol abuse at all times. Good social support in addition to these protective factors enhances quality of life. "The needs and the assets of the generations fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle" according to the video below and in George Vaillant’s own words what the Harvard Study of Adult Development has shown is that "Happiness is love full stop." https://lnkd.in/ethEi_bD You can access my Facebook page, Wellness Wednesday, from the link below: https://lnkd.in/e5aneMuw