"The view that aging is all downhill may be one that you implicitly believe in. How many times have you made jokes about your age, made jokes about someone else's age, or just looked in the mirror with despair at the toll time takes on your face? Yet, the media is full of images of people whose aging brings them joy rather than pain."
"For the past 30 years or so, researchers in the field of aging have worked from the assumption that aging can be more than a downward drift toward loss and instead an upward trajectory toward self-realization. With time, those who study the concept of "successful aging" maintain that you can rise above the calendar's relentless march. As an aspirational goal, this may seem great, but how realistic is it?"
Successful aging shifts from an unattainable ideal of flawless physical and cognitive functioning toward maximizing people's capacity to thrive within real-world constraints. Original definitions emphasized excellent physical health, minimal cognitive or bodily limitations, and active engagement with life. Recognition that most older adults have some limitations led to reframing successful aging as optimizing functioning despite chronic conditions and environmental challenges. A newer approach defines successful aging using six components derived from older adults' own responses, enabling personalized strategies. Focusing on these six actionable steps helps individuals prioritize strengths, adapt to limitations, and enhance well-being throughout later life.
Read at Psychology Today
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