According
to the World Health
Organization,
nearly a billion people around the world are age 60 or older. Having a purpose has
a direct impact on their quality of life and longevity.
A
2013 AARP study asked those 40 and
older how they feel about aging. Of those surveyed, 83 percent agreed with the
statement “that having a purpose in life keeps me young.” A 14-year-study by the Association for
Psychological Science indicates, “Having a purpose in life appears to widely
buffer against mortality risk across the adult years.”
The critical question as we grow older becomes; “How do you find
your purpose?”
Work If work is your
purpose, focus on your talents, skills and behaviors that you are proud of. Be grateful for those skills and talents. Take the time to buff
them up so your employer continues to see you as a valued employee and a leader
in your areas of expertise.
Volunteering Volunteering has
wonderful benefits. It gives you a sense of purpose and
accomplishment. Volunteering is good for your health—even lowering blood
pressure according to a Carnegie Mellon University study. And, when you
volunteer with your spouse, friends or family you share that sense of purpose
and accomplishment together. It brings you closer.
Family An older family member
may need your companionship. Your adult kids may now need you to help out with
their own kids. Everything you do to connect with family will
pay off for generations to come. That even means making the effort to mend
fences with estranged family members. You are now the (older) adult in the room
so it’s time to make the first move.
Older people generally feel instinctively inclined to give back. A life full of meaning and purpose is what leads to
life-satisfaction, which in turn contributes significantly to happy, healthy
longevity.
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