[Neurons] 2023 Neurons #24 HEALTHY AGING AND AGING FACTORS

[Michael Hall]

From: L. Michael Hall

2023 Neurons #24

May 29, 2023

Healthy Aging #10

 

HEALTHY AGING

AND AGING FACTORS

 

Not surprisingly, there are healthy and unhealthy aging factors.  Unlike
previous generations who really did not have a good idea about aging
factors, today we are much more aware of both factors-the positive and the
negative aging factors.  We also know both the internal and the external
factors.  Externally, there are numerous negative aging factors, things that
cause us to age more quickly-the lack of exercise, smoking, too much
drinking, junk food, obesity, etc.  For the external positive aging
factors-regular exercise, moderate eating, managing blood pressure and
weight, etc.  These external factors are obviously important.  In fact, they
are critical.

 

Since I have already addressed some of these external factors, I want to
here focus on the even more importance of the internal aging factors.  And
again, both the negative and positive factors.  Negatively we know that any
sustained negative emotional state will function to cause you to age more
quickly and problematically.  If you want a formula for growing old faster,
then live in the negative emotions.  If you live in stress and anxiety, if
you live with a pessimism attitude, or in depression, loneliness, anger,
fearfulness, regrets, self-criticism, despair about getting old, etc., you
are giving yourself a strong negative dose of unhealthy aging.  You will
much more quickly grow old beyond your years.

 

Do you know this?  I bet you do, at least intellectually.  But the
Neuro-Semantic question is: Do you "know" this in the way you live?  Or do
you allow yourself to bask in fear or worry or anger or any of the other
negative emotions?  Now if you claim, "I can't help it; negative things have
happened, what am I suppose to feel about that?  Happy?" then obviously your
emotions have you rather than you having them.  What's needed is the
development of emotional intelligence so that you can take control.

 

Similarly, if you are getting inadequate sleep, you thereby are decreasing
your resistance to illness, lowering the effectiveness of your immune
system, and setting yourself up for more of the negative emotional states.
If you give yourself to all sorts of worries, financial, health,
relationships, etc., you again increase your negative stress which weakens
your immune system.  If you keep pushing yourself with things to do so that
your stress level stays high, so will your blood pressure and your chance
for strokes, heart attacks, etc. 

 

All of that is the negative side of things.  Those are the obvious negative
aging factors and the truth is that you can do something about them.  You
are not helpless in addressing these things, but it does take a commitment
to your well-being and a willingness to take action.  It may take some
coaching sessions to get a hold on how you are the meaning-maker who creates
your emotions and who is tolerating negative emotions states.

Now for the positive aging factors.  These are also well known and there's
really no secret about them.  For example, the more you access and live from
a calm, relaxed and optimistic state, the better your health and well-being.
The more you live from the state of acceptance and appreciation, the more
you can thrill in the simple pleasures of life and feel gratitude every day,
the better your overall well-being and health.  

 

All of that will make you more robustly resilient, flexible, and adaptable
to life changes and challenges.  All of these will help you to operate from
a positive self-image so that you can keep your youthful enthusiasm and a
strong will to live.  These are all positive aging factors.  So also is
living in a way that you create loving relationships with family and
friends.  Living in the here-and-now so that you don't miss today.  Develop
a daily routine to elicit within yourself a sense of being in control in
your life.  Additionally, you will want to creatively learn how to live
within your means. 

 

Does that seem like a lot of work?  Personally I don't think so.  Instead of
'work,' I think of it as requiring a lot of mindfulness.  But then again,
living mindfully and intentionally is the key to living more healthily and
aging healthily.  

 

 




 

 

L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.

ISNS Executive Director

P.O. Box 8

Clifton Colorado 81520 USA

(970) 523-7877

drhall at acsol.net  



 

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