To transform middle age into a true renewal, the secret does not lie in performance but in a profound psychological release allowing one to finally reconnect with one’s deep nature.
Aging is a biological process from which no one escapes. It is completely normal to feel worries, frustration, even anxiety, as we get older. Physical abilities decrease, the mind is less sharp, less rapid. Those around us sometimes notice it, and so do we. However, this period of life should not be endured because it can be better experienced psychologically and physically. Science and demographic change have radically changed the situation. Today, with life expectancy increasing, experts speak of a “senior revolution” which begins around age 50.
Now is the time to adopt a “longevity mindset” to add decades of quality to our lives. According to Arthur Brooks, a social and psychological scientist at Harvard, for our second half of life to be better, “we must take this opposite path: shed our burdens (the gaze of others, our ego, our education, family expectations) to get as close as possible to our true nature and our real needs“, he explains in his book “From strength to strength: Finding success, happiness and deep meaning in the second half of life”. This is his main advice for happiness with age. Think about yourself. It’s essential in psychology but how many people really do it?
Second tip for being happier as you age: learn new skills. The objective is not to become an expert in this or that field, but to overcome what we call the “wall of frustration”, this phase where learning a new activity or a new sport seems too difficult and discourages most people. The idea is to put yourself in the position of an “expert amateur”, that is to say a person who has mastered the basics of a discipline and applies them with confidence and flexibility. Here, we are not looking for performance, but the pleasure of progressing and the opportunity to participate and understand a part of the world that was hitherto unknown to us. To apply this secret, determine a skill that you have always postponed (piano, foreign language, dance, knitting, etc.): sign up for a course or follow a tutorial, and accept being “mediocre” at the beginning to savor, a few weeks later, the immense gratification of newfound autonomy.
Then, the expert advises being closer to nature after 50 years. Studies demonstrate the positive and quantifiable effect of exposure to natural environments on mental health, cognitive functions and longevity. Proximity to green spaces significantly reduces levels of anxiety and depression. This can involve more frequent walks in the forest, joining a hiking association, purchasing green plants to green up your interior, etc.
Finally, he advises keeping a “diary” for the next 10 years. This is what we call “Episodic Future Thinking (EFT)” which consists of imagining your future with precision and depth, a bit as if you were scripting the movie of your life. This helps create strong “memories” of the future, which not only helps prevent trauma, but above all reduces stress and the risk of depression. It is a powerful tool for cultivating empathy towards the “future us” and thus planning for decades of healthy and happy life.
