What images, words, or feelings come up when you think about someone in their 70s, 80s, or beyond? Are they wise, vibrant, and engaged—or frail, forgetful, and out of touch? Our culture is saturated with messages about aging, and many of them are far from kind.

Which of these have you experienced or witnessed?

Which microaggressions especially get to you? What is the scariest part of aging for you?

How we think about aging can literally change our health. Research led by Becca Levy, Ph.D., has shown:

Of course, many aging variables are not in our control. Failing to recognize the biological, psychological, social, and economic factors that contribute to shorter or more painful aging is one more way to blame victims. The five noble truths of Buddhism remind us we are going to die, age, be subject to ill health, lose what we love, and live with difficult consequences—some brought on by others! And yet! We can choose what we focus on.

Arthur Brooks, in his book From Strength to Strength (2022), highlights some of the ways that we decline as we age. For instance, our physical........

© Psychology Today