REVEALED: The Years You're Likely To Be Most Happy - 50 To 85
Which Age Are You Likely To Be Your Most Happiest?
The Huffington Post UK
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Wrinkles and the prospect of death would be enough to make even the the cheeriest of OAPs cantankerous, but perhaps its all those accumulated years of wisdom and life experience - 85 is the age at which we are happiest.
In fact, a wide-reaching telephone poll of 340,000 people showed that after 50, people start progressively getting happier, reported Live Science.
People who were 85 revealed the US Gallup poll, showed the same sprightliness and enthusiasm for life as 18-year-olds.
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One theory for this could be a focus on the smaller things in life, an appreciation for living in the present - a state of being that draws close parallels with mindfulness, which has been shown to enhance the quality of a person's life.
Similarly, it could also indicate that older people are better at handling negative emotions more effectively. "Older people are better able to recognise what will bother them, and better able to negotiate their environment," said Susan Turk Charles, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine.
Older model and HuffPost blogger Alex B commented: "I think that by and large people are happier once they reach the half century milestone as they have learned to accept themselves. They can still improve upon the things that can be improved upon without setting unrealistic goals for themselves.
"There will always be those who are unhappy and wish to turn the clock back but let's face it, it is not going to happen! Life is a cycle and its good to accept it as such."
Dr. Arthur A Stone, a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, was the lead author of a study based on the survey.
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7 Tips To Live Life With The Wisdom Of A 70 Year Old And The Passion Of A 20 Year Old
1. Keep Love In Your Heart, Always(01 of07)
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There is no wiser way to live long beyond your 70s, with the passion of a 20-year-old than to stick with love in your heart -- no matter who you are with or what you are doing. Love is passion caught on fire. Where there is love there is vibrant life. (credit: lanierstar.com)
2. Use Your Imagination, Then Take Action(02 of07)
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It’s great to try something new. Nothing bad will happen to you. Do it now! Don’t confine yourself to small places. The world is large -- expand your domain. Attend an adult education cooking class, join a bowling team or take that art course at the local library.
3. Go Silent. Go Deep. Accept That You Are Unique(03 of07)
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Count the cost for expressing your uniqueness -- there is none. Count the blessings -- oh, so many! Demonstrate your unique style: Don that garden hat, if that's your cup of tea. Do you like it? Wear it. Live here and now; that’s all there ever is.
4. Keep The Body Active, But Slow Down The Pace(04 of07)
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An active body is your rescue from creaking bones. Put the body out of service and it cannot serve you properly. Physical action is vital to your health and wellbeing. What activity might become your newest passion? Put on those walking shoes, get up and go.
5. Get A Thrill Out Of Giving, And Give Daily(05 of07)
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Give spontaneously. Give boldly. Give generously. Give wholeheartedly, and you will feel like a million bucks every time you give. Give a warm smile. Give a kind remark. Give a friend a stick of gum or a sucking candy. How you give is far more important than what you give.
6. Know That Your Life Is Meaningful(06 of07)
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Live in the world, knowing that you are a valuable contribution to humanity. Respect the life lessons and insights that you have gained over the years, and share them. You can experience an ordinary life in extraordinary ways, which is precisely what gives passion its energy.
7. Take Part In Your Own Deliverance(07 of07)
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One thing I’ve learned over the past seven decades is that passion and wisdom are graceful gifts bestowed on anyone who’s willing to be his natural, loving, approachable and spontaneous self. Passion and wisdom are a hot combination.
He said: "It could be that there are environmental changes, or it could be psychological changes about the way we view the world, or it could even be biological - for example brain chemistry or endocrine changes."
Last month, research from the Office of National Statistics revealed that people in their late 60s have similar levels of happiness as people in their 30s and are satisfied with their own health.