Older adults who see themselves as “old” and “frail” will start to act that way. Interesting thought. It explains why we all have someone near and dear who flaunts his/her handicap sticker and embraces a cane or walker like a badge of honor.
What’s going on here? Studies really do indicate that people who think that they are old will start acting that way. It starts when you start using your age as an excuse to avoid activities that could make you stronger, healthier, and happier.
Is it an illusion? Perhaps, but perception is everything. Those who think “young,” feel and act young. They feel, and are perceived as, fun loving. They remain socially active and optimistic, even though they might, in fact, have equal or greater levels of physical weakness than others.
Negative beliefs in one’s own self-worth can lead to depression, and that means a downward, out of control, spiral into old age.
Using your age as an excuse may be funny and self-serving at first, but when it becomes your norm, it becomes deadly. Is that the mindset that you want to portray?
Everyone has a chronological age, it’s the number associated with your birthday, but the real driver is the biological (how you feel) age. The biological age explains why some people look and feel youthful, while others do not. People who remain engaged and adopt a heathier lifestyle tend to have a lower biological age. If you feel younger, you act younger.
Yes, everyone ages differently. There are some things that you have no control over, but if you give yourself a chance, you can do so much better. Concentrate on healthy habits and do whatever it takes to remain as independent as possible.
Of course, it isn’t always a mind game. Some people need to use handicap accoutrements for a variety of reasons. There is no shame in needing a wheelchair, cane, walkers or that dreaded handicap sticker. but internalizing agism is shameful indeed. Do the work. Never, under any circumstances just assume that you are or must be frail.
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