Aging, the Power of the Mind

You’re as old as you think you are! Scripture tells us that, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Yale psychologist Becca Levy, PhD, an expert in stereotypes related to aging, indicates that her research supports this power of the mind. Hearing and memory loss are two examples. She reported the following to “Bottom Line Health” magazine.

In a study at Yale regarding measurement of hearing, more than 500 adults age 70 and older were asked what five words or phrases first came to mind when they thought of an old person. Three years later, the people who associated aging with stereotypes like “feeble” and “senile” had suffered significantly more hearing loss than those who had answered positive words like “wise” and “active.” In other studies, negative thoughts or beliefs about aging were linked to poorer memory as the years passed.

In another study, 62 heart attack patients, ages 50 to 96, were interviewed about their stereotype of aging within two weeks after their heart attacks. Seven months later, patients who expressed more positive stereotypes had experienced better physical recovery, as measured by tests involving balance and timed walking, than those who expressed more negative stereotypes.

I love the Bible. It provides for us patterns for successful living (and dying.) Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Our thinking patterns affect our bodies. Our aging.

Excuse me. What did you say? I forgot.