The Science of Older and Wiser Unfortunately, research shows that cognitive functioning slows as people age. But speed isn’t everything. A recent study pointed out that older people have much more information in their brains than younger ones, so retrieving it naturally takes longer. And the quality of the information in the older brain is more nuanced. While younger people were faster in tests of cognitive performance, older people showed “greater sensitivity to fine-grained differences,” the study found. Based on an analysis of their research, they determined that wisdom consists of three key components: cognition, reflection and compassion. True personal wisdom involves five elements - they are self-insight; the ability to demonstrate personal growth; SELF-AWARENESS IN TERMS OF YOUR HISTORICAL ERA AND YOUR FAMILY HISTORY; understanding that priorities and values, including your own, are not absolute; and an awareness of life’s ambiguities. An important sign of wisdom was “generativity”. Generativity means giving back without needing anything in return. The form of giving back could be creative, social, personal or financial, and the wisest people do that in a way that doesn’t see their lifetime as limiting when this might happen. Elders are considered wise if they face old age with enough conviction in one’s own completeness to ward off the despair that gradual physical disintegration can too easily bring. Simplifying one’s life is also a sign of wisdom, for example, by giving your things away while you are still alive. Some people have trouble with the idea of settling for less — they’ve gotten so used to the game of acquiring more. Settling for less and simplifying is not the same as giving up. In fact, when older people lack challenges, self-absorption and stagnation may take over. The key is to set goals that match one’s current capacities. There’s a point in life when a fundamental shift occurs, and people start thinking about how much time they have left rather than how long they have lived. Researchers recommend services like guided autobiography, or life review, as a way of strengthening wisdom. In creating a biography, people share their life stories with the help of a trained professional. Reflecting on the meaning and structure of their lives can help people thrive after the balance shifts and there is much less time left than has gone before. Heres the link: nytimes/2014/03/13/business/retirementspecial/the-science-of-older-and-wiser.html?smid=tw-share
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 16:57:27 +0000
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