Positive aging

Graduates of the MAPP Program at Penn have just published another issue of the MAPP Magazine with articles about maintaining well-being during the pandemic, caregiving, and exploring character strengths.

In his new book, Wisdom @ Work, Chip Conley invites workers of all ages to become Menterns (simultaneously mentors and interns), with intergenerational reciprocity that allows all age cohorts to learn from each other.

Back in March, Dr. Attila Oláh invited people to attend the 9th European Conference on Positive Psychology in Budapest. The conference happened in late June. Here is a report on conference happenings.

Tal Ben-Shahar mesmerized a standing-room-only audience eager to learn about the science and practical steps necessary to experience greater well-being. I return to cover the remaining two parts of his talk, as well as interesting topics that arose in the Q&A session with Julie Rice.

Part 1 ended with a question about whether human beings are capable of holistic growth throughout their adult years. In Part 2, I contend that the passing of youth does not leave us confined to learning only very specific grownup skills for which a capacity is already in place. We can go beyond skill training to growth. Kegan and Lahey give us existence proofs, three very different corporate cultures where continuous personal growth is the norm. They call these existence proofs deliberately developmental organizations (DDOs).

The Positive Psychology News Movie Award series is now in its 9th year of providing the best of the best positive psychology movies. I comb through popular, independent, and obscure films from the previous year in order to share with you these awards across positive psychology themes.

There are so many creative people out there finding ways to apply positive psychology in so many different settings, from childhood to old age, from home to school to work to retirement. So how do you stand on the shoulders of these giants in our field? Hint: short window before the price of the Positive Psychology Toolkit© goes up.

Can love affect our health? Answering this question is no small undertaking, but I think the Grant study has managed it.

A heartwarming, delightful, and profound new HBO documentary, If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, highlights amazing people living and thriving into their 90s and 100s!

The Mind & Life International Symposium on Contemplative Studies was a beautiful mix of opportunities to learn about the scientific study of contemplative practices and to experience the practices themselves. In this first article on the conference, I explore why this area of study is booming and why it matters that aging brains are more plastic than once thought.

I was thrilled to speak at two back-to-back Positive Psychology conferences this summer. I came away from the two experiences with my brain filled with new resources to integrate into my work and dozens of new connections. I am so grateful to be part of a community that is at the forefront of bringing positive health and wellness to people worldwide.

When they want to feel more loved, valued, respected or connected, most people give away their power. They ask (or want) others to be different, which means someone else’s behavior determines how happy they will be.
What do happier people do?

Adopting an optimistic, playful attitude to problems over which you have no control improves your coping and your longevity.. Elders benefit from having a good sense of humor, including the ability to laugh at themselves. Restorative therapy gives control back to people. We can help them be the people they want to be through good food, exercise structured for their needs and goals, and positive energy.

We are physical beings. Our bodies were designed to move. When they don’t move, they start to break down. Even elders in wheelchairs can participate in frequent exercise routines that maintain mobility and preserve mental health and acuity.

What does research tells us about the relationship between what elders eat and their overall well-being? Eating neither too much nor too little and following a Mediterranean style diet can help elders preserve muscle mass, brain power, and overall well-being.

Many of the major findings from this book about healthy and unhealthy male development and adaptation to life will likely astound you. Here are 10 findings to whet your appetite for more.

I contend that we could improve the quality of life for elders and for ourselves as caregivers if we could assess social fitness and provide suggestions for enhancing strengths and addressing areas needing improvement.

Here are some practices that build social fitness and social networks. Be brave, go forward, have fun, and make this the best time of your life.

How can a program be created to serve older persons transitioning from stage to stage in their elder years? Moving from independent living to nursing home living? How might they thrive in the process and throughout their lives? How could this apply to the professional and family caregivers? Here I share perspectives on cultivating emotional fitness in the elderly and their caregivers with stories showing the concepts in action.

During the Martin Luther King Day of Service, thousands of people across the United States volunteered to make a difference in their communities in a variety of projects such as feeding homeless veterans, cleaning parks, and collecting clothes and toys for local children. Volunteering not only strengthens communities and those being helped, but as anyone who volunteers knows, it feels good. But a closer look at the research shows that the benefits of volunteering extend beyond a warm feeling.