It's hard to see parents and friends getting older. It's just as difficult to accept your own aging. But how to stop resisting the laws of nature and try to see the positive side of things, dream, have fun?
Many of my elderly patients often express anxiety about death. They often ask me: How to live when your loved ones leave all the time, and how not to think about death and loss every minute?
More or less jokingly, I tell them that there are actually two things that help older people not think about death:
The first is, oddly enough, the daily inconveniences associated with the problems of losing health and worrying about preserving what is left of it. It takes up almost all the time, it's like going to work. Thus, you do not have time to think about death. You're pretty busy. You don't have time to think when it hurts.
The second is the joy that the family is getting larger from year to year, that children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren come to visit you. These are wonderful and very important feelings and emotions for every person. All good and right thoughts protect you.
How not to be afraid of old age?
It is very simple. Here are some tips that I also practice:
- The main thing is to stop suffering! Suffering from things that are beyond your control and that you cannot change in any way is absolutely useless work. When you try to fight and resist changes in nature that are stronger than you, unnecessary suffering begins.
- If you have no chance of not getting old, you should first relax and try to see some kind of pleasure in it. Maybe it really exists?
- The quality of life at the moment is more important than the fear, disgust and horror of old age. And the further you go, the more valuable the rest of your life is. And, by the way, there is not always a temptation to return. Talk to the elders and you will see that I am right.
- Aging itself is associated with the fear of death and old age. The more you think and worry, the sooner everything will happen. You cannot think of the bad things, and when they happen, you still need to try to see the bright side.
- Once, I was also afraid of old age. But tell me at what age should I consider myself old? After all, at 70 you are not yet old, but you only realize it at 80. It is not for nothing that it is said that you are as old as you feel.
Interest and life goals should be present in relation to everything. Teach great-grandchildren to cook pancakes! Isn't that a goal?! What about volunteering? And completing the family tree?
We always have a reason to live, and the fear of old age should in no way destroy the quality of our life. Aging is natural. What we can do is age beautifully.
I wish you many years of life!