As people age, many wonder if they can change their behavior, lifestyle, or even the way they think. But contrary to what some might believe, change is possible at any age…provided we take care of our brains!
Change can often seem more difficult as we get older, especially as we have to adapt to the vagaries of life, the demands or the unpredictable events we have to deal with on a daily basis, be it between children, in life as a couple or still working.
However, whenever we are faced with a problem or an unforeseen event, regardless of age – and we will have to deal with more than one in our lifetime! –, motivation and the ability to change are essential and very often beneficial, because they are essential for our adaptability.
That is, when we adapt, we do not change at all, but we often learn to change our appearance and correct the situation through the actions we take.
Adjust
Talk to the workaholics retiring overnight after decades of hard work.
On the one hand, we can assume that someone who is able to think outside the box and approach new projects with ease will find it much easier to adapt to this important life transition.
On the other hand, those who find it harder to cope with the newness will experience this new phase very differently and may retain certain behaviors that are no longer as well adapted to their new reality, such as: B. Rigid schedule or too busy.
mental flexibility
Resilience is necessary to be able to adapt to the sometimes new or unprecedented situations that our life course throws at us.
One of the key ingredients to this resilience is mental flexibility, a remarkable ability of our brains. However, like any muscle, it needs regular exercise at any age.
By staying cognitively active (reading, writing, getting information, taking courses, etc.), by maintaining a diverse social network (in terms of backgrounds and values), by staying open to different opinions, by engaging with new generations or cultural Exposing realities, It will help us stay more flexible mentally.
Multiplying learning, discovery, and encounters with different people to stimulate thought and exposure to a variety of new perspectives and realities are all ways of promoting mental flexibility and resilience.
Additionally, we need to become aware of the importance and benefits of mental flexibility to better adapt and bring about changes in our lives. By the time we’re in our mid-twenties, our maturation is progressing rapidly. Moreover, in this time of life, the time of exploration is here, and nothing is set in concrete or in time.
After this phase of life, things really get going.
Our brain therefore has no expiry date, unless it suffers from an illness: this maturation does not decrease and can change well beyond our 25th year.
It is therefore quite possible to continue cultivating mental flexibility in old age and to benefit from it for the rest of your life.
A lesson in resilience
Not convinced? Think of how people of all generations, including the elderly, have managed to adapt over the past three years amid a pandemic crisis.
They’ve seen society evolve at breakneck speed, and in that time they’ve been challenged more than once to juggle the unpredictable.
Several seniors have also given us great lessons about courage and flexibility during the pandemic in the face of so many upheavals, proving that a flexible brain is indeed flexible at any age.
But as with any muscle, training will help you achieve your goal!
This column takes a break in the summer and returns in the fall.