Researchers discovered five personality traits that can help you live a longer and healthier life. These may be the secret to long life without disease.
We spend our days working hard, building a life for ourselves and our families, day in and day out. But then, we finally reach retirement and spend our days just watching the hours pass by.
In part, this is due to the fact that our society associates growing old with becoming sick, feeble, and senile. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are becoming an expected result of aging in our society. Statistics show that nearly 1 in 3 elderly now dying from these diseases.
We don’t have to grow old this way though. Research suggests that there is no reason why most of us can’t enjoy at least 100 healthy years.
Many wonder if there’s a secret to long life. But it is not just about how many years you live. It’s also about the quality of your life.
The importance of a healthy mind
Your mental and emotional health play a large part in your ability to live a long, happy life. The American Psychological Association found that people who lived the longest and healthiest lives shared certain personality traits.
The study consisted of 300 couples over the course of 75 years. The couples joined the study in their 20s. The participants asked their friends to rate their personalities using a 36-question scale. The researchers then evaluated the responses to determine which personality traits were most common in those who were living the longest and healthiest lives.
Secret to long life personality traits
So, what were the traits that the study found that led to a longer life? Below are the five key traits that were discovered:
1. Emotional stability
Being emotionally stable was one of the strongest links to living a long, healthy life. Let go of drama, frustration and stress in your life, you don’t need it.
2. Friendliness
Friendliness was the second highest character quality in this study. Be kind and friendly to everyone you meet. An easygoing personality will bring you a higher quality of life.
3. Open-Mindedness
Participants who took the time to listen to other people’s ideas and understand their feelings were found to live a longer life span. You may not agree with everyone, and that’s okay, just be open to listen to their point of view.
4. Emotional expression
Expressing your feelings and emotions instead of keeping them bottled up inside is much healthier for your mind and your stress levels. Learning to express yourself freely will lead to a longer life.
5. Meticulousness
People who were methodical and efficient in their thought process and actions tended to live longer. Instead of rushing through a project or to a decision, take some time to think things through. Just slow down a little.
How many of these traits do you have? Did you happen to notice that all of them are centered around one common denominator? Mindfulness.
Mindfulness will help you get in touch with the traits found in people who live the longest. Slow down and enjoy life. There will be more of it to enjoy!
Other tips for a long life
A healthy mind is only half the story to living a long life without disease. There’s a Tibetian Proverb that describes four key items as the secret to long life: eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.
Although having a positive attitude will get you halfway there, a good diet and exercise also plays a role. So don’t go overboard with indulgent eating nor should you be a couch potato.
Everyone wants to look good as they age, so be sure to check out our tips on how to slow down aging naturally.
