Psychological Articles by Boomeryearbook.com
For baby boomers in late middle age and entering older age, an ability to laugh keeps things on an even footing and helps to ‘ground’ emotions that might otherwise topple confidence and self esteem. Psychology articles from the school of Positive Psychology recommend laughter as a antidote against an early grave and evidence bears out that the ability to apply humor to even the most tragic of circumstances can lighten the spirit and help get life back on track again.
In the early part of the last Century, death and serious illness was treated with a degree of pomposity. It has been found in recent years that when a lighter attitude is taken, patients with terminal illness have a better end of life experience and grieving is best addressed through laughter as well as tears. Baby boomers tend to have a share of both illness and bereavement, due to age. Keeping a sense of humor can be helpful when dealing with emotional extremes and can diffuse tension.
Baby Boomers Guide: Positive and Negative Emotions
A positive outlook brings problems into perspective. Taking a gloomy view of every small thing that goes wrong is not only unhelpful, it can actually make things worse. People with a toxic and pessimistic viewpoint invariably attach themselves in friendship to people with the opposite attitude.
An optimist will soak up negativity and ‘turn it around’, cheering up the pessimist and making things look ‘brighter’ by association. Eventually, however, the sponge becomes over loaded and optimistic people turn their friendship away. Pessimistic people are therefore by definition lonely and isolated. Baby boomers are great listeners but there is a limit to everyone’s patience with gloom and doom!
Making the best of a situation need not apply only to bad situations. There is a certain negativity applied to the hum-drum of normality; the routine of life; the sameness of performing tasks on a daily basis. In retirement, routines necessarily change at first but as habits set in, boredom can also raise its ugly head. Psychological articles confirm that keeping things in perspective and applying a sense of humor to drudgery can lighten the task and raise the spirits.
Baby boomers are talented at rolling with punches and it is true that life is what you make it. Adopting a cheerful disposition can certainly keep you young, help to ward off minor ailments and strengthen the emotions to help deal with loss. For people who lead an active life and who still perform daily activities such as driving a car; shopping; working either full time or part time; baby sitting younger family members and pursuing leisure activities such as golf; bowling; swimming and going to the gym, life can seem to freeze in time.
Once these activities are given up, it is tempting to sink into a depressing and self serving attitude that is nothing less than self pity. Taking the optimistic route is sometimes harder but it pays off when life brightens considerably. Learning to laugh at the blows life throws can make a big difference to how one enjoys the ride.
The Psychological Article on Making the Best of Things: Keeping a Sense of Humor is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.
Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!
Tags: baby boomer, Elderly Problems, positive psychology, Psychological Articles