The keys to a long, full life are here! How can you be psychologically younger than your chronological age?

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles FROM THE DESK OF MILES EVERSON: Hello! I’m excited to share with you another mindfulness- and health-related tip. Every “Mindfulness by Miles” Friday, I talk about a topic that I find useful in my life. My hope is that you’ll also be interested and compelled to apply my insights and advice in your personal life and career. Today, allow me to share with you one of the amazing articles I read about achieving longevity. It’s written by Dr. Deepak Chopra, a bestselling author and pioneer of integrative medicine. I encourage you to keep reading below. I’m highlighting a few tips from Dr. Chopra’s study and I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on this topic. CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

The keys to a long, full life are here! How can you be psychologically younger than your chronological age? In our past “Mindfulness by Miles” articles, we’ve been discussing various health-related topics such as: Getting enough sleep Improving your concentration Exercising Getting into a proper meditative state … and more. In these articles, we explained the positive impacts of developing healthy habits in your daily life. We also wrote about the topics above because we believe that “true wealth is health.” As professionals, we can only do our best if our mind and body are in a good condition. Now that we’re on the topic of well-being… Did you know that the combined impacts of exercising, getting enough sleep, meditating, etc. lead to a long and thriving life? We call that state, “longevity.” Longevity is the duration of human life as influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and the environment. The study of this state is a developing science and until now, scientists are examining the significant factors that contribute to a long, full life. In fact, longevity has been a topic of discussion not only for the scientific community but also for some authors of travel, science fiction, and utopian novels. Reflections on this topic have gone beyond acknowledging the brevity of human life and also included methods to extend life. One of the authors who has written various materials about this is Dr. Deepak Chopra. Chopra is a pioneer of integrative medicine. As a prominent figure in the New Age movement, his books and videos have made him one of the best-known and wealthiest figures in alternative medicine. [New Age Movement: This refers to a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western society during the 1970s. Members of this movement look forward to a “new age” of love and light, and believe in the coming of a new era through personal transformation and healing.] According to Chopra, aging is optional. By exercising your mind and body, as well as upgrading your diet, you can change your perceptions of aging. — I personally got interested when I first read Chopra’s take on aging and longevity. His tips and insights are easy to follow, and I think these should be part of anyone’s toolkit. In fact, he believes the keys to longevity are simpler than we might think. These include: Learning something new every day. Chopra starts his day by saying this affirmation out loud: “Every day, and every way, I’m increasing my physical and mental capacity.” He says motivating yourself to learn one new thing every day can make you happier and improve your physical and mental health. So, whether it’s trying a unique food, learning an unfamiliar word, or experimenting with a new workout routine, Chopra recommends that you step out of your comfort zone and do something new. This will help you have more fun, feel more gratitude, and live longer lives. Practicing deep breathing. Chopra recommends taking deep breaths because it helps you calm down when you’re feeling stressed, and studies show that deep breathing can also improve your attention span and focus. He mentions 3 types of breathing in his article: Box breathing (for when you’re dealing with a stressful event or when you’re about to lose your cool) Body scan relaxation breathing (for when you want to release the overall tension you’re feeling in your body) Alternate nostril breathing (for when you’re having trouble focusing and you need to get back on track) According to Chopra, deep breathing helps combat the negative effects of stress on your body. By trying one or all of the techniques above, you can feel at ease and be in a better mood. Exercising. Chopra believes the body is designed to move and regular exercise helps slow down the effects of aging. This doesn’t mean spending an hour at the gym daily, though. He says the key here is to engage in activities that support your mind-body connection like going out for a walk, swimming with your peers, or doing a few stretches. Simply said, he recommends you do something daily that gets your blood circulating and brings you joy at the same time! Eating a hearty and healthy diet. Chopra says when you nourish your body with nutrient-dense food that tastes great, you’re supporting the organ systems that keep your body’s engines running and your mind sharp. So, eventually eliminate inflammatory food such as gluten and dairy in your diet. According to Chopra, when you fill your plate with vegetables, fruits, proteins, and other healthy meals, you not only boost your gut bacteria but also slow down the impacts of aging on your body. Understanding that “age is just a number.” Chopra believes that the biggest secret to longevity is understanding that age is just a number. In his words: “There is biological age, there is chronological age, and there’s psychological age. We have lots of studies now that show that you can alter even genetic activity that has to do with aging.” For Chopra, longevity depends on changing your perceptions and expectations of what you think aging is. He says if you want to stay 21 years old throughout your life, you’ll be disappointed because everyone gets a year older every year. However, if you want to thrive and enjoy your life for years to come no matter what your age is, you’ll be happier, more satisfied, and more motivated to take actions that would actually help you live longer and better. According to Chopra, the key is to not think about your actual age too much, but to think about how you can live a happier and healthier life. — As someone who’s been experiencing the effects of aging recently, I find Chopra’s article and tips on longevity truly helpful. His explanation is realistic in the sense that it doesn’t teach us to deny what our real age is. Instead, it teaches us to accept ourselves for how old we are while also doing a few things or activities that enable us to make the most out of our lives. I personally think that’s the key here. While it’s true that we can’t stop ourselves from getting a year older every year, we still have a choice to enjoy and live our lives to the fullest. It’s a win-win situation too! Why? The more we make the most out of our lives, the more we feel happy… and according to several studies, being happy and exercising gratitude contributes to longer life. I hope you enjoyed reading today’s topic! Apply these tips in your own personal routine and lifestyle. You’ll see, these will help you change the way you view and live your life. Stay tuned for next week’s article! For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe here. Follow us on LinkedIn.