Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry
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Transcript of Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry
Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder
Sparking Brain Chemistry
Claremont Women’s ClubJanuary 16, 2012
© The BestWork® People 2012 1
The challenges we face in modern life are not what the brain is built
for
Wild predators presented short intense moments of stress
For most of human history, people faced little ambiguity:
- They belonged to a group - Rules and roles were set and clear - They knew their neighbors all their lives
The pace of change was slow. By puberty, they were well-settled
© The BestWork People 20102
For most of human history, elders were 35 years old...
Women birthed 8 children to have 2 live till puberty
Many women died in childbirth
Elders were the libraries, teachers, doctors, counselors, and jurists of their day. They never ‘retired’ – they never wondered what to do….
MODERN ELDERS FACE NEW CHALLENGES
© The BestWork People 20104
Being an elder pondering how to enjoy a rich life is a very new question
Fortunately, our brains are highly plastic.
We can continue to learn as long as we live.
Brain scientists describe aging is a process of rigidifying. We can keep our brains plastic with new questions, new challenges, new tasks, new games, new forms of movement...
Our brains are organized to keep us focused on interactions with
others
Casual or formal,Monetized or not,Tangible or intangible
The brain is hard-wired to keep us focused on exchanges
When we’re not engaged in some kind of exchange, we’re often thinking about them
© The BestWork People 20106
Social animals thrive together – not separately
© The BestWork People 20107
The brain does not distinguish between ‘work’ and other kinds of
exchanges
We become ingenious when ‘our people’ are vulnerable
People mobilized instantly in 18 degree weather
The mood of the whole country changed
© The BestWork People 20108
The basis of human life is in relating with others
Noticing what others are concerned about
Taking care of peoples’ needs
Contributing is in our biology – we’re made for it
© The BestWork People 20109
Our brains influence our actions through pain and pleasure
Social pleasure and social pain are as intense as physical sensations
Mentoring tastes like chocolate
Contributing feels like sex
© The BestWork People 201010
© The BestWork People 201011
New challenges – like becoming an Elder - invariably demand new exchanges
Elements of a rich exchange
© The BestWork People 201012
AGING IS A PROCESS OF RIGIDIFYING
© The BestWork People 201013
There’s no need to let it happen
© The BestWork People 201014
Peoples’ concerns are continually shifting
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks…” but we humans can learn for our entire lives
We retain Neuroplasticity into adulthood
We have the equipment to be effective in modern life, though few know how to use it well
Curiosity is the golden bullet
© The BestWork People 201015
Keep your brain fit to create new exchanges
Frequently bring new questions and new types of actions into your life:
Physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual
De-stress the brain Breathing, exercise, play
Be mindful of emotions - your own: neutralize, then choose action
- others: focus on inclusion, neutralize status Fuel ingenuity with attention to others’ vulnerability
© The BestWork People 201016
Whether you think you’re ‘retired’ or not
You’re in the business of generating rich exchanges
What would your world be like if interacting with you were the richest experience of peoples’ day…week…?
When your brain is not stressed, you can design pleasurable exchanges
When others are not stressed, they can fully partner
Our brains are wonderfully plastic; you can learn to make it happen.
© The BestWork People 201017
With gratitude for the teachers and researchers who illuminated the
path
© The BestWork® People 201219