Why Mindset Matters More Than Age
When we think about aging, many of us imagine decline: slowing down, becoming irrelevant, losing our edge. But what if I told you that your beliefs about aging, not your actual age, might have more influence on your health, wellbeing, and longevity than you think?
This isn’t just wishful thinking. A growing body of research shows that how we think about aging can powerfully shape how we experience it.
One of the most compelling studies in this area comes from Yale researcher Becca Levy and her colleagues, who found that older adults with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those with more negative beliefs. This was true even when controlling for factors like gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and baseline health (Levy et al., 2002). That’s not a small difference. That’s the kind of impact we typically associate with quitting smoking or maintaining a healthy weight.
But it’s not just about how long we live. Our beliefs about aging also shape how we feel as we grow older. When we expect ourselves to decline, we’re more likely to withdraw from the very things that help us thrive, like physical activity, learning new skills, or nurturing relationships. On the other hand, when we see aging as a time of continued growth and contribution, we’re more likely to stay engaged, resilient, and open to possibility.
In my work as a clinical psychologist, I often see how these internalized age beliefs quietly influence the lives of my clients. Some are in their 70s or 80s and still deeply curious, expansive, and full of vitality—not because they’ve avoided the challenges of aging, but because they’ve chosen to see this chapter of life as meaningful, not diminishing.
Of course, we don’t form these beliefs in isolation. We absorb messages from a culture that often treats aging as something to fear or fight. But we can begin to unlearn those messages and replace them with something much more life-affirming.
So here’s something to reflect on: What are your beliefs about aging? What stories have you inherited? And which ones might you be ready to rewrite?
Aging isn’t just something that happens to us. It’s something we actively participate in. And when we shift our mindset, we don’t just feel better, we age better.
Levy, B. R., Slade, M. D., Kunkel, S. R., & Kasl, S. V. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of personality and social psychology, 83(2), 261–270. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.83.2.261
This post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered therapeutic advice or a replacement for individual therapy. For more information on locating a psychologist near you, please contact your family doctor, the Ontario Psychological Association, the Canadian Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Psychology Today
