Have you ever asked yourself, “how will I get through all of these changes.”
My first awareness about resilience was when I went to Basic Training in Ft. Jackson SC. Mental and physical resilience empowered me a teenager from the housing projects in New York City, to believe I could accomplish anything. I felt empowered and fearless.
Research (Horgan and Windom, 2014) identified middle adulthood as the confluence of all that an individual has experienced in the years leading up to age 40, and the onset of a potentially new set of behaviors during midlife that influence life experiences going forward.
MIDLIFE TO LATE ADULTHOOD
The following are protective factors:
Health, diet, stretching exercises, weight training, aerobic exercise, meditation, and giving receiving social support .
The following are risk factors:
Smoking, alcohol use, diet high in fats, overeating, sedentary lifestyle, economic deprivation, and stress.
My first step in strengthening my resilience to enjoy the journey of my life was to begin meditating. I learned about Transcendental Meditation. But on. Most days I resort to Guided Meditation. Becoming centered, quiet and mindful has for me – been like contemplative prayer time. I’m so grateful and thankful for the impact of meditation as a protective factor at middle adulthood – and in any stage in life.
Wishing you Peace & Joy,
Dr. J
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ~Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper
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