Comments on: How a Story Reversed the Aging Process

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:49:32 +0000

I would like to first thank you for your interesting and thought-provoking review of the recent experiments that have demonstrated aging to be as much of a state-of-mind as it is a physical process. Although it may simply be the implication that we have a considerable amount of control over the nature of getting older that is so appealing, these studies have the potential to dramatically change the approaches to aging we take. On one hand, it seems as though so much of the admittedly admirable work that comes out of the science and research communities focuses on the abnormal aspects of aging, while on the the other, the booming cosmetic and plastic surgery industries bomboard us with the notion that vigor and vitality are things we have to buy in a bottle. For so many left somewhere in between the two extremes, it is refreshing to learn that psychological as well as physiological benefits can be had using the power of thought. While the three “suggestions” you set forth might seem like common sense in achieving these ends, I believe they speak to a larger acceptance of aging as a journey within itself, rather than an obstacle to be overcome or an ending to be dreaded.

By: These are all the posts submitted on MIND. « Life is a carnival

These are all the posts submitted on MIND. « Life is a carnival — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:03:23 +0000

[...] How a Story Reversed the Aging Process posted at Improved Lives, saying, "A fascinating look at two psychological studies that [...]

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:36:17 +0000

That was very interesting. Many of us believe that the body is an expression of the mind, so it’s great to see examples of this principle in action.

By: Our Best Version | Blog Carnival: 10 Posts about Realizing Your Potential - October 2008

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:28:01 +0000

[...] presents How a Story Reversed the Aging Process posted at Improved Lives. This is an account of two psychological studies that examine the relation [...]

By: Nimh

Nimh — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:15:45 +0000

One thing I wanted to point out about the second study: in the summary I had read about it, they posted a flyer of some sort explaining the positive health effects of the work they were doing, so they were constantly reminded that there work was healthy for them.

Also, I had always wondered about this possible alternative explanation for those effects: those who were aware that their work for healthy went about their work physically differently, which caused them to exert themselves more and actually become healthier. For example, if I’m going up a flight of stairs, I usually don’t really think about it. However, if I think that it’s good exercise, I walk up them in such a way as to maximize the energy expended by walking up those stairs. I wonder if there was a similar effect in this experiment.

However, the first experiment about the seniors is really interesting!

By: Shaheen Lakhan

Shaheen Lakhan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:16:02 +0000

Thanks for submitting this post to our blog carnival. We just published the 40th edition of Brain Blogging and your article was featured!

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Shaheen

By: Brain Blogging, Fortieth Edition | Brain Blogger

Brain Blogging, Fortieth Edition | Brain Blogger — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:12:43 +0000

[...] Lives writes How a Story Reversed the Aging Process: Just a year ago, in 2007, Ellen Langer started a new experiment, this time with colleague Alia [...]

By: carol stanley

carol stanley — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:38:08 +0000

This is the best article I have read on boomer stuff. It is amazing and so real what the mind can do to change our demeanor, health and looks…Think young, walk young, feel young, look forward to new things, eat well..It is easy..so just do it!!!!