secrets of enjoying life as an elder: sparking brain chemistry

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Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder Sparking Brain Chemistry Claremont Women’s Club January 16, 2012 © The BestWork® People 2012 1

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Page 1: 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

Page 2: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 3: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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….

Page 4: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

MODERN ELDERS FACE NEW CHALLENGES

© The BestWork People 20104

Page 5: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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...

Page 6: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 7: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

Social animals thrive together – not separately

© The BestWork People 20107

Page 8: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 9: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 10: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 11: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

© The BestWork People 201011

New challenges – like becoming an Elder - invariably demand new exchanges

Page 12: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

Elements of a rich exchange

© The BestWork People 201012

Page 13: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

AGING IS A PROCESS OF RIGIDIFYING

© The BestWork People 201013

There’s no need to let it happen

Page 14: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

© 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

Page 15: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

Curiosity is the golden bullet

© The BestWork People 201015

Page 16: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 17: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

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

Page 18: Secrets of Enjoying Life as an Elder: Sparking Brain Chemistry

With gratitude for the teachers and researchers who illuminated the

path

© The BestWork® People 201219