How do we seniors thrive emotionally and mentally with immense joy and love in spite of challenges we face as we age? Partly because of serotonin we really are fearfully and wonderfully made! How so?
Let’s say we just walked into a setting where we encounter a cranky person on the other end. To name the problem as most seniors might do, or to complain to others is to critique the irritation. To choose inner kindness however, is to start with ourselves and lean into care and worth that others cannot pierce. This choice taps into and increases a superpower called serotonin– the brain’s aha chemical, or miracle drug.
What wonders enter our day when serotonin levels are high. Serotonin opens us to act as ambassadors of love and kindness to ourselves and others. It preps us to learn, take risks, grow and change in ways that help us to navigate stressors. It increases inner love and worth as a pilot light in our soul, so that we throw more personal energy and actions onto what’s good, true, kind, and possible.
When inner love overcomes outer fears we seniors set a magnificent mental and emotional stage to laugh more and celebrate life fully in most every current moment. Our brains equip us with its aha chemical so that we grow ready to leave behind the familiar, to embrace the fantastic. With serotonin in play, inner calm and kindness hold space for anyone’s happiness. In Aristotle’s words, “Happiness depends on ourselves,” and a healthy dose of serotonin helps seniors survive toxic turmoil in their daily lives in spite of some who disagree with its role as pilot light within. What say you?
A fixed mindset often means low serotonin, while a growth or open mindset finds energy in more of this wellbeing chemical.
And a higher serotonin level means a kinder inner disposition where we may use parts of our brain never before used yet we can also accomplish things never before accomplished. With serotonin we seniors come at life through a growth mindset gateway of possibilities. Sometimes we may have to travel into the innermost depths of ourselves to find our version of the best life possible. When this happens blessings and opportunities that may appear to come from outside sources actually emerge from deep within our innermost being. Can you see here why some seniors seem to be content in spite of challenges?
In contrast, nothing may be more dangerous than a fixed idea or closed, opinionated concept when it’s the only one we hold tenaciously. That fixed mindset limits us, a bit like lining up for a marvelous banquet without a plate, glass or utensils. But those around us can help you say, so why do they let us down?
We may want others to bring happiness to our lonely lives, but growth sometimes calls instead for us to make space for inner ambiguity in ways that allow personal talents to illuminate our way. We may have to let go of a grudge or forgive an emotional hurt, and that make require help from an expert. Jane Fonda, for example, had to let go of and learn how to access serotonin to move beyond debilitating fears she held about female role models after her 24 year old mother committed suicide.
Each time we exchange inner fears or barriers such as blaming others for our unhappiness, we actually grow a stronger emotional intelligence to enjoy more serotonin and a calmer and kinder inner life.
Serotonin helps us to lean into emotional EQ or intrapersonal IQ in order to tackle toxins with an added ability while we find ourselves able to remain calm when those around us may default to stress. Our growth mindset allows us to grow increasingly aware of how to develop and use our emotional strengths. We also learn to sidestep disruptions or toxins that tend to create conflict in ourselves and in our relationships.
Additionally, with serotonin, the brain’s aha chemical, we grow more calm and flexible to learn from others who differ in beliefs and behaviors. This awesome chemical equips us to sidestep stagnation by looking at problems with possibilities in mind. We also grow grit and resilience by using our curiosity to empower change in how we think with confidence, act with capability, and convert mistakes into stepping stones forward.
It’s important to build up serotonin practices when all is already going well for the most part, as that is far more challenging to start building wellbeing when the chips are down. EQ or Intrapersonal IQ are to brain compatibility what power tools are to home building. With healthy serotonin levels we enjoy kinder inner affirmations, and we suffer from fewer critical complaints. For instance we become aware of our strengths and we welcome the growth that comes to improve on weaker areas.
Serotonin fuels our motivation to keep growing and along the way we replace resistance and fear with resilience and resolve. How so? We find ourselves able to bounce back from tough breaks and we take on fun new adventures with grace, grit and goodwill. All from maintaining a healthy dose of serotonin.
Imagine living an awesome life without harsh judgments and devoid of harmful criticism! Not that we can expect to live in a perfect world. That delightful freedom that serotonin brings however, can fuel our navigation to a deep inner peace, where mindset matters more than problems that plague some seniors from past flaws or failures! How so?
Serotonin increases with mindful approaches to even an ordinary day. For example a sincere smile, even when we are not feeling it can generate serotonin so that we are soon smiling with a happier heart. As we practice living a healthy emotional life, we’ll discover ways to reshape restrictive beliefs and we’ll become aware of flexible alternatives for growth. Emotionally healthy actions observed and experienced will give us tools to boost skills of the soul and tackle problems with renewed confidence. Awareness grows! With daily practice, we’ll gradually begin to set goals that lay stronger foundations upon which to build daily adventures. With serotonin fueled delight, we tend to follow more lifelong dreams that inspire.
EQ & Intrapersonal IQ for an Emotional Boost
Now that we know that serotonin impacts IQ, which is fluid and not fixed as we were once told, we can improve our emotional IQ daily and strengthen our heartfelt capabilities, step by step, one action at a time. It’s a bit like hitching our wagon to a dream for living daily with more joy and consistent curiosity. Let’s look closer at how the brain can work more in our favor through a few basic choices we make. Facts help us to move forward here, even though our brains differ and some seniors possess more serotonin than others.
On that note, please do not get distracted by HTML links in the following sections. Ignore them! Hit only those links that trigger curiosity to know more details about linked topics.
A healthy emotional or intrapersonal IQ keeps us in open-minded thinking. It’s available to all who take time to practice it. Most anyone can do it, and we seniors have even more experiences to build simple practices that help us thrive. When we choose emotionally strong approaches, we choose an art and science of creative reactions. We learn to recognize emotional cues, diffuse disappointments, and access a healthier, more agile brain. We reinforce an ability to deal with common frustrations and filter out irrelevant reactions. Did you know that when we choose to act kindly, for instance, we raise our serotonin levels for more of the same. In this way we also give serotonin to others around us and help change the chemistry of our brains.
WHAT IS A CRITICAL SIDE EFFECT OF LOW SEROTONIN AND LOW EMOTIONAL IQ?
Low EQ acts from low serotonin, and has us believe that our emotional failures as well as capabilities are hardwired and fixed traits. We believe our friends are wonderfully fulfilled as athletes or leaders, while we are born without communication, or athletic skills we may crave, but cannot seem to attain. We fail to see that these friends are operating on a higher level fuel – serotonin.
Without good levels of serotonin, we feel we’re born with hardwired emotional inabilities and are stuck in a rut with personal limitations. No wonder we give up rather than try new approaches or take risks. We likely look at elderly friends who do well and conclude we can’t enjoy similar emotionally or mentally healthy skills because it’s too late now.
OUR BRAINS COME EQUIPPED WITH SEROTONIN NEEDED TO BUILD HEALTHY EQ
Six cool brain parts below all interact with serotonin to build and measure our emotional wellbeing
•Basal Ganglia is our brain’s warehouse. Let’s say we tend to act on a short fuse. Those angry actions, over time, store as toxic habits. Anger, for instance can hold our healthy emotions prisoner. If we avoid change, and default to old habits we stockpile these habits in our basal ganglia and find ourselves in constant ruts. See more details on the wonders and woes of our basal ganglia.
•Serotonin is the brain’s wellbeing hormone. When used to facilitate healthy emotions it replaces toxins and opens healthy emotions along with AHA opportunities. That’s why we trust more, expect less from others, smile faster, hold on more, grow grit, encourage others to hang in, and enjoy life. See more details on serotonin as a power tool for higher EQ.
•Plasticity is the brain’s ability to change itself. Each time we choose to act on either a health or toxic emotion, that chosen action lays down a new neural pathway for more of the same. For example, let’s say we encounter a problem. If we smile and propose a solution, we change our brain for more of the same reactions to problems. Similarly, if we complain and sulk. Both a smirk and a smile lays down pathways into more of the same emotional reactions that change our brains. See more details on plasticity as a driver to creativity.
•Working Memory is the brain’s thimble sized temporary memory. Working memory holds bits of data while we use it to solve problems, and then replaces that data when new facts fly in. Let’s say we read that mellow music upgrades a bad mood. That new idea goes into our working memory. Then, let’s say we play ambient music to help us relax. Use of that fact from our working memory moves it into a longer memory bank, the basal ganglia. See more details on working memory as a support to learning.
What is Lasting Inner Happiness and Where is it Found Most?
Collectively we often fail to access and awaken our serotonin boosts! Sadly this results in depression and sorrow at all time highs, and we seniors are led to ask, “ Does inner healing and happiness go hand in hand?” Consider how deep inner joy fills the center of some seniors’ daily lives. Serotonin acts as evidence of inner wonder and adventures which are fully in play regardless of age or differing abilities. How though, might we too help to restore this union of healing and happiness back to the millions of seniors who appear to have lost a sense of personal wellbeing, much less miss life’s sometimes silly play.
Start small. A thankful heart, for instance, offers us one serotonin filled remedy against depression and sorrow, Initially we may have to alter expectations a bit, because our rigid expectations keeps us in a fixed mindset and can destroy any hopes for happiness. Would you agree that if we access highways into happiness with its laughter, we’ll also open a crossroad into even more genuine gratitude opportunities?
Unreasonable expectations can lower serotonin levels and thereby dash any hope of happiness. Years ago, the Clark family expected to board a ship in Scotland to travel to the US. Their lifetime dream got cruelly crushed when their son became ill and the family required 14 days of quarantine at the same time they were to have boarded the ship. Nothing could console the Clark family, until a breaking news report informed the world that their ship, The Titanic, shockingly sank and many lives were lost. Hearing this terrible fate, the family thanked God for an intervention that seemed a tragedy at first, but that transformed into blessings for this family in the end, since they were spared.
Seniors deserve serotonin, and they already possess some to build on. Happiness need not be seen as a utopian state most seniors crave, and yet few realize. Ask happy elders where their joy and laughter comes from and they tell us happiness comes with awareness, is the work of grace and often resides in those who cultivate a free spirit. It also resides in the ways they access and grow their mindset.
It’s true that nobody who lives in this chaotic and crazy world, feels happy 24/7. Nevertheless, joy and delight are available much more than most of us unwrap or experience this life-changing gift. Also true is that we live in the past, at happiness’ peril, especially if we wallow in missteps or miseries.
One surefire way into happiness is to remain open-minded, and to learn new approaches or possibilities regardless of age or education. That ensures serotonin boosts! We deliberately step beyond our old ways and allow others to teach new ways through their eyes, and their understanding. We garner happiness for all when we listen more, and create incredible new perspectives side by side with those around us. We consider @oxherdboy’s question to the Ox:
“Will you teach me everything you know?” the boy asked.
“I don’t think so,” replied the Ox.
“It would be better to relearn life with you than teach you my old ways.”
Children can even lead us here! Imagine how we seniors regain happiness by relearning with our grandchildren. What if seniors could lead the way to reinstate happiness into lives of all ages, and personalities. Could it work?
A growth or fixed mindset will define our senior years and determine whether we burn strong or burn out after retirement. In any day we experience both tamed emotions for growth, and untamed or fixed emotions. Emotional responses to challenges such as loneliness or isolation during a pandemic, will determine our mindset and leave us emotionally well or moody and emotionally impaired.
Research shows we generate about 80K thoughts daily. About 80% of these are typically negative (or fixed mindset thoughts). We cannot improve 80K thoughts. But what if we improve the first thought of our day in a way that looks at a problem and seeks a possibility? Questions below will start our growth mindset, and will tap into serotonin fuels to find new possibilities or open cool adventures.
You may remember MYG as a fantasy character with real brain parts that represents our amygdala or seat of our emotions. Emotional reactions stored in our amygdala can either help us seek to understand an opposing view (a growth mindset reaction), or push us to demand we are right (a fixed mindset response).
Growth mindset doesn’t mean we agree with everything we engage. It means we suspend our beliefs temporarily while we hold up new possibilities empathetically to consider through a different filter and to learn from another’s point of view. Empathy enables us to see possibilities through a similar filter as a person who differs, for instance. We might simply ask an open-minded (or serotonin led) question such as
How many growth mindset or serotonin led emotions will we choose to awaken today?
Transforming fixed emotions into growth mindset advances
As we observe our thoughts and grow aware of emotional reactions, we cultivate richer mental real estate required to remap emotional reactions and to thrive with healthy serotonin levels that equip us to navigate daily challenges. We begin the practice of taming our amygdala to step beyond fixed or broken reactions, and we increase growth mindset opportunities by examining and improving our emotional choices.
For instance, we may refrain from snapping back to a personal criticism, in favor of considering a measured response that shows respect for the critic.
A tamed amygdala, with growth mindset spaces and serotonin fuels, for instance:
- Drops expectations that assume others can make us happy.
- Navigates stressors by making small daily changes.
- Lives each moment as valued life in mindful focus.
- Enjoys freedoms that come from living our authentic self.
- Recognizes that we are good enough and we possess all we need to grow.
- Grows resilient through healing that takes hard work and hanging in.
- Transforms blame from ourselves or others into tools to thrive.
- Laughs at the little things!
Serotonin fueled tips to lean into serotonin and live on the other side of anxiety and stress:
- Increase awareness of triggers and our emotional responses
- Practice growth mindset emotional reactions such as engaging opposing views.
- Accept that we are social beings and can build better emotional reactions
- Choose to be around people who energize our growth mindset.
- Avoid physiological imbalances by eating, exercising and sleeping well
- Breathe deeply as a daily practice, while walking or sitting still
- Develop intentional gratitude to shift emotional energy into abundance.
- Observe self and chart changes by journalling growth mindset progress.
- Deliberately choose serotonin in its many ways to access!
- Avoid the dangerous toxin, cortisol by letting go of false beliefs that lead to failure.
It’s really about our lived experience of the serotonin chart below!
Our observation of life in each moment and a new awareness of our serotonin fuels will become our thermostat to ensure enough warmth and self-acceptance needed to grow new neuron pathways. Branches we build by choices made to set out better directions that sustain ongoing emotional health.
Why Some Seniors Avoid a Fixed Mindset
Seniors who possess fixed mindsets believe capabilities are hardwired traits.
A fixed mindset holds back seniors who believe things about ourselves such as “I’m not organized”; “I’ll never be good at sports”; “Family ties are too hard”; “I can’t create”; “I’m always late”; “I can’t make friends”; “I’ll never be able to _________.” Fill in the blank. These inner fears keep us sticking to what we know, or fixed in our belief that failure is hardwired in.
Sure, no risk may seem reasonable when our potential seems stuck and we feel trapped in ruts. We may even feel powerless. A fixed mindset inhibits our potential for growth and robs us of joy. Have you experienced this or observed others with fixed beliefs? It doesn’t have to be this way.
Rather than fall into the trap of a fixed mindset where failure seems final, we can become aware that effort and hard work inevitably ends in thriving and flourishing. We inevitably reshape our limiting mindset to believe instead that, “Hard work and practice over time helps us immensely in learning, in sports and in endless mental and emotional skills.”
Knowing that emotional health germinates and grows with one small change at a time, what fixed mindset will you alter as you seed healing greatness today?
Imagine the delight of building growth mindset strategies and skills with our youth, who often get left behind to struggle alone in these difficult times!
When Can We Expect Kinder Possibilities as Seniors?
Start any morning with a kind anticipation for the day and we are more likely to live more retirement rewards held in trust for those with matching expectations. The happiness of our lives depends on the quality of our thoughts according to Marcus Aurelius. It makes sense if you think about it.
For instance, if we reflect on specific expectations for living well, we are more likely to meet these and live well. No question, we may have to pivot and adjust our steps along the way. Yet when we set a clear target we trigger a lighthouse flash … pause … flash … pause cadence of certainty along the way.
That’s the brain’s way to step us along a course that aligns with our purpose and passion for reaching retirement expectations. Today’s the oldest we’ve ever been and the youngest we’ll ever be again. What if we could make more of our age today by acting on a few retirement possibilities to be the kindest senior ever? What if we started by being especially kind to ourselves today? .
Some people fully expect to fizzle out when they retire and many do just that. Others expect to burn strong, and with research on their side, they seem to hit their finest stride in senior years. What do you expect? Will you fizzle out or burn strong, like Colin Thackery, an amazing 88 year old who entered and won a talent contest just to sing Wind Beneath My Wings, to his late wife. Or light up life much like Monica at 84 earned the golden buzzer for her rendition of The Cloud.
The key is to enjoy love so deeply that we can give love back to ourselves and others daily. Mother Teresa taught anybody who’d listen that we need to cultivate love before we can give it back. “You should pray and meditate every day, so you know that you are loved, so you feel the presence of God’s love in your life. This is the only way you can truly help others and serve the poorest of the poor. We have to give from a full heart, one that is saturated with love, overflowing to others. Before we can give freely, we have to know that we are loved. This is why you should pray and meditate every day. So you can remember you are loved, letting it fill your heart and your body. Let it fill every cell of your being. Then give it all away.” She smiled. “Do you see?”…” For leaders like Mother Teresa concepts such as grace, inner love and serotonin become interchangeable in their engagement and immense effects.
Let’s Say We Expect Outrageous Agility with Age?
Here are 10 sizzling brain boosters crafted for folks like us, who expect and live outrageous agility with age. Suggestions below are simply triggers – intended to help us to develop and use our unique intelligences too keep our brains alive and well.
1. Question possibilities that will lead our day in a new direction. For instance, ask ourselves how to increase mental activity, and we’ll soon want to look into dynamic new research that suggests how it can be done. Neurogenesis will show us how brain cells can be coaxed into regenerating or growing with use, and yet only curious seniors will benefit from that fact.
2. Target a new project that draws on what we like to do most and then ask a friend to do it with us this week.
3. Expect quality time with family, finances and friends. Then take the first step to make a new adventure happen.
4. Move each of our multiple intelligences into action weekly. It’s quite simple. Do these ten tasks and we’ll have drawn on all eight intelligences. These intelligences are described further in the following section.
5. Reflect daily with the question, Where to from here? Ask ourselves how we can improve on one specific aspect of our day, and then plan a new project to improve on the following day. Be specific for best results.
6. Laugh rather than vent, and especially laugh at ourselves. Get others laughing too, because laughter opens the brain to new learning and can raise our immune system. Stress that comes from venting literally shrinks the brain, and creates new neuron pathways for more venting.
7. Play with new ideas, new hobbies, new challenges, and in ways that inspire others to do the same.
8. Change one normal routine into a fresh start with a new approach. For instance, drive along a new route to a familiar place. Read the newspaper from back to front. Invite a person from another culture out for lunch, and learn as much as we can about that person’s experiences and background.
9. Register for a musical evening, or a class about music. Or perhaps we’d rather plan an evening of new sounds at home. The key is to listen to cadences we already enjoy, along with a few new tunes tossed into the mix.
10. Hike through a park, visit a stream, stroll along a trail, or sit beside a brook – at least once a week. Ask ourselves a question about what we can expect to go well in our day. Ask what new challenge and adventure could shape the day, and what response we could make to have it go in our favor?
Most importantly, we can enjoy each day as if it held our most vital legacy, because it very well could. Unexpected melodies come far faster to those who expect more from an otherwise ordinary day. Furthermore, those who expect, will be more apt to go after that next winning adventure with zest. It’s how the brain works when fueled with expectation. Have you seen it happen?
Further discussion of Two – Footed Questions to Address Mita Growth Mindset Especially for Seniors
How do we live a Mita Growth Mindset to bounce back after bad breaks and thrive more joyfully in every age?
1). What does our brain teach us about upgrading inner unrest to enjoy inner kindness? ( If we seniors smile sincerely, whether we feel good or not, we can increase inner joy and kindness. That’s so because actions such as a smile increase our flow of serotonin, when engaged sincerely. )
2). How does emotional IQ and inner kindness work together for contentment? ( An emotionally healthy senior is one who shows serotonin is evident within a visible inner kindness. )
3). What part does the brain play when we access and trigger serotonin? ( The brain builds wellbeing and opens us to new possibilities through a growth mindset with a serotonin uptick.)
4). Is happiness more often a result of fate, luck or choice? How so? (Happiness is more reliant on our personal choices rather than on fate or life’s circumstances.)
5). What are a few easy ways to cultivate a growth mindset? (Sleep well, propose possibilities to resolve problems we face, eat well, exercise, listen and learn from others with whom we disagree). . )
6). Which emotions will mostly lead to a growth mindset and how can they be engaged? ( Act first in a way that adds joy so that happiness and delight follow us in ways that alter our brain chemistry. )
7). Which emotions will mostly lead to a fixed mindset and how they can be avoided? ( Stress, critical habits, skepticism or victimization lead to and are fueled by a fixed mindset. )
8). What daily targets help seniors most to retain happiness in spite of challenges? ( Let’s say we target an act of kindness to a cranky neighbor. That action raises serotonin and with a healthy level of serotonin we retain more joy. )
9). Were some seniors just born with more serotonin for inner calm and kindness? ( We are born with different levels of serotonin, and by actions that trigger it, we can also increase our levels over time, and regardless of our age. )
10). Is it possible to alter one another’s inner joy and kindness? ( Yes, kindness raises joy for instance, and fear lowers it. . )
11). Is it possible to rarely feel anxious or act cranky? If so how so? ( Yes, we can engage an open or growth mindset to hold stress and pressures at bay. and in so doing we can exchange kindness for crankiness with benefits for all concerned. )
FINAL Question: What’s one activity we can do to remove a fixed mindset and add a growth mindset for this topic of sustaining inner kindness and calm? Choose any one of the nine tips to sustain serotonin (the brain’s aha chemical) from the chart titled “Serotonin is our Well-being Chemical,” above and do that serotonin booster today. Choose something fun to uptick our inner kindness. Tell a trusted friend our results or let us all know in the next session how serotonin worked, and what feelings it evoked so far.
Dr Ellen Weber‘s Growth Mindset Materials and Publications Below:
Grace Mindset Book – paperback
The Teen’s Growth Mindset Workbook – paperback
Growth Mindset Interactive Materials at TPT