People Who Are Maturing Positively Have These Attributes:
- The have evolved a generous view of others and of the world, which
includes maintaining a forgiving stance toward faults and inadequacies in
themselves and others.
- They have a giving attitude toward themselves and others. They give more
financially than do most people.
- They form a caring and positive relationship with nature. They are
concerned about the quality of the environment that will be passed on to
future generations.
- They are reflective and seek self-understanding.
- They have had a pivotal event/s that led to transition or re-birth
experiences. Everyone has such events, but generative people use them
positively while nongenerative people withdraw and blame others for their
misfortunes.
- They simplify their lives. Generative people take time to gain the
insights needed to clear away clutter and confusion. They learn to set
limits.
- They have the courage to change both themselves and conditions around
them.
- They describe themselves as spiritual. They trust God or some Higher
Power, and they trust the life process.
- They are sought out by others for counsel, wisdom, perspective, and
creative insight.
- They are committed to continued learning. Generative people often spend
considerable time learning on their own or attend a variety of workshops and
clauses.
- They are clearly engaged in caring behaviors toward themselves and others.
- They move toward more healthy eating and exercise patterns.
- Laughter and tears come easily and spontaneously.
- They are hopeful people. They take their dreams seriously, and their lives
demonstrate that some dreams do come true.
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On the opposite end of the scale, those caught in self-absorption and
stagnation will increasingly manifest these characteristics:
- A tendency to blame others for problems, and feelings of isolation.
- A tendency to alienate other people. Those aging unsuccessfully are
difficult to be with for more that a brief time.
- Moodiness, irritability, thoughtlessness, low vitality, chronic anger,
despair, meanness of spirit.
- Clinging to rigid opinions unable to set them aside long enough to listen
to another's
views or experiences. They don't
allow certain people or topics to be mentioned and those around them are
careful not to share delicate or intimate subjects.
- An inability to enjoy and adapt to the changing world.
- A need to hang on to money.
- An increasing obsession with life's
inequities and their own wounds.
- A noticeable lack of intimate friends of any age.
- A high use of alcohol, tranquilizers, or other forms of escape, such as
TV, frenetic activity, etc.
- The inability to be a "wise
elder"
who has something of lasting value to give to others.
- A tendency to create guilty feelings in others.
- An excessive focus on themselves, especially on their health problems and
body functions.
- Fears of the future.
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