Spirituality as a Factor in Positive Ageing

Abstract

Positivity in ageing is a new field that has emerged and is gaining high popularity among adults. The concept talks about how a person should maintain positive attitude towards his/her ageing despite of any physical or mental illness that is associated to ageing. Positive ageing depends on many factors. Factors like financial stability, physical fitness, positive mental status, sociability, and many more have been regarded as contributing factors to gain positive attitude towards ageing. But the main factor that is pre-dominantly seen in India for positivity in ageing is level of Spirituality. This factor contributes to answering vital questions, like what is happening in one’s life, faith upon higher authority, how to be hopeful for future, etc. Spirituality in a broader sense is connecting with someone bigger than the human being itself. Each person has its own perception of spirituality. People associate ageing as a scary process with uncertainty regarding their physical & mental deterioration and financial instability. Spirituality helps in gaining hope and finding a silver lining even in such conditions. Current research aims at establishing spirituality as a critical factor in developing positive outlook in ageing.