7 Ways To Cultivate Wisdom In Your Senior Years

Thanks to a lifetime of experiences, changing priorities, and a matured mindset, wisdom comes easier with age and can be a boon for senior adults. Wisdom doesn't just make the senior years more productive and meaningful; it can be used to help younger generations learn, thrive, and contribute to a better world.

The only problem is, many older adults don't know how to grow and apply their wisdom. In fact, some seniors aren't even aware they possess it. Fortunately, you don't have to let your supply go to waste. With a little guidance and practice, you can cultivate wisdom simply and effectively so you can put it to good use. Here's how:

If you're like most senior adults, many of the things you cared about earlier in life no longer have the same importance. Take the time to prioritize what does matter now and redirect your focus and energy on those. Wisdom is gained when you figure out how to make the most of the things in life that count. Then listen to the wise voice within to help you plan and enhance your future.

Think you're too old to learn something new? There's never an age limit to learning. Take a class at a local college, engage in a new hobby, or delve into some challenging reading. Even making a habit of conversing with others keeps your mind active and growing. Learning increases wisdom, but it also has many health benefits, including a lowered risk of dementia and a longer lifespan.

Volunteer work may seem like a nice way for seniors to pass the time while doing something for someone else, but it's so much more. You'll learn new skills, help improve communities, and build your confidence and self- esteem, all which contribute to a wiser mind. Volunteer work can be anything from assisting at a food pantry to rehoming pets to performing clerical duties at a library.

There's probably no better way to utilize all the knowledge you've accumulated through the years than to share it with a young person, who can learn from you. Wise advice on how to raise a family, flourish at work, grow spiritually, and be a productive member of society is invaluable to a young person. So is hearing about failed efforts, as they can be stepping-stones to success.

Aging has a way of humbling people. Embrace that natural progression as you grow older by putting others first, lowering your demands, learning to live with less, and allowing your humanness to shine through. Wisdom without humility will make you less wise. Be humble instead and see what a difference it can make to your health, happiness, and well-being.

Saying thanks is a feel-good way to cultivate wisdom. Research has shown that expressing gratitude promotes clearer thinking, better foresight, and an improved memory. People appreciate you more too and will look to you for guidance and support. Gratitude has no limits, so be thankful for everything that happens, including life's trials, which can be big wisdom boosters.

Wisdom serves no purpose if it's not tended to. Be proactive and work on yours daily. Nurture what you know by writing and talking about it, mulling things over before making decisions, and participating in activities that foster wisdom, every day. Practice is key to getting good at anything. If you want to grow your wisdom, be willing to give it the attention it needs on a regular basis.

Learning to cultivate wisdom in the senior years is an effort well worth your time. Take advantage of this valuable benefit of aging. You won't just live life more fully and fruitfully; you'll help others grow wiser too.