Reversing Aging: The Astonishing Link Between Psychological and Biological Time
2025-09-21
Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer's "counterclockwise study" reveals that aging is not just a biological process, but a narrative one. Our beliefs about aging impact our physical capabilities. In the study, a group of men in their seventies lived as if it were 1959 for five days; afterwards, they showed improvements in hearing, posture, grip strength, and even appeared younger. This isn't magic, but the power of context: change the context, change the possibilities. Our ingrained assumptions about aging may limit our potential, while present moment awareness and mindful flexibility allow us to better navigate aging.