Self Confidence And The Elderly

Self-Confidence and the elderly

As we age, our bodies change in significant ways. We can't do all that we used to, and do some things we'd never imagined. This is especially difficult for generations with the can-do attitude that brought them through major struggles, like the Great Depression.

Age brings on an incredible hit to self-confidence, but it can be regained. Many activities in today's world don't rely on the body. We have many technologies available to help people who can no longer walk on their own, who cannot hear well or speak clearly. We even have internet readers for the blind.

That doesn't change the negative ways people feel about their bodies, but it does give them options to help change their thinking.

Focus on the Possibilities

How can we expect the elderly to accept their changes with a smile? Or to expect them to live happily not only as their friends disappear one by one, but their hobbies too? We need to push our older family members, and ourselves, to look for alternatives and not accept that if the method we're used to isn't possible, they can't take part in their hobbies anymore.

We need to look for possibilities. Right away, some people might say, "No way. Not me. I'm too old to learn something new." Hogwash. A good friend of mine earned her doctorate degree at age 82. You can learn and master new ways of doing things, and enjoy life for many years to come.

Other people might immediately say, "That new technology is too expensive. Why should I buy this gadget or that gadget? I'd rather save my money so my children can use it." More hogwash. Sometimes a solution to a problem is so simple it costs nothing at all but your time in thinking it up!

As she was getting older, my grandmother's arms grew especially weak. She'd been an avid reader all her life, but suddenly couldn't turn the pages of a book. This was before audio books had a presence in libraries, and the ones you could buy were adaptations or too expensive for her budget. Her grandchildren got together and spent more time with her, and improved their reading skills, by reading books to her an hour a night.

Friends and Family

As people age, they lose hair, strength, but more importantly, they lose friends. Repeated loss, their growing sense of mortality, and feeling out of place in a new society all chip away at self-confidence. Will they be left without a friend in the world?

Thankfully more communities are acknowledging the role of the elderly. They are building more centers where older people can come together as friends, and encouraging younger people to get involved with their older counterparts. This offers older people a chance to showcase their talents, and learn and teach new ways of doing things to their peers.

This gives them a chance to take pride in themselves, note and work toward making improvements and build on the self-confidence they had in the past.

Passing it On

Older people have forgotten more than many of us have had a chance to learn. Don't let their docile appearances fool you. The man who lived across the hall from my grandmother in a quaint little retirement home in the Midwest turned out to be a famous jazz pianist who'd played France, New York and Vegas.

The stories he told could curl your hair, and would have been lost without someone to listen and write them down. Some of the elderly people you meet on the street have outlived their families, and all of their friends. They may feel different from their peers with children and grandchildren.

Thankfully more groups are recognizing the great potential our older generations have in helping to preserve our history and culture. Schools, historical preservation societies, and libraries may have more information.

By speaking with younger generations and being a part of community projects, our older generations can find a niche only they can fill. It gives them a chance to work toward a better community, and build self-confidence by making a difference.

Regardless of how much our bodies change as we get older, we have the ability to feel good about the roles we play in the world. Self-confidence is an attainable goal despite the changes of time. Though it may take an alternative way of approaching our old habits.