The Self-Esteem Sweet Spot

Are you ready for another great piece of news about making it to your sixth decade?

According to research into the life cycle of self-esteem, those of us in our sixties are enjoying the enviable peak of feeling confident in who we are, how we live, and what we can look forward to.

Wrinkles and expanding waistlines be damned!

Our friends over at Merriam-Webster define self-esteem as “A confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” That’s a pretty small definition for a concept that is so big and so important to one’s overall happiness, physical well-being, and the feelings of hope and inspiration that move us to get out of bed every morning.

Psychologists tell us that self-esteem is the key personal perception that colors pretty much how we see everything in our envisioned lives. That’s incredibly potent stuff to consider. When positive, self-esteem challenges us to charge forward with confidence in how we think, feel, and act. When negative, we experience a gap, often seemingly insurmountable, between what we want and what we believe is possible.

According to a report published by the American Council on Science and Health, the big boost in self-esteem in our sixties comes from the accumulation of all that wisdom we’ve been earning over the years. The sum of all that experience brings us a sense of peace and confidence which allows us to view ourselves as competent and capable of handling most things that come our way.

Finally!

This is excellent news and a much-deserved reward after decades of dealing with life’s foibles, both big and small. Who knew that all those flat tires, stretched-too-thin paychecks, flight delays, and in-law issues would prep us for sliding into a chapter where we approach challenges with a healthy dose of patience and an “all will be well” attitude? It might be little compensation for years of worry and stress but a welcome one, nonetheless.

To be clear, the sense of wisdom and satisfaction that comes with the gift of reaching our age is not to be confused with complacency. Instead, it is a solid platform from which we have the confidence and energy to launch into new and exciting chapters. We now know better than to let fear stop us from venturing into uncharted territory. We feel smart and capable about taking on a fun side-hustle that adds a little cash to the bank account. We plan trips to countries where we don’t speak the language because we remember that we have Google Translate in our pocket. And we take the leap and buy the snakeskin boots because we are confident in expressing our personality through our appearance.

We now know that personal goals are never out of reach, and for folks in our sixties, now is the perfect time to jump in the pool.

Recently The Guardian did a round-up of “personal peaks” and categorized them by the age in which they generally occur. I’m happy to report that, if a Nobel Prize is your goal, your sixth decade is when you are most likely to win it! Our sixties is also the time of our peak communication skills along with our highest ability to succeed at conflict resolution. (In my case, I think I’ve just learned to ignore all the people who regularly chapped my hide.) Also, our SQoL (Sexual Quality of Life) remains steady in our sixties, so feel free to get busy on that, too.

And most importantly, The Guardian report tells us that in our sixties we reach our greatest ability to be nice.

Whether one has accomplished greatness, survived tragedy, or simply succeeded in creating a quiet but happy life, this chapter is one where we get to take all that peace of mind and let it launch us into our next, best adventures.

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Hell Yeah!

Check out some ideas for exploration and expansion. I do not endorse these businesses and organizations, nor do I receive compensation from them.

MasterClass Online education has improved by leaps and bounds. MasterClass allows us to take a peek into an industry, hobby, or area of interest with classes designed and hosted by experts.

Backroads If you want to get out and see the world on foot, from the seat of bike, or the comfort of a river cruise, Backroads offers guided trips and tours to far-flung destinations as well as nearby get-aways. Their expert guides do much of the heavy lifting, and we know that travel is a great way to meet future friends.

Volunteer Match It’s time to put all that experience and knowledge to work for the greater good. Volunteer Match will connect you with local opportunities and agencies looking for help. Search through causes and efforts that resonate with you, and get busy making a difference.

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Let’s talk about it!

What habits, activities, or perspectives elevate or support your self-esteem?

What does healthy self-esteem look or feel like to you?

How have you surprised yourself recently?