Hope is a Habit of the Mind

 

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"So Methuselah's life lasted 969 years; then he died" (The Holy Bible, New International Version, 1999, Genesis 5:27). Aging is a fact of life, and human beings have two choices when it comes to maintaining our existence: we can either become immortal like the gods of ancient myth or we reproduce (de Cabo & Le Couteur, 2018). Along with getting older is physical decline, and in the acute care setting, patients admitted to the hospital who are advanced in years or at least older than sixty-five years old are at an increased risk for falling and suffering an injury such as a broken hip or worse head injury (Baker & Sudarsky, 2018). Additionally, and probably most importantly associated with aging is mental decline that can present in later years as dementia, and the often overlooked personality changes, or otherwise known as affective disorders, with aging that are common are feelings of anxiety and depression (Ouslander & Reyes, 2018). Although none of us can turn back the clock and there is no fountain of youth, we can, however, use grit to help us maintain our physical and mental health, as an aspect of resilience and keeping hope, which Thomas Aquinas reminds us is a habit of the mind (Aquinas, 1952, p. 457).

In his book Resilient, teacher and author Rick Hanson illustrates the idea of grit — being determined, resolved, and resolute despite setbacks. Furthermore, the resident academic at UC Berkley, a professor of psychology, pointedly discusses the idea of agency or autonomy, namely that individuals can make an effort to effect change and not surrender to helplessness (Hanson & Hanson, 2018). Other scholars have described this as well, noting that individuals who can identify with a purpose in life and draw on personal autonomy can bring grit to the forefront as a buffer against old age and declining mental health (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). In ways that autonomy can buffer symptoms of anxiety and depression, adults can remember to be self-guiding and practice independence where applicable.

References:

Aquinas, T. (1952). Treatise on faith, hope, and charity. In R. M. Hutchins (Ed.), Great books of the Western world (Vol. 2, pp. 380–605). Encyclopædia Britannica.

Baker, J. M. & Sudarsky, L. R. (2018). Gait disorders, Imbalance, and Falls. In J. Larry Jameson & Anthony S. Fauci & Dennis L. Kasper & Stephen L. Hauser & Dan L. Longo & Joseph Loscalzo (20th Eds., Vol. 1), Harrison's principles of internal medicine (pp. 143-147). McGraw-Hill Education. 

de Cabo, Rafael, & Le Couteur, David G. (2018). The Biology of Aging. In J. Larry Jameson & Anthony S. Fauci & Dennis L. Kasper & Stephen L. Hauser & Dan L. Longo & Joseph Loscalzo (20th Eds., Vol. 1), Harrison's principles of internal medicine (pp. 3413–3420). McGraw-Hill Education. 

Hanson, R., & Hanson, F. (2018). Resilient: How to grow an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness. Harmony Books.

Ouslander, J. G., & Reyes, B. (2018). Gait disorders, Imbalance, and Falls. In J. Larry Jameson & Anthony S. Fauci & Dennis L. Kasper & Stephen L. Hauser & Dan L. Longo & Joseph Loscalzo (20th Eds., Vol. 1), Harrison's principles of internal medicine (pp. 3420–3438). McGraw-Hill Education. 

Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.69.4.719

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1999). Cornerstone Bible Publishers. (original work published 1973)