[A recent] survey included people between 18 and 85. The survey showed that people start out at age 18 feeling pretty good. However, they feel progressively worse until they hit 50.
But after that point, people begin getting happier as they age. By the time they are 85, they are even more satisfied with themselves than they were at 18.
A British study of a smaller scale from last year came to similar findings.
The University of Warwick found happiness levels form a U-curve, reaching their low point at around 45 but then increasing as we age.
Although our physical quality of life goes down once we get past middle-age, our mental satisfaction increases. ...
Older people are happier because they have:
- A deeper appreciation of the value of life
- A feeling of fulfillment
- A greater ability to understand and handle life's vicissitudes
- Fewer aspirations and expectations of themselves
- The ability to live in the present and not worry about the future
- The wisdom to know they can't please everyone all the time
- An inclination to see situations more positively
