One of the most important questions one should ask as one ages is “Am I happy, satisfied, content with the person I see in the mirror?” If the answer is “No” could you change one or more aspects of you personality? Recent research indicates people, despite long-held beliefs to the contrary, can change fundamental character traits. And this can happen at almost any age. Here are some interesting facts:
- Most mental health professionals learned in medical school that true core personality traits are set during childhood and remain constant throughout life. Now new research points to all of us having the ability to change our personality traits in about one month.
- There are five major personality groups: extraversion, openness, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Our individual personalities are determined by where we fall on the spectrum of each personality category.
- Our abilities might fail us during several peak changes in our life: such as retirement, grandparenthood, and major illness. When we recognize these gaps, we can struggle through them or try to change our coping skills.
- An example: you want to improve your extraversion. You need to work your way through four steps: considering, planning, acting, sustaining. Wasn’t that easy? So if you have a shy, relatively closed personality, you need to consider “Do I want this change?” and if the answer is “Yes” move on to planning, which involves practicing strategies that help you become more open—perhaps improving your listening skills or stepping out of your habitual patterns to try new adventures. Once you adopt new behaviors and relinquish old ones—Voila!—you are more extraverted.
One advantage maturity brings: Your greater wisdom and perspective comes with age and is a welcome asset. And focusing on the here and now right under your nose rather what you hope to achieve in the future, can lead to much sustained happiness.