Want to Know How Long You’ll Live? Your Friends Might Have the Clue!

Curious about your life expectancy? It turns out, your closest friends might have a better idea than your doctor. A recent 80-year study shows that the way your intimate friends view your personality and behavior is one of the most accurate ways to calculate how long you will probably live.

Your personality, established by the time you are a young adult, in your twenties, serves as a forecast for the length of your chances of surviving the next 75 years. According to the study, your friends are skilled at recognizing the personality traits that improve your chances of longevity. Men who are seen as conscientious and open live longer, whereas women who are rated high in agreeableness and emotional stability also tend to have a longer lifespan.

##Friends’ Ratings Matter

The reasons for this are fairly straightforward. Conscientious men are more likely to eat a healthier diet, exercise consistently, and not take risks. Emotionally stable women are generally better at avoiding harmful anger and suffering less depression and anxiety. Researchers found that friends’ ratings of personality were better predictors of longevity than self-ratings.

There are two potential reasons why peer ratings are better than self-ratings. First, friends could see things that you miss; they may possess insights that you don’t have. Second, because everyone has multiple friends, it is possible to average the idiosyncrasies of any one friend to create a more reliable assessment of personality. With self-reports, people might be biased or miss certain aspects of themselves.

##The Power of Meditation for Longevity

If conscientiousness and emotional stability can help you live longer, you might be wondering how to achieve these traits. The answer is meditation. Meditation is known for its various mental and physical health benefits, including stress reduction and improved focus, and has been linked to increased longevity.

###Types of Meditation

There are various types of meditation, and it’s essential to find a style that suits your unique preferences, goals, and lifestyle. Some popular forms of meditation include:

1. Mindfulness meditation: This practice comes from Buddhist teachings and involves paying attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. It can be beneficial in managing stress and anxiety.

2. Loving-kindness meditation: Also known as Metta meditation, this practice involves cultivating an attitude of love and kindness toward everything, including your enemies and sources of stress.

3. Body scan or progressive relaxation: The goal of this practice is to scan the body for areas of tension and then encourage relaxation in those areas.

4. Focused meditation: This type of meditation encourages the practitioner to focus on a single thing, such as their breath or a specific word or mantra. This allows the mind to achieve deep concentration.

5. Transcendental meditation: A technique created by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, it involves the repetition of a unique mantra provided by your meditation teacher.

###Tips for Starting a Consistent Meditation Practice

Developing a consistent meditation practice can be challenging. Here are a few tips to make your meditation journey smoother:

1. Choose the right time and place: Find a quiet, comfortable space in your home where you can meditate consistently. It’s crucial to select a time of day that works best for you, whether it’s early in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bedtime.

2. Start small: Begin with just five minutes a day and gradually increase the length of your meditation sessions over time. Consistency is more important than the duration of your practice.

3. Eliminate distractions: Ensure that your meditation space is free from distractions, including electronic devices, loud noises, and clutter.

4. Use guided meditation: If you’re unsure of where to start, consider using guided meditation apps, videos, or audio recordings to help you get started and maintain your practice.

5. Be patient: Meditation is a skill that requires practice and patience. Remember that it’s normal to have thoughts or distractions come up during your practice. The key is to acknowledge them and then gently bring your focus back.

By incorporating meditation into your daily routine, you can promote the personality traits and emotional stability that have been linked to living a longer, healthier life. Give it a try, and don’t be surprised if your friends start to notice the difference too.