"Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind.
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of people.
I have wished to know why the stars shine.
Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.
This has been my life; I found it worth living."
Bertrand Russell
We all strive for long life. The thought of sickness and death strikes terror in our hearts. We spend our days to do things that may bring us happiness and keep us healthy. In spite of that some people who live exemplary lives die early. Some of the reasons for early death may be genetic and high risk activities such as lack of exercise, gluttonous living and failure to control stress.
A new study by Drs. Howard Friedman and Margaret Kern of the University of California at the Riverside found that people who were less conscientious were 50 percent more likely to die at any given age, on average, than those of the same age who were more conscientious. Other findings that improve longevity include Increased socioeconomic status and intelligence. However, the findings in the above study far exceeded the effects of higher socioeconomic status and intelligence which are also associated with increased longevity. The following were the characteristics of the conscientious people who tended to live longest:
- Hard-working.
- Resourceful.
- Confident.
- Ambitious.
- Traits of responsibility.
- Reliability.
- Respectful people in the community who contribute time and energy to their community.
- People who co-operate with their colleagues and neighbors.
The study asserts that people with the above traits live lives that are more stable and less stressful. Less stressful is the operative word. With less stress, you're free to be all you can be. The self esteem, that goes with your achievements and successes, gives you the courage to even be more successful. The added benefit of peace of mind is a boon to your mind and body health.
Reference:
New Scientist
