Aging - Guidelines for the Heart by Ryuho Okawa 163

June 20, 2018（Last Update: June 13, 2026）

This month's 'Guidelines for the Heart' discusses 'the value of aging.' We asked Chizuru Hamano from the 'Living to 100 Association' for tips on enjoying a happy senior life.

The 'Guidelines for the Heart' written by Ryuho Okawa is serialized in the Happiness Science pamphlet Monthly 'Happiness Science' open_in_new. Posters are displayed at branches nationwide open_in_new, and it is widely known as the monthly face of Happiness Science.

For those who want to read the guidelines in the monthly magazine, please check the July issue of 'Happiness Science' open_in_new.

Saying 'I'm still △ years old!'

I am currently 71 years old and traveling nationwide as a representative of the 'Living to 100 Association,' but there are many people older than me who are active.

For example, there is a 77-year-old who loves helping others and continues to work in caregiving, and an 81-year-old who volunteers at a nursing home while training at the gym. Additionally, there are many people in their 80s and 90s who are diligently learning Ryuho Okawa's teachings and sharing them with those around them. From these individuals, I learn the secret to living positively and brightly at any age.

One of these secrets is the way we think about age. As we get older, we tend to say, 'I'm already △ years old.' In such cases, how about rephrasing it to 'I'm still △ years old'? Just that change can significantly shift your mindset to a more positive one.

The secret to returning to heaven is...

Moreover, as we age, we inevitably experience physical pain and face economic and family concerns. Those who manage to overcome these challenges have a common trait: a 'heart of gratitude.' When you cultivate the habit of sincerely appreciating what you have, such as 'I am alive now' and 'I have been protected until today,' the troubles in front of you seem smaller.

I feel that the reason members of the 'Living to 100 Association' are always energetic and youthful is that they have learned from President Okawa that there is an 'afterlife,' which alleviates their fear of death. Living with a 'mindset that enjoys aging' is also very important for returning to heaven.

Currently, loneliness among the elderly is a problem, but through the activities of the 'Living to 100 Association,' I hope to increase smiles in the community and expand the bonds of the heart.

This content is reprinted and edited from Monthly 'Happiness Science' No. 377 open_in_new.
The very popular 'Guidelines for the Heart' is also available for regular subscription, so please take advantage of it!

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