Below is an Emotional Longevity Test.

Just taking this test and spending a little time thinking about your answers will provide you with an opportunity to understand your emotional longevity and how to improve it.

I gave this test to my 96 year old grandmother who lives by herself in her own home next door to her church in a small town in Florida where she walks about 1-3 miles daily.

She made an almost perfect score.

Most of what I know about Emotional Longevity I have learned from her.

Take a piece of paper and number it 1-30.

For each statement below, please answer either YES or NO on your paper.

1. I have feelings of stress.

2.I have feelings of fear and/or anxiety.

3.I have feelings of anger.

4. I have feelings of grief.

5.I have feelings of cynicism.

6.I have feelings of being unable to love.

7.I have feelings of guilt.

8. I have feelings of a sense of inadequacy.

9.I have feelings of no will to live.

10. I have feelings of depression.

11.I have feelings of being helpless and hopeless.

12.I have feelings of hostility.

13. I have feelings of sadness.

14.I have feelings that my life has no purpose.

15.I have feelings that I don't belong.

16.I have a feeling of purpose in my work and life.

17.I feel good about my education and earnings.

18.I have feelings of love for my family.

19. I have feelings of joy with my many friends.

20. I have feelings of gratitude.

21.I have feelings of love for my significant other.

22.I feel a strong spiritual orientation in my life.

23.I feel I have achieved a good socioeconomic position.

24.I feel I am in control of my life.

25.I have feelings of joy.

26.I have a sense of optimism.

27.I feel that my life is an open book.

28.I feel that my life is meaningful.

29.I have feelings of peace.

30.I have feelings of a divine presence.

Finding Your Score

For Questions 1-15, ADD the number of NO answers.

For Questions 16-30, ADD the number of YES answers.

Then combine the two for a total score.

0-15: Poor emotional longevity

15-20: Good emotional longevity

21 or more: excellent emotional longevity

There are several areas throughout the world where the people are experiencing amazing health, living for a record number of years (beyond 100) and are active and vigorous well past the age of 100.

There are many lessons to be learned from the people of these longevity spots throughout the world- including:

Loma Linda, California- the home of the only longevity spot in the United States and where I went to medical school,

Okinawa- an island in Japan,

Symi- an island in Greece,

Campodimele- a village in southern Italy,

Hunza- a valley in northwest Pakistan and,

Bama- a county in southern China.

Emotional Longevity is defined through:

Emotions- these long lived people tend to maintain a healthy psycho-spiritual outlook and low stress levels by remaining optimistic and happy most of the time.

Environment and Relationships- they tend to live in happy, close-knit communities where the older you are, the more that you are respected for your wisdom and your knowledge.They have strong family ties and good frienships

Faith and Meaning- these people have feelings of divine presence and of a higher power in their life. They live their life with purpose and they understand their role.

Personal achievement and equality- these people feel in control of their life and their health. They have a feeling of purpose in their work and life and are proud of their achievements.

Thoughts and Actions- these people share a sense of optimism, feelings of peace, feelings of joy and gratitude. They understand that unhappiness stems from wanting more and happiness stems from giving more.