Living as long as possible is a goal for many of us - and we know that there are important factors like diet and environment.
But it seems many of those long-living individuals also share two vital personality points - a positive mindset and emotional intelligence.
Experts Héctor García and Francesc Miralles have recorded their results in their book, "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life."
The book is centered around studying the habits of long-living individuals, especially those in "blue zones," like Japan, in an attempt to show that a long life doesn't just depend on your physical fitness.
The authors cited a 2012 study done by Yeshiva University which found that the oldest subjects shared a certain outlook on life that may help explain their ability to hold on longer than most.
García and Miralles bring these ideas back to the Japanese concept of ikigai, which translates to "reason to live."
Many look at ikigai as the ultimate achievement - finding a purpose in life that combines passion, hobby, what the world needs, and what you can actually get paid to do.
However, the individuals discussed by García and Miralles in their book managed to lead long, happy, and fulfilled lives, even if they couldn't quite hit all of their work goals. So, how did they do it?
Apparently, the individuals who lived the longest put time and effort towards prioritizing peace and happiness. One of the co-authors on the Yeshiva University study, Dr. Nil Barzilai, found that, "most centenarians in the longevity study had positive attitudes," and that these 100-year-olds “consider laughter as an important part of their life."
Barzilai also told ABC News that these centenarians were described as "optimistic, easygoing, and extroverted," by their loved ones.
The second vital trait one must possess to see the turn of the century is emotional awareness. This means that the individuals who lived the longest were able to find ways to express their emotions in a healthy way, rather than bottle them up.
These same individuals also practiced "social fitness" by pouring themselves into the connections that they valued, sticking around to fix and better their relationships, becoming better friends and partners over time.
“In other words, those who face challenges with a positive outlook and are able to manage their emotions are already well on their way toward longevity,” wrote García and Miralles.
While the authors state that more research needs to be done into this subject, several research teams have similar results over the years.
One Cambridge study interviewed over a dozen centenarians and nonagenarians from Southern Italy (another designated "blue zone"), and discovered that positivity, strong family bonds, and community connections were key to their resiliency.
Another 2011 U.S. study that concluded that humans with negative attitudes and "hostility" towards others had shorter lifespans than their more "extroverted" and "positive" counterparts.
However, researchers aren't yet sure if having a positive attitude causes a long life, or if these centenarians have adopted a positive attitude and emotional intelligence because of their age. After all, "with age comes wisdom!"
