To examine the aforementioned premises, we attempted to locate salient data housed on PUBMED, PsycINFO, Medline (Ebsco), Web of Science, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR using the key terms, Positive Psychology and Healthy/Successful Aging. All modes of publication were deemed acceptable in this regard if they addressed one or more of the topics of interest noted above in some way and there were no yearly or methodological restrictions. The most salient articles, book chapters, or books, related to the current theme were duly downloaded and examined and those deemed noteworthy are highlighted here in narrative form. All modes of application employed in the various research studies were accepted as valid, as were all definitions of anxiety and depression and positive psychology. Moreover, since the article was designed to serve as a general one to introduce the topic, rather than a systematic review, it did not consider any of the currently reported research endeavors in depth, but rather the goals was to present a snapshot of the prevailing trends in this realm and the potential of this modality for clinical purposes.

The term positive psychology was largely employed to examine interventions, treatment methods or intentional activities aimed at cultivating positive feelings, positive behaviors, or positive cognitions believed to enhance well-being and ameliorate depressive symptoms 7 as opposed to the hypothesized negative scenario depicted in Figure 1 below.

While aging is inevitable, increasing evidence suggests aging as a negative state does not have to be a foregone ordained experience of downward spiraling events and perceptions. This review explored the degree to which positive psychology a broad term applied to encompass approaches that draw on positive thoughts and beliefs regardless of negative situations can serve as a primary as well as a secondary and tertiary preventive tool in the context of efforts to attain a state of successful aging as discussed by Pandey and Garb 63. As such, evidence appears to imply that regardless of age and health condition, a more positive outlook involving active efforts on behalf of the aging adulthas a sufficiently strong bearing on their ability to attain an optimally healthy aging state, high energy levels, overall satisfaction, and motivation. In this regard, one or more positive thoughts applied on a regular basis may help to improve overall mental and physical health attributes, while mitigating damage attributable to persistent unrelenting or adverse negative/stressful health situations and others 63. Since this is an important goal of many practitioners as well as aging adults themselves, fostering older adults to adopt a positive frame of mind as far as possible is likely to foster greater overall life satisfaction and productivity than not 4664. Moreover, those who feel good , will tend to have higher health benefits all factors considered, when compared to those who focus solely on negative emotions 65.

In sum, as discussed by Araujo et al.66 the study of aging through the lens of positive psychology as proposed initially by Seligman 4 appears to allow both the practitioner or provider, as well as the client, to look beyond the decline normally associated with advancing age and to consider rewarding experiences and strategies that can help to promote a meaningful aging state, rather than one of despair, distress, despondency, and mood disorders. Moreover, addressed sooner rather than later, early interventions may not only help to ably preserve an optimal mental health status and well-being among aging adults, but may extend longevity 6768, enhance compassion 69 along with increased feelings of love, closeness, or trust, while reducing negative feelings of stress, nervousness, and being overwhelmed, a finding also supported by Hodgetts et al. 70 and Barton et al 71. Smith et al. 72 note that among older adults, a greater ability to savor positive experiences and higher resilience also predicted greater happiness, lower depression, and greater life satisfaction. Indeed, research shows that positive psychology offers a fertile ground for exploration and application, but that even a small change in one dimension affecting life quality positively might have a considerable impact on others that can foster health vicariously speaking 6.

That is, rather than focusing on the older person's weaknesses or future anticipated weaknesses, for example, frailty, depression, anxiety, or fears, activating their strengths and reserve capacities 3 by harnessing one or more attributes of positive psychology, an umbrella term for the application of various positive emotions, appears to be a highly promising complementary approach to advancing the idea of successful aging . A growing number of well controlled studies imply positive psychology as a global strategy does tend to produce favorable measureable outcomes in multiple spheres, including important psychological, physical, and cognitive spheres of well-being 73. Indeed, altering an older adult s health beliefs and stance from a maladaptive reactive one in the face of their aging challenges, to a more strengths and asset based adaptive stance, may markedly help them to counter any aging related fears, anxieties, and negative beliefs. Older adults pursuing these varied positively oriented approaches may also be expected to experience less stress, a more productive, creative, meaningful aging process, and a happier healthier one. Moreover, applied in a customized way, elder depression and death associated anxiety may decline, while longevity may increase, as may the older adult s ability to cope effectively with new stressors and/or unanticipated events, for example COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and isolation 19. Continual efforts to consider these current ideas both in practice as well as well as broadening the scope and nature of the research to include mixed methods case and single sample study designs may provide even further insights into this potential for positive thoughts and actions to advance optimal health, even late in life, and in the face of multiple health challenges, that may otherwise be overlooked in the context of either controlled trials, or systematic analyses or both. More diverse, as well as longitudinal examination of the impact of early life adoption of positive perspectives and which approaches can be applied most successfully also warrants careful study of this perspective in light of the current burden experienced by most aging cognitive adults, in a world where change is the normal, but interventions to preserve calm and dignity, and foster resilience that might be harnessed are few. These include but are not limited to. Box 1