A simple rule that will bring you back the joy of life in your 40s, 50s and even 60s

Embracing all aspects of life - both the joys and the challenges - can markedly improve the mental health of middle-aged people, especially if they have a sense of social connection. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Michigan, reports the University of Michigan.

The new study, published in the journal The Humanistic Psychologist, focuses on the concept of amor fati, a Latin expression that can be translated as "love of one's destiny." Friedrich Nietzsche more than a hundred years ago called it the joyful and conscious acceptance of life in all its manifestations. The authors of the paper argue that people who practice amor fati are more likely to experience inner growth and less likely to feel devastated in mid-life.

The study involved 111 Americans between the ages of 35 and 60. Psychologists asked them about their degree of acceptance of their fate, level of social engagement, feelings of loneliness and general psychological well-being. The researchers defined psychological "flourishing" as the presence of positive feelings and meaning in life, and "fading" as the absence of such experiences.

The results showed that those who more often adhered to the amor fati philosophy felt more socially connected, suffered less loneliness and were more likely to show signs of psychological growth. It turns out that social engagement is directly related to this inner flourishing - the more a person feels part of a community, the higher their life satisfaction.

Interestingly, the decrease in signs of inner desolation was primarily attributed to an increase in social engagement, not just a decrease in loneliness.

"Amor fati is not about passive acceptance, but about joyful and conscious engagement with life, even when it brings suffering," notes the study's lead author, psychology professor Edward Chang. - "Our data show: this approach really helps adults cope with the challenges of midlife."

Midlife is often associated with unique stresses - career stagnation, caring for children and elderly parents, the loss of loved ones, and the realisation of one's own mortality. All of this can increase feelings of isolation and devastation. The authors of the paper believe that accepting any circumstances as part of a personal journey allows even difficult moments to be reframed. For example, loneliness can be seen not as something negative, but as another aspect of life that contributes to personal growth.

For members of the so-called "sandwich generation," caring for children and aging parents at the same time, this approach can also be a resource. Rather than seeing caring as a heavy burden, it is worth recognising that it is part of the life cycle that previous generations have experienced.

According to researchers, the ability to not only endure, but also consciously accept what happens, helps adults not only survive crises, but also fulfil their inner potential in adulthood.