Joyspan: The Overlooked Secret to a Longer, Healthier Life

A few years ago, I was introduced to the friend of a family member, a man in his mid-90s who seemed very bright, sharp, and overall healthy for his age. But in speaking with him, even for a short time, he appeared to be quite unhappy. As we chatted, he constantly focused on every complaint he had about the world.  

I’m not blaming him – I believe he just didn’t understand the old saying, “What we focus on, we find.” In other words, if we continue to fixate on feeling miserable, on how everyone and everything around us is miserable, then guess what? We’ll find more misery.   

The good news? The opposite also holds true.  

The research is clear: We do have the ability to develop and nurture joy if we know how.  You’ve possibly heard the term “lifespan” and maybe even “healthspan,” but here’s another to consider: joyspan. Because after all, who wants to live a long life only to be miserable? 

What exactly is joy? 

Joy refers to deep inner contentment linked to purpose, meaning, gratitude, and a strong sense of internal values. When we choose to identify and nurture joy, it stands to reason we’ll experience a happier, healthier lifespan. 

What’s good about neuroplasticity, and how’s it connected to joy? 

Carol Dweck, in her research, proposed there are two types of mindsets: growth-oriented and fixed. She found that we can change from fixed to growth-oriented through the concept of neuroplasticity — which basically means the brain is “plastic,” or changeable.  

It turns out when we face challenges, whether health problems, family problems, or even more widespread issues within the world, our mindset will either help us find creative ways to navigate the challenge — or keep us stuck in the misery of it.    

Strategies to Increase Joyspan Through a Growth-oriented Mindset 

Be More Curious  

Begin with your internal values — the things that are most important to you. Identify them first so you can use them to intentionally nurture joy.  

Once you’ve identified your values, write a list of your interests. Maybe it’s learning about pickleball, birding, or your own heritage. Challenge yourself to explore one of the activities from the list.  

When we adopt a sense of curiosity and embrace a learning mentality, we ignite a spark of joy, creating a new neural pathway connected to happiness. Research also suggests that curiosity and a learning, growth-oriented mindset help us maintain cognitive function and good mental health, especially in older adults. 

Bring curiosity and learning to your relationships as well — as humans we're wired for connection and research shows the more connected we are with others, the healthier our outlook and lifespan. 

Embrace Challenges and Failures 

Maybe you’ve decided to learn to play pickleball. You sign up for a class, but a negative voice in your head barges in: you’ll never learn this, you’ll make a fool of yourself, and so on. Instead of letting that inner critic set up house, acknowledge it — then let it go. You might even embrace the idea that you’re a novice and not expected to know everything, that you’re embracing the challenge of learning.  

And when you fail — and you might, especially in the beginning — you can again embrace learning from your mistakes.     

Change Your Perspective 

Perhaps you were once an avid runner, but at your doctor’s recommendation, you began to run less and less as you were told your joints wouldn’t last long if you kept pounding them. Instead of complaining about and focusing on the things you’re no longer able to do, you choose to change your perspective and adapt to this new normal. You embrace the things you can still do, and maybe even discover a passion for cycling, swimming, or other new activities. 

Cultivate Meaning 

What do you currently do that’s aligned with your values and brings meaning to your life? Instead of focusing on the things you want, consider others' needs you might be able to meet. When you focus on how you can be of service, you’re flipping the script on your obstacles — whether they’re health issues, relationship challenges, or something else — to focus on someone else. It helps to not only alleviate your own challenges but those of the person you’re helping.  

Summary 

Change isn’t easy — and it certainly isn’t linear. Challenge yourself to put one of these small strategies into action daily — look at it like an experiment over the next 30 days. Then, watch that ember of joy turn into a bright flame of lasting happiness.