CasualLitNook » Counterclockwise: Exploring the Possibilities of Reversing Aging

Counterclockwise: Exploring the Possibilities of Reversing Aging

2025-05-18 21:05 | Bedtime Classics | Comment

Hello, welcome to our daily book listening session. Today, I'm going to interpret a book for you, titled **Counterclockwise**.

This is a book about health, illness, and aging, which is closely related to our lives. None of us wants to age quickly; we all desire health and wish to stay away from diseases. However, it's undeniable that everyone is on the path of aging. In many people's minds, aging is a dreadful thing because it implies decline to a certain extent. For instance, in terms of physiology, vision deteriorates, and limbs become less agile; in terms of cognition, intelligence, memory, and reaction abilities are far from what they used to be, which is commonly referred to as "becoming senile."

But is this really the case? Evidence from neuroscience shows that the brain activity of over 90% of 60-year-olds is essentially no different from that of 20-year-olds. This means that in terms of cognitive abilities such as memory, reasoning, and information processing speed, the elderly are not inferior to the young. So, why do we always associate old age with frailty, helplessness, and illness? This might be because we tend to view aging with a rigid mindset, believing that aging inevitably leads to decline and frailty. Indeed, many issues are brought about by aging, but we should not overlook other possibilities. For example, when people find themselves unable to remember things, many immediately think, "I'm getting old." However, in reality, it might just be that we are not spending as much time and effort on memorization as we used to. As the author of this book says, "Aging is a concept that is instilled in us," and we need to see more possibilities.

The author, Ellen Langer, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University and also one of the founders of positive psychology. Professor Langer has been conducting research in the field of positive psychology for over 50 years, presiding over numerous pioneering experiments that have subverted people's perceptions of the relationship between mind and body, and has thus received many awards. This book contains a multitude of experiments conducted by Professor Langer, and the following interpretation will also revolve around these experiments.

Professor Langer's psychological perspective is somewhat different from most psychological research. Generally, psychology tends to describe general facts, such as the decline in vision and memory over time. If someone in old age still has particularly good vision and memory, psychologists would consider this an exception. However, Professor Langer's interest lies precisely in these exceptions because they add a layer of possibility to how we view ourselves and the world. This book is intended to explore another possibility regarding health, illness, and aging, as well as the methods to achieve this possibility.

Next, I will interpret this book in two parts. In the first part, we will look at what seemingly impossible things about health and aging are actually possible. For example, is it possible to achieve "anti-aging growth"? To what extent can our psychological state influence our physical condition? In the second part, we will focus on the seemingly certain things about health on the path of "anti-aging growth" that are not as certain as they seem. For example, do seemingly certain diagnostic labels really make us healthier?

First, let's consider whether it is possible to turn back time and achieve "anti-aging growth." In 1979, the author Langer conducted an experiment that, despite its age, remains relevant today. This experiment, called the "Counterclockwise Study," aimed to see if making participants psychologically younger by 20 years would also make their bodies younger. To turn back time, the author made many preparations. She found a secluded monastery and restored it to its appearance from 20 years earlier, in 1959. She then recruited 16 elderly individuals around the age of 80, divided them into two groups—an experimental group and a control group—and had them stay at the monastery for a week.

These elderly individuals were very curious and excited about the experiment and arrived at the monastery by bus. However, upon getting off the bus, their curiosity turned to astonishment. The author told them to handle their own luggage, with no staff assistance, and suggested that if they couldn't carry everything at once, they could make multiple trips. Initially, they thought it was impossible because many of them hadn't carried so much on their own for over a decade. But in the end, despite taking breaks along the way, they all successfully moved their luggage into their rooms.

The experiment officially began, and during this week, the elderly individuals discussed political and social topics from 20 years ago, listened to and watched radio and television programs from that time, played music from the past, and read newspapers and magazines from 1959. The only difference between the two groups was that the experimental group was asked to communicate in the "present tense," with all their conversations reflecting that "it is 1959." This was not a simple task, as it was not about pretending to live in 1959 but rather trying to fully immerse their minds in the past, making them believe that they were their 1959 selves. In contrast, the control group was asked to use the "past tense" in their communications, serving as a reminder that it was not 1959 and that they were merely reminiscing about the past.

The results were evident from the second day of the experiment. The elderly individuals, who previously relied heavily on their families, became actively engaged in various tasks at the monastery, such as tidying tables and cleaning. Almost everyone was able to take care of their own lives. By the end of the week, the author conducted physical assessments and found significant improvements in both groups in terms of hearing, vision, physical strength, gait, posture, memory, cognitive ability, taste sensitivity, and manual dexterity. Interestingly, several individuals even started playing football. Moreover, the changes in the experimental group were more pronounced compared to the control group, and when compared to their photos from a week earlier, the experimental group appeared at least two years younger.

The experiment concluded, and within just one week, these 16 elderly individuals, merely by believing that they were 20 years younger and adopting a younger mindset, managed to make their bodies respond accordingly. What seemed impossible actually happened. However, there are several intriguing aspects worth revisiting.

Firstly, when the elderly individuals got off the bus, the author insisted that they carry their own luggage. For individuals around 80 years old, it would not be unreasonable to ask for assistance from the staff, and in real-life situations, we might even offer help proactively. So, why did the author persist in having them carry their luggage themselves? It was because the author wanted them to realize that they might have been overly protected.

Helping others can make the helper feel good, but over time, it can also cause the recipient to lose a sense of control. If this sense of control is entirely lost, a person truly enters old age. In the "old age" phase, a sense of control is particularly important for an individual, as it not only affects their happiness but also their physical and mental health.

In the 1970s, the author and her colleagues conducted another experiment in a nursing home, demonstrating the significance of a sense of control for the elderly. The elderly residents were divided into two groups. The experimental group was allowed to make their own decisions, such as choosing a favorite potted plant, deciding where to place it, and determining how much water to give it and when. Additionally, they could choose where to receive visitors and when to watch movies. In contrast, the control group had to follow the arrangements made by the medical staff. After a year and a half, when the author returned to the nursing home, she found that the elderly individuals with decision-making power, who had a greater sense of control over their lives, were not only happier, more proactive, and more alert but also had a lower mortality rate, which was half that of the control group.

The purpose of these experiments was not to suggest that we should stop assisting the elderly. Instead, it was to encourage us to consider more carefully before offering help to the elderly, to give them a bit more time and space to make choices, and to see if they could overcome their current difficulties through their own efforts. Filial piety is a virtue, and taking care of the elderly with dedication is commendable. However, sometimes it is this well-intentioned protection that causes the elderly to lose their autonomy and sense of control over their lives. Therefore, in the process of caring for the elderly, whether by family members or caregivers, it is beneficial to encourage them, respect their personal ideas and choices, and allow them to maintain their autonomy, which is more conducive to their physical and mental health.

Secondly, you may have noticed that in the "Counterclockwise Study," the control group, who reminisced about the past using the "past tense," also showed improvements, albeit not as significant as the experimental group. This might seem counterintuitive because, as people age, time irreversibly passes, and reminiscing about the past can often evoke a sense of sadness. Wouldn't this make people feel older? Actually, it does not. Researchers have found that while individuals of different age groups—youth, middle age, and old age—all engage in nostalgia, their purposes for doing so vary. Young people reminisce to explore their identities or solve problems, whereas the elderly do so primarily to impart wisdom and maintain close relationships with others. Therefore, when the elderly recall the past, they focus on the positive aspects of their memories, gaining more positive emotional experiences rather than feelings of sadness and loss.

Furthermore, according to Erikson's theory of personality development, individuals enter the stage of ego integrity in old age. How does this integration occur? Nostalgia provides an opportunity. By reviewing and re-examining their life experiences, individuals ultimately accept themselves, achieving a sense of completeness and wisdom. This is the role that nostalgia plays. In the book "Hello, My Silver-Haired Life," there is a summary that I think explains it particularly well:

"For the elderly, nostalgia is not merely about reminiscing about the past but also about finding the motivation to move forward from the beauty or regrets of the past, encouraging themselves to stand firmly in the present and stride confidently toward a better future."

I believe that as family members, when our parents constantly recount stories from the past, we can offer more listening and understanding, and less impatience. We can accompany them in reliving the beauty of bygone times and witness the miracle of "anti-aging growth."

Finally, in the "Counterclockwise Study," you will also find that what enabled these elderly individuals to "grow younger" was not only the sense of control they gained and the positive effects of nostalgia but also the subtle influence of the surrounding people and environment. For instance, communicating in the "present tense" and not deliberately making anything "elder-friendly" provided psychological cues of "youth" to the elderly. In our daily lives, without our awareness, our physical and mental health is constantly changing in response to these cues, which can be either positive or negative. They act like switches that control our behavior.

The author and her students once conducted a "priming experiment." They randomly selected 100 photographs of people and asked participants to categorize them. The experimental group was instructed to classify the photos based on their own criteria, such as by gender, skin color, or hairstyle, as long as it was not related to age. This was done to shield them from any "old age" cues. In contrast, the control group was asked to categorize the photos solely based on age to prime the concept of "old age." Once the task was completed, the real experiment began as the participants left the laboratory. The author recorded the time it took for the participants to walk from the laboratory door to the elevator and found that those who had been primed with the concept of "old age" took longer to walk this distance and had a heavier gait, resembling actual elderly individuals.

Conversely, if we prime positive cues, the outcomes can be quite different. In another experiment, the author invited some hotel housekeeping staff and divided them into two groups. She informed one group that their regular work was equivalent to sufficient exercise and that their activity levels met the health standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The other group was not given this information. After four weeks, a remarkable change occurred: the group that was told their work met the exercise standards experienced a decrease in weight, body fat, and blood pressure, becoming healthier overall. Importantly, these healthier staff members did not engage in any additional exercise outside of their regular work.

Of course, if we have the time and energy to exercise, such as running or doing aerobics, it is naturally a better way to maintain health. However, for those who do not have extra time or energy for exercise, such as office workers who sit for long periods or the elderly with limited mobility, we can shift our perspective and view every physical activity as a form of exercise. Exercise is not just an activity outside of work and daily chores; it can happen at any time, such as when getting up to get a drink of water or when going out to buy groceries. If we give ourselves and the elderly in our homes more of these positive cues, we may be able to improve our health to some extent.

We have now covered the details of the "Counterclockwise Study." Let's briefly summarize it. Through the results of the "Counterclockwise Study," the author demonstrated that it is possible to turn back time and achieve "anti-aging growth." However, it is important to note that this does not mean that everyone will achieve the same results simply by living as they did in the past. Instead, it suggests that if we make an effort to change, there is a possibility for improvement. If we stubbornly and hastily assume that aging is inevitably linked to decline, we are likely to fall into a rigid and stereotypical mindset, believing that aging must mean deterioration and thus failing to see the potential for change.

Aging does not necessarily mean decline, nor does it mean that there is no possibility for control and improvement. Often, what limits us is not the body itself but our perception of it. People can break through the stereotypes of age and aging by adjusting their mindset, maintaining a healthy psychological state, providing themselves with more positive psychological cues, and gaining a greater sense of control. As a result, the body will correspondingly improve and undergo "counterclockwise" changes.

Now that we have discussed the possibility of turning back time and achieving "anti-aging growth," let's move on to talk about the seemingly certain things about health on the path of "anti-aging growth" that are not as certain as they seem.

We have a preference for certainty because it gives us a sense of security. However, the author has realized over many years of research that the pursuit of certainty is actually a dreadful mindset. When everything is certain, we fail to see the possibilities of the world. Therefore, the author advises us not to fear uncertainty, especially regarding our health. Uncertainty has many benefits; it creates more opportunities for choice and helps us better control our lives.

This may sound strange because, for health, we have long been in pursuit of definitive answers. For instance, when we fall ill, we are usually very eager to know what is wrong with us. We either search online or see specialists, all in the hope of obtaining authoritative information about our symptoms and having the doctor's diagnosis serve as our health prescription. At first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong with this, as most people act in this way. However, the key issue lies here. In the process of worrying about our health and seeking medical advice, a problem can easily arise: our attention tends to focus more on the form rather than the content.

Let me tell you a little story. Once, the author and her students approached a line of people waiting to use a photocopier and wanted to cut in line. They used three different ways to make their request: "Can I use the photocopier first?" "Can I use the photocopier first because I need to make copies?" "Can I use the photocopier first because I'm in a hurry?" As expected, the probability of people allowing them to cut in line was higher when using the second and third requests. However, interestingly, the second request, "Can I use the photocopier first because I need to make copies?" was actually not a valid reason because everyone in line was there to make copies. But why did almost no one question it? The author believes that it is because the sentence structure contained a key word, "because." In other words, as long as a reason is given, no matter how nonsensical it is, people tend to agree without thinking.

The same applies when seeing a doctor. Once the doctor makes a diagnosis, it largely makes patients obediently follow "orders" and strictly adhere to medical advice. We do not pay much attention to what the diagnosis is based on and whether it really fits our actual situation. In other words, we do not consciously participate in the diagnostic decision-making process, as if it has nothing to do with us. However, the author reminds us that diagnostic tools are not perfect and not 100% accurate. Although these tools may successfully predict the conditions of the majority of people, there are always individual differences in reality. Therefore, using a definitive diagnostic label to summarize a person's identity, condition, experience, or potential is extremely misleading. It not only misleads ourselves but also professional doctors.

Diagnostic labels can easily lead people down the path of "hypothesis-confirmation" information gathering, driving them to seek evidence that supports the diagnostic label. For example, after being diagnosed with depression, many people attribute common life phenomena to their depression: poor appetite is indeed due to depression, insomnia is indeed due to depression, and a bad mood is indeed due to depression. In reality, the accuracy rate of depression diagnosis is not high, only about 50%. So, you may not have depression at all but just a simple emotional issue. The same applies to doctors, who can also be confused by diagnostic labels.

When working at Yale University, the author and another psychologist conducted a study. They made a video of a person undergoing a job interview. They showed the video to clinical psychotherapists, telling half of them that the person in the video was a "patient" and the other half that the person was a "job seeker." The results showed that when the person in the video was labeled as a "job seeker," all the clinical psychotherapists thought he performed well and had no problems. However, when the person was labeled as a "patient," the views of the clinical psychotherapists diverged. Some thought he performed poorly and needed treatment, while others thought he performed well and did not need treatment.

This leads us to ponder a question: diagnosis is supposed to help us with our health, to make us more certain and in control of our health conditions. But in reality, does it really help us become healthier? Perhaps we should re-examine diagnostic labels and the power of medical terminology. For example, many people who want to have children but cannot are labeled as "infertile." While some may indeed remain infertile, others may not. Once labeled as "infertile," people often take it as an unchangeable fact, becoming extremely disappointed and stressed. Stress itself is a factor in infertility, and if it persists, it can also lead to the deterioration of marital relationships. If the marital relationship worsens, the possibility of conception decreases further. As a result, the diagnosis of "infertility" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Take cancer, for example. If someone has cancer and it disappears without recurrence, is it in "remission" or "cured"? Although both terms indicate that the body is in a stable condition, the subtle difference in wording can have a significant impact on a person's health. The author recruited 64 participants from the New England area, all of whom had breast cancer and were now in a stable state. However, their views on this state varied: some thought they were in remission, while others believed they were cured. Therefore, the author divided them into two groups: the remission group and the cure group. They completed several health questionnaires, and the results showed that compared to the remission group, the cure group had significantly higher overall health levels, better physical function, more energy, less fatigue and pain, and stronger psychological well-being. Yes, the author wants us to re-examine the power of diagnostic labels and medical terminology. Labels can help us organize our thoughts, but when they dictate our thinking, problems arise. Whether it is a doctor's diagnosis or a label we give ourselves, accepting it without thinking and considering it as certain and unchangeable, to some extent, is not helpful to health.

So, how should we deal with illness? The author believes that the most important thing is to maintain awareness. In simple terms, it means consciously and moderately paying attention to the changes in our bodies. As we mentioned earlier, we should focus on the uncertainty of health, not viewing diagnosis as an answer or explanation but as a starting point to guide us to ask more questions. Maintain awareness, pay attention to changes, and do not become a prisoner of illness. For example, we can keep a journal to maintain awareness of our physical condition, recording changes in our bodily experiences every few hours, as well as the surrounding environment. Research has found that maintaining mindful writing can relieve stress, enhance the immune system, lower blood pressure, and increase psychological well-being, thereby improving health in many ways.

For instance, if someone has chronic pain, it might be helpful to try to maintain awareness and observe the changes in chronic pain symptoms. How often does a particular area hurt? Is it once every other day or many times a day? How long does each episode of pain last? How severe is the pain? Are there any times when there is no pain at all? What are you doing during those pain-free periods? By recording these details, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of your symptoms through awareness of bodily changes. You may then discover that the pain is not constant and that there are certain environments or time periods when there are no symptoms, seemingly following some patterns. This provides a direction for controlling and improving your condition. Following this line of thinking, we can ask more questions, and with different questions, different answers will emerge.

Of course, in addition to maintaining our own awareness, we can also help family members and friends stay aware by observing the subtle changes in their bodies. This can give them a positive experience, making them feel cared for and valued, which is also conducive to their physical and mental health.

A doctor once said, "We doctors need your help to think better. We need you to question us, to point out when we do well and when we go astray..." Indeed, being a doctor is not easy, but being a patient is even more challenging. Medicine itself is a scientific exploration with its own uncertainties and is not an absolute truth. If you want to know the general situation of a certain disease, you definitely need to seek the advice of a doctor, who undoubtedly knows more than we do. However, when it comes to the unique aspects of each person's condition, only the patient knows best what they are feeling and thinking. Therefore, what we need to do is to combine the doctor's perspective with our own understanding. When the doctor is diagnosing us, we should not passively wait for the doctor to ask questions that they consider important for diagnosis. Instead, we should actively provide information that we believe is relevant to our feelings and actively participate in our own health decisions.

That concludes the introduction to the book **Anti-Aging Growth**. In the first part, we saw the possibility of "anti-aging growth" through the author's "Counterclockwise Study." It tells us that aging does not necessarily mean decline. Often, what limits us is not the body itself but our perception of it. Although we cannot truly "turn back the clock" and stop the aging process, we can still choose to age in a "younger" way. For example, by adjusting our views on physical limits, changing our stereotypes of aging, and giving ourselves positive psychological cues, we can control decline and improve health.

In the second part, we discussed that the pursuit of certainty is actually a dreadful mindset because when everything is certain, we fail to see the possibilities of the world. Therefore, the author advises us not to fear uncertainty, especially regarding our health. We should regard medical diagnostic information as a guide rather than an absolute truth and acknowledge that things are constantly changing in order to see the possibilities of improving illness and achieving health. As the psychological counselor Li Songwei once commented on the book **Anti-Aging Growth**, he said, "This book discusses how psychological states can promote physical health, but its greater value lies in disturbing the epistemology of health. It reveals the fact that the over-medicalized diagnostic language constructs health as a rigid, linear, and certain system of knowledge, which, intended to promote health, has gone to the opposite direction. Breaking this perception and returning to a world full of uncertainty and possibilities can bring different hopes for health."

That is all the content we have introduced. You can click on the "Manuscript" below the audio to check the full manuscript and mind map we have prepared for you. You can also click the "Share" button in the upper right corner to share this book for free with your friends.

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Written and narrated by Pei Pengcheng. Mind map by Moses Mind Map Studio. Daily synchronized update micro book.

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Counterclockwise: Exploring the Possibilities of Reversing Aging

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CasualLitNook​15-Minute Masterpieces: Global Literature Made Approachable

Counterclockwise: Exploring the Possibilities of Reversing Aging

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CasualLitNook
15-Minute Masterpieces: Global Literature Made Approachable