Religion, Lifespan theory and aging

What are your views on religion? Are you devout, agnostic, atheist, a pagan, all of the above or nothing? Have you a perspective on your life so far or do you go one day at a time? These factors help make up who we are and how we will face our aged years.

Eric Erikson developed his theory on the lifespan and put humans into 8 different categories throughout their life. Which one are you in at the moment? For people over the age of 65 (til death) are considered by Erikson to be in the lifespan stage of integrity and despair- looking back over their life and evaluating whether they are happy with their past or not. This can bring peace or bitterness amongst other feelings, both positive and negative. Add religion to this and some aged people may turn to something (God or whatever they believe in) or away from religion depending on how they are feeling about their overall life choices.

Having just spent the last few days with my mother for an early Christmas she has told me that she feels she has had a good life, that her faith has brought her comfort in times of hardship and that she is at peace with herself, which I think is lovely and perhaps not all that common. What do you think your thoughts will be on your life when you are aged, and have you discussed this with your aged loved ones at all?

Below is a link that explains Erikson’s integrity vs despair in a basic way.

Integrity vs. Despair in Psychosocial Development (verywellmind.com)