Life expectancy has hit a new high in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new average life span is about 78 years. According to Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and author of A Long Bright Future, the percentage of people on the planet over 65 could more than double by the year 2050.

Makes you wonder what a United States of Old People might look like. Face it, when you picture yourself at that ripe old age, you see a nursing home, don’t you? Do you see yourself as a bundle of aches and pains and a decidedly grumpy outlook?

Maybe it’s time to throw out that grim version of your future and replace it with something more hopeful. How about you at 90, rarely arguing with your husband; spending your days playing with your grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and planning a vacation hiking through South America?

A review of studies on aging and mental health presented at the 117th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association by Susan Turk Charles, PhD, showed that in the years to come, we won’t just live longer, we’ll get happier too.

What does living longer and growing happier mean? For one thing, a more confident you. If you’ve ever found yourself on the verge of tears after your boss snapped at you, don’t despair--you can look forward to greater emotional control as you age. Older adults were much less likely to dwell negatively on personal criticism compared to their younger counterparts, says Charles. Plus, older adults tend to stay away from negative, stressful situations altogether.