A Positive Attitude can improve your Health & Happiness

A positive attitude helps you cope with the ups and downs of life

The Importance of a Positive Attitude for Good Health & Happiness

As the amount of pragmatic and empirical evidence that supports the theory of Psychosomatics, the connection between mind and body, increases, most health care experts are supporting the idea that a positive mental attitude is an essential element to the development of good overall health and happiness.

According to a report by the Harvard School of Public Health, having a more positive outlook on life significantly lowered the risk of heart disease in older men. Additionally, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh revealed that they discovered that women who have an optimistic view of life are less likely to experience the thickening of the carotid artery walls.

The correlation between the mind and body is not a new concept, but the understanding of this natural phenomenon is expanding. There are literally thousands of articles that have been published on the topic, with it all pointing to the exceptional benefit of developing a positive mental attitude.

Lowering Stress Levels

One of the most prevalent ways in which a positive mental attitude benefits physical health is in aiding the body in lowering stress levels. When a person worries consistently, or has a constant strain or mental tension, it results in chronic stress, which can wreak havoc on the body. When a person experiences stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisone, which functions to help manage the stress; however, cortisone has a negative impact on a number of body functions, impacting protein synthesis, liver functions, such as metabolic responses and more. The stress that can come from a poor mental attitude, and it can actually destroy health and ultimately be fatal.

Not only does having a good mental attitude help to lower the level of cortisone in the body, but it can also stimulate the production of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. Each of these hormones provides a positive sense of well-being, which leads to better overall health.

The Walking Definition

Developing a good mental attitude requires the ability to encompass the entire gamut of positive life experiences and triumphs. This is extremely important when a person may be going through a difficult time in their life. When a person can call on their life experiences, they will be able to see that they have been through multitudinous challenges throughout their life; however, they have progressively overcome them all. This understanding will help the individual develop a positive outlook in dealing with their current challenges. In other words, difficult moments do not necessarily produce negative thoughts. It is the person who is able to engage adversity with optimistic expectations that results in general good health.

This simplistic mindset of believing in and expecting good times in the midst of bad times has the potential to immensely impact physical heath and overall well-being. This is more than simply taking a survey of life and seeing that the good outweighs the bad; it is the ability to simply expect better - to see the good in the bad. The ability to create one's own positive feelings, will lead to positive actions, which will reinforce the initial positive thoughts. Much in the same way that some people create downward spirals through their thought processes, a person who consistently thinks in a positive way will create a positive force that works to lift them through their difficult moment.

Outcomes and Consequences

It is important for each person to understand that every thought has consequences that lead to an ultimate outcome. While people cannot control every situation and circumstance in their lives, they do have complete control on how they respond to the vicissitudes when they come. It is not the avoidance of adversity that provides the peace in a person's life; it is the ability to effectively manage each issue that arises within its proper context.

Actually, people will find that the more they are able to see thing though a positive lens, the more effective they will become in managing difficult situations.

When it comes to longevity and quality of life, a positive attitude is paramount. The simple belief that life, itself, is good, creates a mindset of wanting to live and experience life. Without question, those who thrive in their later years are the ones who view each day as an opportunity to grow, to learn and to savor life in general.

As a person ages, the ability to engage in the challenges of life will have an immense impact on their health. A negative view of life creates issues with worry, frustration, anger and more. The chronic existence of these types of conditions will systematically break down natural body functions that contribute to good health. The development of multitudinous chronic illnesses and conditions can be directly linked to the negative impact of poor mental attitude.

There is plenty of scientific evidence that suggests that a person's view of life will have a powerful influence on their health and their ability to face the difficult moments that are inevitable. It is important to understand that having a positive mental attitude does not guarantee that there will not be moments of adversity and difficulty. It simply means that the difficult moments will not rob the individual of their peace and sense of well-being. It is the anticipation and expectation of a positive outcome. Even when it comes to people who are fighting certain diseases, such as cancer, where those with positive attitudes tend to fare much better than those with a negative outlook. The importance of developing a positive mental attitude cannot be overstated.

Attitude of Gratitude

We all have our bad days, and it's easy to get stuck in a world of self-pity and resentments when these types of days come our way. Although this is part of being human, it's important to express an attitude of gratitude as often as possible. Even when it seems like the whole world is against you it can help you to get out of your blues by remembering all of the things that you have to be grateful for. This may take some work, and it may seem silly at first because when you're having a rough time it seems like there's no light at the end of the tunnel, but there always is. difficult A thankful mindset can set the stage for a happy life by instantly changing your outlook during any circumstance. Scientific research suggests that having a positive outlook on life can improve your Health and Happiness.

Take Every Bad Experience and Turn it Into a Positive One

The bad days are an inevitable part of being human. It may seem as though everyone else has a perfect life while yours is filled with stress and turmoil, but one way to stay positive is to learn from every bad situation you endure. Be grateful for every bad day you have because you'll be able to look back on that day and remember that you made it through to the other side. This will help you acknowledge that you're a lot stronger than you have ever given yourself credit for. During that bad situation, you may have thought that there was no way out, but now you can look back at it as a learning experience.

One of the most difficult times to get through is the ending of a relationship. It's especially hard when you were in love with your significant other and planned on spending the rest of your life with them. We've all gone through it, but eventually we might find someone who is better than the last. The key is to learn from your previous relationship. Take every positive thing from that relationship and set it as a new bar that your future significant other must reach. You know what you deserve, but you also know what personality traits to look out for so you're less likely to make the same mistake again.

Be Grateful for the Small Things

Part of having an attitude of gratitude is being grateful for the little things in life. This may seem impossible when you're having a rough day, but it will counteract the negativity. When people are having a bad day, the smallest things can become a catastrophe. On a regular day, getting stuck in traffic may not be that big of a deal, but on a bad day it can be a situation that sends you over the edge. It's just how our brains are wired to work, but you don't have to focus on the negative when you are capable of remembering the positive aspects of your day.

Let's take the example of you being stuck in traffic. Sure, the people on the roads aren't doing what you think they should be doing, and they aren't driving the way you think they should be driving, but this is no reason to sit in your anger and resentments towards the day. Look outside and enjoy the fact that it's a beautiful day during your drive. Take the time to flip through the radio stations, or find your favorite song on your MP3 player to enjoy. When you drive passed bus stops or see people walking down the streets, be grateful that you're in a position where you have the opportunity to drive while other people don't.

Make a Grateful List

One of the ways to stay grateful is by setting aside some time to make a list of the things you're grateful for. This isn't just something that you should say around the table during Thanksgiving because it can work for you in your everyday life. Sometimes writing these things down is the most therapeutic thing you can do when you're having a bad day. It doesn't matter what you write down either. The point is that you're remembering all of the things that you have to be grateful for and they'll begin to occupy space in your mind instead of your current troubles.

Your list can include things like being grateful that you woke up in the morning in good health, that your friends and family are healthy or that it's the weekend. No matter how trivial the items on your list may seem, you'll be remembering that you have plenty to be grateful for. When you remember to be grateful for something as simple as waking up in the morning, the rest of your day is going to be a breeze.

Be Grateful on the Good Days Too

The best part about life is that we have good days and great days that help to offset the bad ones, but it's important to remember these incredible days and stay grateful for them. Be as aware as possible when you're having a great day so you never forget it. On a good day, it's good to think back about the previous day or week when you were having a bad day because it will help you remember that bad days always pass, and good days can happen at any given time. You should be excited when you go to sleep because you never know what type of incredible day lies ahead of you.

By taking some of these tips for having an attitude of gratitude, you'll begin to see the world in a new light, and you'll notice that you're beginning to have a lot more good days than bad ones.

Reference: Gratitude and Well Being - The Benefits of Appreciation ... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010965/