"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
~ Lou Holtz
Healthy Lifestyle Tip: Head Into The New Year With The Right Attitude
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. The health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
It's unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It's also thought that positive and optimistic people live healthier lifestyles – they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and have reduced rates of smoking and [b]alcohol consumption.
Examples of how you might apply a positive twist include:
Negative self-talk Positive spin
I've never done it before. - It's an opportunity to learn something new
It's too complicated. - I'll tackle it from a different angle.
I don't have the resources. - Necessity is the mother of invention.
I'm too busy to get this done. - I wasn't able to fit it into my schedule but can re-examine some priorities.
There's no way it will work. - I can try to make it work.
It's too radical a change. - Let's take a chance.
No one bothers to communicate with me. - I'll see if I can open the channels of communication.
I'm not going to get any better at this. - I'll try again.
Source: Mayoclinic
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