Positive thoughts can extend your life by as much as ten years – more than reducing your cholesterol or alcohol consumption.
The more you think negative thoughts, the more they become ingrained in your subconscious; if you think that old age is associated with pain, for example, you will most likely have pain in your old age.
Various studies have shown that if you actively change your focus of attention to more positive things, your brain can rewire itself. Instead of focusing on the cruel things that people are spreading around, try looking at all the positive things that are happening around you, and try spreading the kindness yourself.
If you are unwell and the prognosis is dire, instead of crawling up into a ball of fear, allow yourself to be grateful for those things you still have and the wonderful people who surround you; let them help you deal with your physical and emotional challenges.
Surround yourself with positive energy
Without being aware of it, you can absorb the energy (positive or negative) from other people. Find positive people to connect with. Find a book that gives you that natural high.
Go out and flirt with nature: Hug a tree; dig a hole and hold the Earth in your hand; feel the rain on your face; listen to the conversations of the birds; marvel at the Universe.
Listen to music that lifts your mood; sing and dance to the music in your head – even if you aren’t terribly good.
Be Grateful
Start your day by making your bed. This will put some structure in your life. Be grateful that you have somewhere to rest your head. Begin your day by acknowledging how beautiful the new day is.
If you work, be grateful that you have a job. Showing someone that you enjoy working with them will lift their day and yours.
If you are religious, show your gratitude to your higher power. If you aren’t religious, show your gratitude to yourself. Say it out loud. By speaking those precious words, your subconscious will realise how lucky you really are.
Be aware
Listen to your thoughts. The first step to becoming more positive is to be conscious of what you are thinking. Then you can steer your thoughts away from the negative and towards the positive.
Instead of noticing how hard your life is, you can change that thought to how challenging your life is, and how you can use those challenges to become a better you.
Free will
If you believe in free will, you can choose how you react to life. We seldom have the power to control what life offers us, but we can make small adjustments.
You can choose how you react to a negative email: If you choose to react negatively, you could demolish bridges you have built. If you choose to react positively, you could build a better relationship.
You can choose whether to respond to a message from a family member. Take the time to call them back or Facebook them back (or whatever) and you might be surprised.
You can choose to make time to exercise. Every additional step taken counts towards the calories that won’t stay on your behind. Besides, when you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. They also make you happier and more likely to be positive.
Who knows – your next positive thought, which turns into positive action (or even a smile), could change someone else’s life.
David Owen Nunes
David is many faceted, fascinating, fastidious, fair, fabulous and the other F word. He works in the Pensions Industry, plays occasional golf, and dreams of being able to write full time.
