Mindfulness and Body : Treating Lower Back Pain

man with a walking stickOver 100 million Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain–that’s nearly half of all adults in the country. As such, treatments from hospital visits, medication, and the like, amount to more than half a trillion dollars in a given year, according to studies. Furthermore, it should be noted that those who report and receive some form of treatment for disability as a result of pain, are mostly affected by lower back problems, amounting to more than 26 million Americans. This is a national issue.

Treatment for lower back pain typically includes various types of pain medication and sometimes surgery. The problems with latter are that they further delay productivity and can be dangerous, given the sensitivity of the area and its function to the overall body. The process of recovery from surgery can take about four months, making it less of an option for those which have jobs that require them to be available. That leaves medication, which can either decrease inflammation or cut off the pain itself. While commonly effective, there are potential, unpleasant side effects, including stomach pains, fatigue, heart attacks, and dependency.

However, recent research shows that the process of mindfulness meditation can be effective in treating this epidemic. Researchers lead Dr. Natalia Morone at the University of Pittsburgh, asked a group of 282 seniors to be involved in the study. Over a period of 8 months, total, two groups chosen at random were given different treatments–one was given methods to deal with mindfulness, the other was taught information about health and aging. Both groups experienced successes; however the mindful group had overall better results.

By teaching patients to be more aware of their thoughts and ways focus and feelings of pain can prevent them from completing other tasks, researchers found that the mindful group was better able to cope with pain, resulting in diminished symptoms. More specifically, more than three quarters of the mindful group noted improvements in levels of pain, compared to the same from less than half of those who were only given healthy aging tips. That’s a dramatic difference of 34 percentage points. It should be noted that only these two groups were compared. Other treatments, like those listed above, were not directly involved nor placed alongside the study. Though, Dr. Morone suggests that exercise could improve physical function in addition to the absence or lower level of pain.

These findings are important because they provide an alternative that is arguably healthier than medication and less risky than surgery. Especially for seniors, this option is most attractive and provides more flexibility when it comes to managing day to day activities. Furthermore, the benefits of mindfulness extend beyond dealing with pain and can be used to destress, get better sleep, and live a more positive, healthy life. Hence, learning concepts and developing skills for mindfulness meditation can improve multiple areas of one’s life. That’s the greatest benefit.

Sleep in Mindfulness Peace

father and son asleepFor centuries, people have employed a variety of techniques to help them fall asleep faster, and to do so longer. Those techniques have included everything from warm milk to counting sheep to, currently, sleeping pills and supplements like Melatonin. In a quest to fight insomnia and to get the rest that your body undoubtedly needs, people have and will try most anything. So, why not try mindfulness?

Recent studies show that the practice is effective for aiding in sleep, just as it has been effective for therapeutic techniques and used in the past alongside medications to aid in sleep therapy. The reality is, many of the issues preventing sleep are deeper than mere exhaustion. Things like stress and anxiety will impact one’s ability to rest. You’ve probably experienced this before. You get in bed, prepared to go to sleep, and thoughts of what happened during the day, issues pending for days to come, and any other stressors run through your mind, making it more difficult to truly sleep. Mindfulness gives you a chance to take control of such thoughts and to create a better atmosphere that allows sleep to occur.

In the study, researchers used 49 participants with moderate sleep problems and 54 with chronic insomnia. In both cases, mindfulness increased the quality of sleep as diminished disturbances like constant movement or waking up throughout the night. As a result of better sleep during the night, participants remained more alert throughout the day and in better spirits, showing a decrease in the presence of depression. Thus mindfulness essentially aided in two functions: sleep quality and mental health.

Furthermore, the research showed that the process was effective among all age groups, though most studies show it being most beneficial for the elderly. Another group to have responded positively to the practice is veterans. Understandably, many of them have difficulty sleeping, due to post-traumatic stress and accompanying variables which incite insomnia. So, though the research is still in its infancy, quite a few studies are showing a positive correlation between mindfulness as slumber. Since rest is a very necessary part of our lives, finding tools such as mindfulness to aid in improving any related illnesses, is crucial.

At the moment, the primary treatment for disturbances with sleep exists in the form of medication, with brands like Ambien and Lunesta being the most well-known. However, not all prescriptions are effective, and when they are, the side effects pretty much cancel out existing benefits. For Ambien, in particular, side effects include daytime drowsiness, tiredness and headaches. With results like that, it’s practically the same issues one would encounter because of sleep deprivation. While mindfulness is not an absolute guarantee, there are no detrimental effects.

Hopefully with this research and growing body of knowledge lending additional credence to the ancient practice of mindfulness, we’ll see more people benefiting for all types of problems. We all need sleep; it’s how we live, think, grow. Any resource that can improve our ability to do so, is definitely welcome.

12 Positive Affirmations for Health and Happiness

Jerry Daskoski - affirmationsThe power of positive thinking has been covered in great detail on my blog and many others. We know that it works and the benefits of living in such a way that negative thoughts and actions no longer guide your daily life. What most people don’t know is how to begin that process. How does one simply wake up with positive thoughts, and a commitment to living life in a manner that is both a joy for yourself and those around you? The simple is answer is that type of life doesn’t simply happen overnight. Rather, the key to positive thinking and living is to train yourself to become that, just as we do with negative thoughts and all other factors which determine our experiences.

Such training is as simple as saying out loud the desires you have, or where you’d like to see yourself in your mind’s eye. Professionals and individuals in the positive living community call this act, affirming, and the words or sentences one says are called affirmations. Affirmations, said to yourself and repeated often, are wired into your subconscious and tell your mind what it should be feeling or doing. Just as people say “I’m never going to get this done,” or “Life is so unfair,” and then such becomes their reality, affirmations signal to the brain how you should live, act, and react, based on what you understand about yourself and about your future.

For those seeking health and happiness, the foundation of both principles are establishing positive thoughts about them. Simply put, what we tell ourselves, what we say on a daily basis are the way we control our thoughts, which control our behavior, which control our habits, which shape our lives. Thus, it’s important to make sure that what you’re telling your brain is positive and capable of bringing to fruition what you hope for yourself. Here are some to get you started:

  1. My condition does not shape who I am
  2. I am getting better and stronger daily
  3. I am capable of doing anything
  4. I attract only good things into my life
  5. Nothing can bring me down
  6. I wake up with a smile on my face
  7. My body is working as it should
  8. I have every reason to be joyful
  9. I am in great health
  10. I have no worries about the future
  11. Everyone around will be filled with positivity
  12. I am comfortable and confident in myself

For best results, you should write down your affirmations. You can do so in a journal, on your phone’s notes, or in a place in your home or office, to which you will have access. Secondly, you should set time aside to go over them. Many find it best to do so in the morning, as you are just waking up. Doing so can help set you up for the day and ensure that happiness and health are you number one priorties. It may also be helpful to repeat them at lunch, or to excuse yourself from your desk or workspace to go over them in case you begin feeling anything other that what you are training your mind to feel. Pretty soon, they will become second nature and you will be saying them, believing, and living them, and helping others do the same.

The Case for Mindfulness & Meditation for Seniors

man-984062_960_720Advances in healthcare have resulted in increased life expectancy for individuals in developed nations, like the United States. Yet, there are a spate of problems and physical illnesses which are exacerbated in old age. The body’s response to continued evolution and constant wear and tear begin to display in a number of ways, including weak bones or osteoporosis, issues with the heart, and a range of problems targeting the mind and memory loss. While medicines certainly help with many of these issues, there are ways to improve the quality of life without pharmaceuticals. Such options include mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness meditation has existed for hundreds or even thousands of years, as a common practice by religious cultures in Far East countries. However, in the modern era, and in western practice, it has been used to address a range of ailments in the medical field, and studies have shown that both are effective, not only for mental health, but in physical, tangible ways as well.

In short, meditation is a process in which individuals focus on breathing, sounds, or positive thoughts, while causing the mind to become still and free of scattered thoughts. Likewise, mindfulness increases the level of awareness of a given moment, and leads the participant to concentrate only on what he/she is feeling, experiencing, or imagining. By doing so, individuals calm themselves, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase feelings of peace and calm, to better manage activities throughout the day.

Many people have expressed skepticism about both practices because mindfulness and meditation are thought to be a form of worship. However, despite being practiced by religious communities, the process themselves are not religious (not that doing so is a bad thing). Instead, meditation is simply about the participant, and what he/she chooses to bring to mind or let go of, for that matter.

Seniors can benefit from mindfulness meditation because it helps to exercise the mind and improve brain function. As humans reach late stages of maturity, the agility of the brain decreases. Meditation has been shown to increase gray matter in the brain. What that means is your ability to process information also grows, as does creativity and analytical skill. Essentially, it is a great way to keep the brain youthful and powerful: your very own fountain of youth.

Other physical benefits of meditation is lower blood pressure, improved heart health, and a lower risk of depression. Given that many of these issues lead to even more ailments, using mindfulness meditation as preventive medicine could significantly decrease the costs of health care for seniors. For those retired or nearing retirement, this helps keep down expenditures if you’re making due on a limited income.

Overall, mindfulness meditation should be considered because it improves mental and physical well-being, and maximize the joy of life in old age. Taking care of yourself should be a top priority. This is a start.

6 Effective Ways of Coping With Mental Illness

pexels-photo-largeOver a quarter of adults in the country, some 26.2 percent, suffer from some form of mental illness. The categories of such vary, but the realities of having a disorder can be challenging, especially for individuals who lack therapeutic resources and actionable measures with which to effectively manage disorder. Nevertheless, to live in a way that doesn’t harm yourself nor those around you, it’s extremely important to at least have some tools to build on and develop more stability in day-to-day activities. Here are some tools for coping with mental illness, listed in no particular order.

Know your triggers:
There are a number of things which drive individuals to anger, depression or anxiety. It can happen over and over again until those things which most set you off are identified and avoided, if possible. I say if possible because there is not always a way to manage the external influences which evoke reactions within us; however, for things, people, or places that are known to be and have been perpetually problematic, it’s a good rule not to engage in those activities or with those people. Likewise, for family members assisting someone with a mental disability, take precautions for them and keep them from circumstances which may do them harm.

Communicate with someone you trust:
Simply talking over problems is such a great help. Yet, it’s important to do so with someone whom you know won’t judge you nor interrupt your thoughts with suggestions or reasons why what you’re feeling is “wrong.” This person in whom you confide should be a friend, family, or medical health professional, invested in your wellbeing and more than comfortable with hearing you out. You will be surprised with how much better you feel after being able to share your concerns, issues, or problems with someone else.

Keep a journal:
Nevertheless, there are instances in which no one is around or you may not feel like sharing. That’s ok, too. Journaling allows you to exercise those same communication skills and even provides the benefit of being able to look back and analyze and/or compare various moments. It can also be useful for when you do chat with your confidant at a future time, to provide them with insight about your experiences.

Join a support group:
Also, it doesn’t hurt to be a part of a group of people which share your problems or those similar to yours. Knowing that you are not alone, that what you deal with isn’t anomaly or something which you must manage alone is a great relief and can have a large impact on the way you manage yourself going forward.

Invest time in something constructive:
Another way to really takes one’s mind off of concerns is to do something constructive which requires focus and engagement. Studies have found that things activities like puzzles, video games, or even adult coloring books are helpful in managing behavior related to mental illness. Also, reading or crafts are highly encouraged. Plus, you’ve made something beautiful or learned something in the meantime. It’s a win-win. Keeping a few options at your disposal as not to grow weary of one particular thing to the point where it lacks enjoyment is recommended.

Meditation:
Spending time alone, meditating is a great tool for coping. Not only will the practice enable you to relax and ease your thoughts, repeated enough, you will be able to do it even in the midst of the most stressful situations, to further manage reactions and responses. Even those who don’t suffer from a disability enjoy meditation because it makes things so much more peaceful.

These are just a few examples of things everyone can do to better cope with the issues which life throws our way. Living with mental illness isn’t easy. However, there are things we can do to improve our experiences and quality of life overall.

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Help Your Child Develop a Positive Attitude: Here’s How

Jerry Daskoski's image of a little girl looking surprisedPositive thinking as a medical practice has grown in popularity in recent years. Research shows that optimism goes far beyond the idea of a glass being half full or empty, and can, in fact, be the difference in managing stress and the ailments which comes as a result, like heart disease, digestive issues, headaches, and insomnia. While adults understand this concept well, extending it to children is not as common; nevertheless, it certainly makes sense to lay a foundation for these practices and develop positive mindsets in children as early as possible, rather than undoing the harm later in life.

While some may believe that children can’t understand positive thinking as a concept, research shows that children as young as five begin to make associations of behaviors and emotion and, through cognition, can decipher how certain situations make them or others feel, whether positive, negative or indifferent. Furthermore, as children grow, they become better with those associations. Those in whom positive thinking is nurtured are said to be more resilient and better able to deal with upsets.

The importance of such cannot be overstated. Being able to manage stress will ultimately lead to more successful opportunities, relationships and better overall health, over time. Here are some ways parents and professionals who work with children can introduce positive thinking:

Be An Example
Children mimic nearly everything adults do. Their behaviors are learned as a result of what we say or how we act in front of them, whether we’re aware of it or not. Thus, this is one of the first and perhaps most important tool through which one can affect his or her child’s positive mindset. Having already established, or at least committing to, a set personal positive practices makes this step easy.

Count  Blessings
It’s important to have conversations with your child about what he or she is feeling or their experiences throughout the day. First, listen attentively to what the child has to say in full. While doing so, take note of every emotion. Acknowledge all of the bad feelings or experiences, they are important; however, probe the child about what good happened to them today, no matter how small. If there are no good things, suggest some which the child may have overlooked. Doing so may help the child recall them going forward, leading to more positivity overtime.

Affirmations
There is no doubt that parents love their children and have appreciation for small behaviors or characteristics which their children display. Affirming the child with what makes them great or when they accomplish a task goes a long way. This step is as simple as expressing to the child that he or she is smart, handsome, kind, or a number of other positive affirmations. It helps.

Prohibit Complaining
There’s a huge difference between expressing discontent and complaining. Discourage your child from complaining about behavior; instead, empower them to develop solutions to what is bothering them. Doing so teaches children that even when negatives things occur, countering them with positive actions puts them in control, helping them gain more independence and control of their own lives.

Positive Thinking & Exercise Alleviated Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Study Shows

Jerry Daskoski shares a picture of a fatigued womanYou may or may not have heard of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but you should have. The illness affects more than one million people and is more common than lupus, multiple sclerosis and some cancers, in the United States. It is not age discriminatory (though more likely to occur in adults than children) nor prevalent in some races more than others, as diseases like diabetes or skin cancer, which unequally affect African-Americans and Caucasians, respectively. So, it something on which everyone should be educated.

Among the known symptoms of the disease are fatigue–as suggested by the name–joint pain, stomach pain, sore throat, insomnia as well as poor memory and concentration. Because of the range of issues, the disease was once dismissed as just a flu, despite being diagnosed as early as the 19th century. Still, not much is known about the disease, particularly there is no one-time cure nor vaccination. However, a recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal has produced promising news for those affected.

The 2-year study included 481 participants and four treatments, by which doctors determined how patients responded and overall effectiveness. What the findings revealed is that neither standard medical treatment nor adaptive therapy, which seeks to help patients adapt to their condition, showed significant improvements in the symptoms experienced by patients. However positive thinking (believing that symptoms could get better, rather than merely accepting them or thinking negatively about them) coupled with exercise proved most beneficial.

One of the study’s researchers, Professor Sharpe had this to say about the findings: “It’s wrong to say people don’t want to get better, but they get locked into a pattern and their life constricts around what they can do. If you live within your limits that becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.” The research expresses clearly that the issue is physical rather than one of mental health, however, changing the course of thoughts from doom to possibility was, in fact helpful, and even allowed participants to perform exercise, which was previously thought by many of them to exacerbate the issue rather than help.

I’m certainly glad that more people are seeing the benefits of positive thinking, not just as form of meditation, but as a serious step toward holistic health and wellness, even for chronic illness. Perhaps, not as the only form of medication, but certainly as an aid, as shown with this study. The motivation to adhere to treatment or the move toward progress indeed starts with even believing that such could work. Even when not directly correlated as in this example, mental health should be as much a goal as that of the physical. Positive thinking is good for living, positively.

Positive Thinking Books To Add To Your Library

Reading is fundamental, but it can also be helpful in a variety of ways, especially if you’re doing so to learn more about adopting new behaviors. Currently, there are a number of books from different authors available in the self-help positive thinking landscape. Some are more popular than others, thanks to the likes of Oprah, who have brought the genre to popular culture. Still, there are some which you may not have heard of or, maybe, have not heard enough about. Thus, I’d like to share with you all 10 books that range from positive thinking to examples of  how being aware of thoughts can better affect your life. All of these books can be found and purchased online. Click the picture below to view the list:

Jerry Daskoski's cover for his presentation on positive books

Six Calming Habits To Build For A Happier and Healthier Day

No StressToday’s busy lifestyle has many benefits. There is an argument to be made that, as a society, we are more active, interconnected, productive, vocal, and involved than ever before. However, all this activity does carry a cost. High stress, caused by the unceasing anxiety over professional and personal duties, has become a deeply rooted part of our daily life. It is certainly a challenge to find enough opportunity to enjoy peace, serenity, and calm.

When something happens outside of your control, it is always critical to evaluate and engage with what is (and is not) inside your ability to impact. You cannot decide how other peoples or other external forces will behave. All you can do is control your response. That is what matters. Happily, there are a few best practices that anyone can adopt to create substantial feelings of calm for longer stretches of time.

Start Your Day On The Right Foot

A calming morning ritual is absolutely crucial to begin your day on a positive note. Most individuals have the bad habit of waking up and immediately diving into a stressful and over-extended rush. A few simple tweaks to your schedule can alter that for the better, permanently. Wake up a little bit earlier than you absolutely need to and take some time to meditate. You can even hit a few yoga poses to clear your mind and stretch. Afterwards, use the remaining extra time to write out anything that may already be on your mind. This can be something as routine as a dream journal or perhaps something with more immediately tangible utility like your hopes for the day or a to-do list to help you reach those goals. However you choose to spend this time when you wake up, just be sure that you are allowing yourself sufficient quiet time in the morning to adopt a positive mindset and begin your day feeling good.

Think First, React Later

Take a moment to consider the last time an unexpected stressor arose in your life. How did you respond? Certain personalities are more inclined to jump into action. This sort of reflex, although direct, can also be harmful. Some people freeze up and get angry or experience sensations of being overwhelmed. Other folks may sink into a depressed state of self-pity and waste energy wishing things were different (but fail to take action to make those desires a reality). Learning how to monitor your own preferences in terms of response is the first step in altering your behavior to be more positive. You need to fully understand how you act when confronted with stress so you can put an action plan to improve your outcomes into place.

Accept That It Is Not Personal

It is not uncommon for the responses you demonstrate when presented with stress to be rooted in an emotional overinvestment in the situation at hand. When something we do not like happens, it can be easy to assume that someone or something has conspired against us specifically. In part, it can be somewhat reassuring to assume we play a more central role or have some sort of control or input in the situations which end up affecting us. In truth, that often is not at all the case. The universe is not against you personally. Every person has problems with which they are dealing. It helps to recognize they everyone is more likely than not just doing the best they can. Do not assume any event is a personal affront – instead, recognize that external events just happen and whether you choose to respond by getting stressed or staying calm is entirely within your control.

Give Thanks

It is incredibly easy to pay lip-service to saying thank you or expressing genuine gratitude in any other way. However, how often do you honestly live up to this ideal in your day-to-day life? When life gets hectic, and it feels like the sky is crashing down all around us, can you still find it in yourself to be grateful for all the things that are going excellently in your life? It is certainly much easier to just complain or fall into an otherwise predominantly negative mindset. However, choosing to hold steadfastly to the positive things going on in your life and articulating your genuine appreciation for them is an amazing habit – even if you just express it to yourself. As you engage with everything that is going well, you will almost literally feel the stress of other events roll off you as your perspective refocuses and it becomes clear once again that you can comfortably handle whatever it is that life is throwing your way.

Find The Right Outlet

Unfortunately, many people have unproductive (at best) or outright destructive (at worst) responses to feelings of stress. Withdrawing from life, falling into junk food, substance abuse, or similarly irresponsible reactions to stress often only make your situation worse and more difficult to resolve. When you notice the need to cope with stress, work hard to replace bad habits in terms of how your respond with better ones. Health coping methods can include something simple like taking 15 minutes to brew a cup of soothing tea and sit somewhere quiet while you enjoy it. You can also try drinking water, exercise, or talking with someone you trust as better ways to deal with stress as it comes up.

Ditch Multitasking

People multitask these days more than they ever have before. With the permeation of technology throughout what feels like every conceivable facet of our entire lives, it can seem odd to choose to single task. However, if you could do just one thing at a time, what would it be at this moment? That question is a great way to identify your priorities and get what you need done accomplished in a less stressful manner. When you are juggling too many different metaphorical balls, you are sure to spend your day at a high stress level just waiting to drop one. Instead, hit your tasks one a time and pat yourself on the back for each thing you do ell and finish. You will find that working in this way allows you to let go of the stress associated with everything else on your plate and just make progress one step at a time.

The Power of Positive Thinking: 5 Easy Tips to Beat Back Negativity

Image of Positive Thinking PeoplePositive thinking is an effective mental strategy to mitigate the unpleasant impacts of stress on your physical and emotional health. Studies indicate that where you fall on a scale between total optimism and complete pessimism correlates strongly to a number of other key facets of your life. In fact, effective stress management has been proven to be closely associated with a number of tangible benefits to your health. This kind of positive mindset involves much more than simply ignoring the more difficult aspects of daily challenges or willfully refusing to acknowledge when life is unpleasant. Instead, reconsider your definition of positive thinking and understand that it involves engaging with these unpleasant moments in a more productive manner. Insist on what you have the power to impact and trying to make the best happen, rather than allowing your dread of the worst that could transpire exhaust your capacity to think about the scenario at hand.

Fortunately, even for those of us who may currently be more comfortable seeing the proverbial glass as half empty rather than half full, many positive habits can be learned.

Talk to Yourself

Self-talk is an excellent way to build the right positive mental reflexes to appropriately respond to stressful situations as they arise. This constant stream of consciousness fills your head throughout the day, so take control of its tone and leverage it to your benefit. Some self-talk is based in reason and other aspects may be born from misunderstanding, fear, or nervousness. Be cognizant of your self-talk and whenever you notice the way in which you are thinking to yourself is less supportive or empowering than how you might encourage a loved one or friend in a situation similar to yours, make a change.

Meditation Matters

As technology and modern society become more deeply intertwined, it can be easy to observe that work and personal life are increasingly one and the same. The decreasing ability for many people to compartmentalize the various stressors in their lives may well compound individual issues and magnify what would otherwise be a small problem into an intimidatingly large source of unhappiness. As such, it is crucial to make time to clear your mind and focus on your own inner peace. The explosion in popularity of meditation and activities like yoga that is currently been happening parallel to the aforementioned tangling of work and personal life is probably not purely coincidental across the board. Habits like meditation teach valuable stress management skills like active breathing and staying present the moment, alleviating the unnecessary weight of worrying about difficulties that may or may not be coming down the line.

Feed Off Others

There is a relatively popular saying, which is that we are “the sum of the people with which we surround ourselves.” Such an adage is inherently problematic to a certain extent, and it is fair to acknowledge that. Not everyone is as easily influenced by their peers as others. However, humans are absolutely social creatures. As a result, we can very much metaphorically feed off the level of enthusiasm, energy, and different outlooks of the people with whom we spend time. Surround yourself with positive people you can trust and with whom you would be comfortable speaking when you find your negative thinking difficult to disrupt. A great conversation with the right person can very much put your problems into much better perspective.

Refuse to Play the Victim

One of the most important life skills to master is the ability to clearly, confidently, and comfortably recognize what you can and cannot control. This allows you to appropriately take responsibility for your own actions, while enabling your to avoid worrying about things which are not worth your concern since you cannot affect the outcome one way or another. You may be surprised at times with just how much you have the power to change. Always refuse to just let things happen to you. Asset-based thinking means approaching every situation focused on what you can improve and then spending your energy on doing exactly that, rather than expending it on worrying needlessly about what you cannot impact. Although victimhood is a comfy mindset since it absolves you of hard work, it simply is not the most productive or positive way to go about your life. Recognize your own potential and spring into action.

Don’t Forget to Smile

Something as simple as smiling can make a huge difference in your day-to-day activities! It is well documented that it takes less muscles to smile than to frown, but beyond that simple fact, it also has the potential to influence the way in which others interact with you. Even if the smile does not exactly reflect your current emotional state, the positive way in which others respond to your apparent happiness is very likely to turn your day around. Before you know it, that smile will be sincere!

Positivity Is Powerful

Modern research has linked positive thinking and the associated decreased stress levels to a number of incredible health benefits. These include increased life span, lower rates of depression, reduced risk from cardiovascular disease, a greater resistance to illness like the common cold, and better coping skills during hardship. Embrace a better lifestyle by taking the first steps to change the way in which you think about your life. One day, you are sure to be positively ecstatic that you did.