Many of you know that “I don’t get sick!” Fact:  I have been “sick” 5 days since I was 11 years old.  One of the things that many people ask me is how I remain so positive. Now don’t get me wrong, I definitely have my moments of spiraling negative thoughts, but overall I do my best to trust God and everything that comes my way HE has a purpose for good and His Glory.   After years of practice, I’ve learned to almost always spin the so-called “bad moments” into positive learning experiences. It’s definitely not an easy task, but it continues to amaze me how maintaining this mindset, even in the most challenging moments, has kept me healthy, strong and moving forward with a smile no matter what.

When I decided to write about this topic, I was delighted to find that research was being done in this area all over the world. Although no one can pinpoint why, a positive or optimistic outlook on life is believed to ward off colds and other viruses, increase life span, improve psychological and physical wellbeing, and even help tackle more serious diseases. Although there are many genetic, biological and environmental influences that impact how one person responds to illness versus another, there are many theories linking cellular and hormonal response in positive individuals to better health and overall disease reaction.

So what can one do to remain positive? For me, the best thing you can do is to try to surround yourself with positive people. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on those who choose to remain pessimistic. I’ve often found that by being positive myself, others start to follow suit which is always fun to witness.  Another great practice is to read books that nourish your inner-self and help you focus on the bigger picture rather than getting caught up in the circumstances of the moment. There are many books with daily quotes or reflections that can help you begin your day on a positive foot. My favorite is the Book of Proverbs in the Bible it has a chapter for every day of the month. I like to use www.BibleGatway.com  Becasue today is the 18th I read chapter 18 Here is what it says. http://tinyurl.com/ye9x4wf

It’s also valuable to begin noticing when negative thoughts come into your mind and to start to find ways to redirect them to something positive.  Remember that it ALL begins with a thought then turns into a belief and later into a behavior either positive or negatively.  (We will revisit this in a couple weeks with more resources for coaches to help you.  Email me if you are interested OK!) Do you know the importance of being grateful and how spending just a few minutes a day remembering what you’re thankful for can be tremendously beneficial to your experience of life?  Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!

Of course positive thinking, nutruring your spirit, along with a healthy diet and exercise plan will increase your chances of good health and overcoming disease even more so. However don’t underestimate the important role of your thoughts in conquering both physical and emotional imbalances. 

The result will be less stress and a more enjoyable life regardless of the challenges you face, which will help you make the best of the life journey you’re on no matter where it takes you.

Living the Abundant Life …..Mark  :)

Filed under: The Journey

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