Many people think that being healthy means eating right and exercising. But True Health is much more than that. If your mental attitude is negative – it doesn’t matter how much you exercise or how much wealth you accumulate – it will ruin your health.
Don’t believe it? Lets review some research:
- According to studies conducted over the past decade, adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not.
- A new study, published in the medical journal Circulation, found that a person who is prone to anger is about three times more likely to have a heart attack or sudden cardiac death than someone who is not as angry.
- Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have found that people under stress are more likely to develop colds and influenza when exposed to an upper respiratory virus. Stressed people also have more severe symptoms.
- Recent research suggests that our positive attributes can play a beneficial role in our ability to fight off infection.
- People with a positive emotional style actually have different immune responses to a virus.
- Not surprisingly, optimists have also been shown to recover faster following major surgery, to have fewer post-surgical complications following major surgery, such as coronary artery bypass surgery, and to live longer if they contract a life-threatening illness, such as cancer.
- In a landmark study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2003, researchers showed that counting blessings can actually make people feel better.
- Those who listed blessings each week had fewer health complaints, exercised more regularly and felt better about their lives in general than the other two groups.
Can people learn to look on the bright side, want what they have and be grateful for it? Experts believe that about 50% of such temperament is genetic, but the rest comes from experience, so there’s ample opportunity for change. Now this does not mean be unrealistic and oblivious to what’s actually happening in your life. But in general, realistic positive attitude is one of the best things we can do for our health. Fill your head with positive thoughts, express thanks and encouragement aloud and look for something to be grateful for, not criticize, in those around you, especially family and friends.
A nervous system free of interference will also help maintain a positive mental attitude. When normal spinal movement is restored (via the chiropractic adjustment) the brain and nervous system are able to function better. The subsequent enhanced health state can significantly affect the emotional and mental states of an individual. And remember, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama.
References:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704243904575630541486290052.html?mod=djemLifeStyle_h