Hope for Humanity, Part 6

The Third Key to Health - Positive Mental Attitude

People who are chronically happy and optimistic live longer, happier lives. Smile! Be optimistic! Be grateful!

Let's look at that last one, gratitude. I have found that there are two major keys in life. When I forget these keys, I tend to find myself grumpy and on edge. These keys are love and gratitude. Love is a very common subject in the Monday Motivator (as is gratitude), but let's just look at gratitude. If you are truly grateful for what you have, what more do you need? Sure, you will have needs, but it is the grateful person who attracts more to be grateful for.

When was the last time that you wrote out a list of all that you have to be grateful for? It actually feels wonderful and stress tends to just melt away.

Take a moment and write your list.

Now let's look at being happy.

Here are some keys to help...

Stop watching or reading the news. I had to even stop watching Jon Stewart. Too negative!

Set aside some time every morning to read something positive, say some affirmations, visualize, go over your goals.

Spend time with children that are having fun. Go to a playground. Smile.

Dance. Laugh.

Look in the mirror and smile.

Rent a funny DVD. Try Something about Mary, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, American Pie, 40-year-old Virgin.

Always find the bright side.

Stop hanging around the negative crowd. Tony Robbins says that you are most like the 5 people you hang around the most. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate your group.

Start giving compliments. Everybody loves a compliment. As you spread the good around, everyone's day gets brighter. Including yours.

Dr. John Demartini has a cool way of looking at the bright side. (By the way, he wrote a book called Count Your Blessings). If something happens that upsets you, write down everything negative about it. Make the list as long as you can. Next, make a list of everything positive about it. This may be a bit more difficult, and the rule is to make it as long as your negative list. Once you do this, then you will realize that it is your choice to focus on the negative or the positive. It is always your choice. Try it.

Here is an example of the news' way of spinning fear. They say right now unemployment is reaching 11+%. Here is the other side of the truth. In the best of times, unemployment is around 5%, and right now, employment is in the high 80 %. Optimism.