Positive Thinking is an essential to a healthier and more enjoyable life. 

The Mayo Clinic provides the following health benefits for optimists:

• Decreased Stress
• Greater resistance to catching the common cold
• A sense of well-being and improved health
• Reduced risk of coronary artery disease
• Living Longer
• Better coping skills during hardships
• Breathing easier

One theory to explain these health benefits is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, therefore reducing the effects of stress on your body.

Sounds good, but how do you achieve the power of positive thinking?

Put a postive spin on negative thoughts-  Whether consciously or subconsciously, our inner thoughts have a major impact on our attitudes.  You first must realize that you are totally in control of your feelings and have the power to change them. In the article "Positive Thinking: A skill for stress relief", The Mayo Clinic suggests the next time you find yourself saying "There's not enough time" stop yourself and apply a positive twist and tell yourself "Let's re-evaluate some priorities".  Or instead of saying "I've never done it before" tell yourself "It's an opportunity to learn something new".  If you can stop yourself from believing these misconceptions and irrational thinking and replace them with postive thoughts, your outlook will gradually become more realistic and self-affirming.

Dream of Success- "You can’t experience success beyond your wildest dreams until you dareto dream something wild!"- Scott Sorrell   Keep your mind focused on where you want to go-- don't focus on minor setbacks and enjoy your successes', you have earned it!

Learn to Relax-  In my Blog Relax to Succeed! - Do you know how?, I stressed the point that relaxation is a vital part of our mental and and physical health.  Why?  Relaxation keeps us from burning out, it keeps us healthy, and it keeps us positive.  

Keep a List- Every night write down your positive thoughts and actions from the day or write them down throughout the day.  What was the best thing that happened?  What am I grateful for? What did I achieve?  How can I change to improve myself for tomorrow?  Remember that everyone has good days and bad days; when things get tough you can look back at your notes to put everything in perspective. 

Enjoy Life- Focus on the happiest things in life; life is too precious and short to spend unhappy or negative.  When you start to feel your attitude changing remember to reinforce your positive thoughts, surround yourself with positive thinking, visualize your childs laugh or one of your happiest moments. 

"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." - William James