HealthyLife Articles

Tag: positivity

Think Positive

Stress Management

Retrain your brain to wipe out negative thoughts.

If negative thoughts keep running through your head, it may be time to put on a pair of rose-colored glasses. Looking at life’s challenges in a more positive way can improve your physical well-being and even increase your life span! People who see the glass as half full, have lower rates of depression, stronger immune systems, a reduced risk of heart disease, and better coping skills during hard times.

Retrain your brain.

* When a negative emotion pops into your head, put a positive spin on it.

* Quit trying to rationalize negative thoughts.

* If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it.

* Surround yourself with positive people.

* Find things to laugh about, especially during difficult times.

* Create lists of accomplishments, favorite memories, things to be thankful for, and future possibilities.

* Quit blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens.

* Take positive steps to improve a negative situation.

* Don’t let one minor problem in the morning ruin your entire day.

* Accept that life is not all black and white.

* Take care of yourself: Exercise, eat healthy, and get enough sleep.

* Cut yourself some slack.

* Get lost in a hobby that you enjoy.

Rule your emotions.

Don’t let your emotions rule you. Once you start to recognize situations that put you in that negative cycle, create pointless worry, or break down your confidence, you can take control with active thinking. If you tend to be a negative thinker, keep practicing. Like any other habit, changing your thought process will take time.

Action Step

Make a list of areas in your life that keep you dwelling in negative energy; then write out a few positive statements for each. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Think Positive!

Mental Health Care

Being a positive thinker motivates you to solve problems instead of dwelling on them.

Research shows that people who are optimistic tend to be happier, healthier, and cope better in tough times.

* Practice positive thoughts every day. You become what you think.

* Say positive self-statements in the mirror.

* Look for a silver lining in clouds and setbacks.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Create Self-Enhancing Feelings 2

SleepWell® Program

Week 5

Take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions. You will feel better about yourself and your life. Blaming others is a natural, child-like reaction. It is more adult-like to figure out the amount of control you have in a given situation and respond to it in a mature way. You may not have control in every situation, but you can choose how you respond to others.

One reason to become more accountable for your responses is that a “victim” response forms negative, draining feelings. Self-responsibility creates positive energy. With it you can manage every event in a more positive, self-nurturing manner. One way to do this is to look at your language and see if you use “victim” or “accountability” phrases.

Example “victim” phrase:

I can’t improve my sleep until my boss gives me a better work shift.

Example “accountability” phrase:

I can schedule a meeting with my boss to discuss my shift and my sleep needs.

The Power of a Phrase

Fill in after the victim phrase with something you have caught yourself saying or are feeling right now. Use an accountability phrase to re-write this statement.

Victim Phrase

* I can’t…

* It’s useless…

* I have to…

* Why am I always the one who…

Accountability Phrase

* I can…

* There’s always a chance…

* I choose to…

* I’ll be the one who…

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Power Of Positive Thinking

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Many of us have heard – or given – advice about “looking on the bright side.” Or, you may have heard someone say, “the glass is half full, not half empty.”

These are ways of explaining optimism. An optimistic person is someone who expects good things to happen in their future. But does optimism really help us? Actually, it might.

Some medical research has found that a positive attitude can benefit a person’s health, in part by lowering stress. Some promising results suggest:

* People who are optimistic may have a lower risk of serious heart problems

* Optimism can improve quality of life, including emotional and social well-being, in people who have cancer

* Older adults who were optimistic had fewer health problems

* Being optimistic may help reduce the effects of stress

Of course, more research needs to be done in this area. Optimism is not a cure-all for any disease or condition. But, it’s one healthy way to help people cope with the stress of daily life without any known side effects.

Steps to being more optimistic

Optimism and happiness are not the same thing. To be optimistic, you don’t have to be happy all the time. And being optimistic doesn’t mean you ignore stress or pretend that bad things don’t happen.

Becoming more optimistic isn’t as simple as “just doing it.” It takes time and practice. It may be something you have to keep telling yourself to do every day. Here are some ways to “train your brain” to be more optimistic:

* Pick one good thing. A bad day can make you feel like the whole day was a waste. But instead, make an effort to pick one good thing that happened that day, and reflect on it.

* Avoid things that make you feel bad. If the morning news is too negative, turn it off. Instead, listen to a podcast with a positive message or upbeat music.

* Think about things you can control – and forget about things you can’t. Being stuck in traffic is something you cannot control. But, you can choose to take deep breaths, meditate or relax in your car rather than get angry about the traffic.

If you or a loved one feels stressed all the time or hopeless, talk to a doctor. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Sources: Psychophysiology; Social Psychological and Personality Science

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Create Self-Enhancing Feelings

Healthylife® Weigh

Part 4

Take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions. You will feel better about yourself and your life. Blaming others is a natural, child-like reaction. It is more adult-like to figure out the amount of control you have in a given situation and respond to it in a mature way. You may not have control in every situation, but you can choose how to respond to others.

One reason to become more accountable for your responses is that a “victim” response forms negative, draining feelings. Self-responsibility creates positive energy. With it you can manage every event in a more positive, self-nurturing manner. One way to do this is to look at your language and see if you use “victim” or “accountability” phrases.

Example “victim” phrase:I can’t lose weight until my family also tries to lose weight.

Example “accountability” phrase:I can talk with my family about how they can be supportive of my efforts. I can help with family meal planning so I have more control over the foods kept in the house and served during meals.

Complete the chart on the next page to practice taking responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
3 Ways To Be A Positive Force At Work

WORK LIFE

*Give – or share – the credit.If you are recognized for a job well done, accept it graciously, but don’t forget about those who may have helped. If a co-worker or team had a hand in your achievement, be sure to mention them.

*Always use “please” and “thank you.”We often forget these simple words when we’re busy and trying to get through a long to-do list. But they can have a big impact on how others respond to you. A (genuine) smile also helps.

*Don’t take feedback personally.As hard as it may be, try to accept constructive criticism gracefully. Remember it’s not a personal attack, and consider the other person’s point of view before responding or getting upset.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Attitude Of Gratitude

WELL-BEING

Grateful people aren’t just kinder people, according to University of Kentucky psychology professor Nathan DeWall. They are also less aggressive. Giving thanks lowers daily aggression, hurt feelings, and overall sensitivity.

“If you count your blessings, you’re more likely to empathize with other people,” he said. Gratitude motivates people to express sensitivity and concern for others and stimulates pro-social behavior, according to DeWall.

The study, in Social Psychological and Personality Science, links gratitude to “a nonviolent heart,” with those less inclined to aggression.

“We know that grateful people are nice people,” said DeWall. “But this is the first study to really show that they’re not very aggressive either.”

An activity as basic as writing a letter or mentally counting your blessings can be enough to decrease aggression.

“Take a step back, and look at what you’ve got,” said DeWall. “Don’t spend every waking moment being grateful, but one time a week definitely increases your well-being over time.”

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Exercise Is Healthy For Your Mind

BE FIT

Regular exercise offers many health benefits. You may already know it helps you stay strong and healthy, and can help you lose weight. It can also help prevent heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and other diseases. But exercise is doing good for another vital organ in your body: your brain.

Studies are now showing that regular aerobic exercise can help your brain work better. This includes:

* Better memory

* Ability to switch tasks

* Ability to plan activities and stay organized

* Possible reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Although researchers don’t know exactly why exercise helps the mind, there are some possibilities. It increases blood supply to the brain, and helps it form connections. These connections are responsible for forming memories and thinking about future activities. Exercise also improves an area of the brain that remembers and learns.

Source: National Institute on Aging

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Improve Your Mood With Exercise

BE FIT

You probably know that exercise has many health benefits. It can reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. But, did you know it can also help your mental health?

Studies have shown that regular exercise such as walking can improve your mood, according to the American Psychological Association. And it doesn’t take long to feel the effects. Within just a few minutes of starting that walk, many people report more positive mental health. It has also been shown to improve mild to moderate depression.

If that’s not enough, the APA also says exercise can help people who have anxiety. Regular exercise can help your body calm the “fight-or-flight” feelings that occur when someone gets anxious or overly stressed. And, it can help combat everyday stress by releasing chemicals called endorphins. These effects also help you sleep better, which can help you feel better mentally.

With all the benefits of exercise, get moving!

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Just Throw Negative Thoughts Away

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

If you want to get rid of unwanted, negative thoughts, try just ripping them up and tossing them in the trash.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that when people wrote down their thoughts on a piece of paper and then threw the paper away, they mentally discarded the thoughts as well.

On the other hand, people were more likely to use their constructive thoughts when making judgments if they first wrote them down on a piece of paper and tucked the paper in a pocket to protect it.

“However you tag your thoughts-as trash or as worthy of protection-seems to make a difference in how you use those thoughts,” said Richard Petty, co-author of the study and professor of psychology. The study was published in Psychological Science.

“At some level, it can sound silly. But we found that it really works-by physically throwing away or protecting your thoughts, you influence how you end up using those thoughts,” he said.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026