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Think More PositivelyWhen you focus your attention on positive thoughts, ideas and images, you feel better. The link between a positive attitude and good health is well-documented. In the July 2003 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, researchers interviewed more than 300 healthy people three times a week for two weeks to assess their emotional states. Then they exposed them to the germ that causes the common cold. The study found that people with a positive attitude were less likely to catch colds than those who were depressed, nervous or angry. The study also found that uptight or sad people are more likely to complain of cold symptoms, even when they don't have a cold. Find out how you can become a more positive person starting now.
Pay attention the next few times you're stressed out. How do you react? Do you raise your voice? Get a headache? Bite your nails? Drink heavily? Overeat? Keep a journal if it helps you monitor your reactions over a week or so. Once you have identified your stress response, you can then learn how to intervene with a new thought to change your experience.
Make a list of the people, places and things that you can think about to transform your attitude. These should all bring you pleasure (for example, a special child in your life, a favorite vacation spot, an ice cream cone, your pet). When you are stressed or having a negative attitude about yourself or others, focus your attention on an item on this list.
When you notice that you are obsessing and engaged with negative thoughts, try saying, "Oops," and turn your thoughts to something else. You can think of something from your pleasure list or just focus your attention on an object in the room you are in. (Or you can think of a positive spin. When I'm stuck in traffic, in a line or on hold and I notice I am getting annoyed, one of my new thoughts is to thank the traffic, the line or being on hold for the opportunity to practice my patience!)
Each day make a list of five things you have accomplished. We get energized when we see ourselves through the eyes of accomplishment. Also, choose an "accomplishment symbol." This should be something you normally do each day that you endow with the power to represent an accomplishment. Your accomplishment symbol may be brushing your teeth, washing your face, shaving, having breakfast. Remember, it is something you are already doing, NOT something you think you should be doing. Whenever you do this each day, you can start to enjoy that sense of accomplishment.
Once you have learned how to think more positively, you can ensure continued success by creating a daily happiness ritual and doing it every day. Like any new habit, this requires regular practice to become ingrained in your behavior. Some ideas include:
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Susyn Reeve is an ordained Interfaith Minister who leads healthy lifestyle and stress-reduction seminars at New York University Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Canyon Ranch. She is the author of 
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