HEALTH
P
Think positive – winter will be fun!
ositive thinking is all about adopting a hopeful attitude towards stressful or challenging situations and focusing on the good things that can arise, rather than negatives. But does positive thinking really work? One study has shown that when participants suffering from generalised anxiety disorder visualised positive images in response to their worries, they reported greater happiness and decreased anxiety. It was found people are happier when they adopt a positive, optimistic outlook, and feel more confident and energetic. Another study, in 2019, proved positive thinking could help us live longer – the most optimistic of participants had an 11-15% longer lifespan and were significantly more likely to reach the age of 85. Positive thinking makes it easier to control emotions, providing some essential protection from stress.
Let's look at a few tips that could help you put more of the positive into your life. • Before you tackle a challenge, list the good and bad possible outcomes. Focus on the good and believe that this will be the outcome. Considering any negatives gives a bit of preparation too • Avoid thinking in black and white – sometimes the outcome is neither excellent nor terrible, but somewhere in between. This is ok too • Focus on the good in situations and put negatives behind you.
When/if something troubling occurs, let go of it and move on • Keep a journal – record positive things at the end of the week. Include tasks as simple as baking a cake or finishing a good book • Smile to get through challenging tasks and smile more in general. Pass on a grin to the people you meet • Tick off your to-do list to see how much you have accomplished, rather than getting annoyed about what you haven't managed to do. Remember, natural remedies can help! Vogel’s Stress Relief Daytime contains Valerian and Hops to gently calm the nervous system and help your day pass more positively. Ring or email the Natural Food Store, Exchange Street, Norwich for friendly help and excellent advice. Call 01603 613228, or order online at www.shopnaturally.com
Are you living with pain that is ruining your enjoyment of life? ✔ Are you tired of being told to just “...rest and take pain killers”? ✔ Do you worry about your long term health and activity?
Call 01603 905111 to arrange your FREE phone call with a Physio to see if we can help you too 69
