You've probably heard the expression: "It's not what you're eating. It's what's eating you!" This well-known saying reminds us that the thoughts we entertain can have an impact on our health.
Scientists have discovered that what you're thinking actually affects your physical health as well as your emotional well-being. Ulcers, indigestion, nervousness, high blood pressure and a wide variety of diseases can result from an injured immune system brought on by harmful thought patterns.
There are thoughts that heal and thoughts that hurt.
If you read this article through to the end, you will discover an effective tool to enhance your emotional and physical health.
Here are five keys to emotional well-being:
1. Emotions tag right along behind your thoughts, so guard your mind carefully.
Your emotions can't tell if what you're thinking about is really happening or if it's just an image in your head.
Prove this to yourself by thinking back to when you watched a terrifying scene on television on in a movie. Even though you knew what you were watching wasn't actually happening, you were still scared - weren't you?
Here's something to consider. About ten minutes after you start to dwell on something, corresponding emotions will follow.
We are what we eat - both physically and mentally. Pay close attention to what you're feeding your mind. The books, television, movies, newspapers and even the jokes we hear enter into our lives and become part of us.
So what's eating you? Examine what you're feeling and then ask yourself this question, "What have I been thinking about recently?"
If you have a garbage can for a head, life will look like garbage to you.
2. Learn to develop a cheerful attitude toward life.
Life can be painful, but it's possible to overcome.
Choose to behave in a cheerful way as much as possible even if you don't feel like it. You may be surprised at what happens. Cheerfulness is contagious.
A positive attitude toward life may help ward off sicknesses. Psychology Professor Sheldon Cohen (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh) found that relaxed, happy people are less prone to catch colds than unhappy, anxious people.
3. Deal with stress as an opportunity to grow.
Stress can be a killer.
People who go through stressful events seem to get sicker more often than those who have less problems confronting them. But some people thrive on stress. This tends to show that the problem is not stress, but how we deal with it.
When we experience times of anxiety and fear, our brains release hormones as part of the fight-flight syndrone to prepare us for dangerous situations. When the body receives too many of these "danger" messages from our brains, our disease-resistance systems are weakened.
Stressful situations seem to cause increased illnesses in those who consider themselves to be victims and who react with anxiety and frustration.
Others see stressful situations as opportunities to overcome. So why not choose this positive approach yourself?
4. Make the right friends.
Select people who are cheerful instead of depressed for the majority of your friends.
Emotions can be transferred almost by osmosis. Retired baseball Coach, John Scolinos (from California Polytechnic College, Pomona), used to tell his winning baseball players, "Show me who you're with and I'll tell you who you are."
We need a positive social life that includes friends, close family members, churches and members of organizations.
Those who have satisfying social lives enjoy improved resistance to illness.
5. Let wisdom from the world's greatest book be your guide.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22 NIV).
"All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast." (Proverbs 15:15 NASV).
Want to jump-start your emotional health? Stop letting what's eating you hurt you and begin to enjoy life in a brand new way.
Copyright © 2004 by Patricia Wagner
Publishing Guidelines: Feel free to use this article in your newsletter or on your website as long as the author's resource box, bylines and copyright are included. Please make sure links within article and bylines are live and clickable. To request an HTML version - just send an email to wagner.art@verizon.net. If you use this article, please send a brief message stating where it appeared. A courtesy copy would also be appreciated. THANKS.
Author Photo: http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/Images/PWagner.jpg
Receive new articles: http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/article-updates.htm Other
Available Articles by Patricia Wagner http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/wagner-articles.htm
About The Author
Patricia Wagner offers informative tips on living a more energetic lifestyle at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com. She is also an artist and you can view her paintings at http://www.artbywagner.com.
Most people have no idea where their money goes. They... Read More
We've all experienced the same thing at important crossroads in... Read More
Feeling disappointed? It's time to float.The time-honored approach to disappointment... Read More
Work addiction is very common in our society today, yet... Read More
There are times when we truly look forward to something... Read More
Successful people have always had clear, focused goals that guide... Read More
How are you progressing with the goals you set yourself... Read More
Having found a coach you feel comfortable and excited about... Read More
I looked up the definition of "to dither" before writing... Read More
Coaching employees on sensitive and personal topics like performance or... Read More
1. Pretending You Are Interested When You Are NotDo yourself... Read More
In the Charles Dickens classic, "The Christmas Story", Scrooge is... Read More
Most of us play many different roles in the course... Read More
I'm writing this on my laptop in a Cosi café... Read More
Michael was raised in a home where anger was used... Read More
I'm a relationship coach and, unlike most, I deal with... Read More
Spirituality coaching is more than creating goals and holding someone... Read More
Disappointment is an inevitable part of home-based business. Clients won't... Read More
Whether it is irritability or unmitigated rage, anger is an... Read More
In today's fast paced world, we are often confronted with... Read More
Real change happens only when it becomes part of our... Read More
H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, Your mind can only... Read More
It does make you wonder sometimes, doesn't it? You know... Read More
It's a well-known fact that electrons and atoms move at... Read More
'Have you read the Art of War?' someone asked me... Read More
There is a point at which everything becomes simple and... Read More
I think that we're all probably familiar with the fairground... Read More
How many more servings of the daytime self-help salad will... Read More
If you don't have the full support and understanding of... Read More
This article is for those of you who coach or... Read More
Why should or would someone hire a life coach? Well,... Read More
We have all heard the expression, "Where your heart is?,... Read More
WORDS THAT INSPIREA monthly quick shot to motivate you, in... Read More
He's a very successful sales manger who craves results. He... Read More
"My guess is first I'll need some zippy flyers and... Read More
So, you're ready to start coaching. You either have some... Read More
A few months back I had a disturbing dream. In... Read More
Imagine for a moment one of those nights when you... Read More
The name of the game is CHANGE -- that's true... Read More
So you want to hire a coach but with so... Read More
Imagine stepping into the gym for the first time in... Read More
How are you smart?Let me count the ways.Harvard professor Howard... Read More
As a whole I think there is a sad tendency... Read More
I've told people for a long time that one of... Read More
During a recent coaching session with Mark, I was briefly... Read More
If you have a daunting task and the mere thought... Read More
God must love Top Ten lists because she made so... Read More
Sound familiar? If you want to manage anger, the only... Read More
"I can't seem to discover why I'm on the planet.""What... Read More
All of us would love to have personal power ?... Read More
|