#23: Positivity Can Change Your Life

Last week we focused on a multi-decade ‘nun’ study into brain health. We found how crucial it is to keep the brain and body active throughout life to best protect us from aging. Continuing to use our brains in various ways, builds cognitive reserve, helping to insure our brains against Alzheimer’s disease.

That was not all though, researchers found another surprising revelation after studying the autobiographical statements written by the nuns in their late teens and early 20s...

They realised that nuns who expressed more ‘positive’ emotions and less ‘negative’ emotions had a significantly longer life expectancy! The most positive quartile outlived the most negative quartile by an incredible 7 years. Their outlook was much more important than the outcome of events which happened to them. Source

Research has also found a link between an upbeat mental state and a range of health benefits including; lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, better stress management, quicker recovery from illness and higher life satisfaction.

Martin Seligman the former president of the American Psychological Association, formed positive psychology as a new branch of psychology in 1998. Positive psychology is the scientific study of human flourishing. 

The idea was to move psychology away from purely focusing on pathology or mental illness, to also help people work with their strengths and to pursue meaningful behaviour in life.

Seligman proposed the importance of 6 key factors for positive psychology; experiencing positive emotions, being fully engaged with a task, seeking quality relationships, pursuing a meaningful life, maintaining good health and the act of striving towards goals.

Recently positivity has got a bad rap, due to a focus on toxic positivity. Certainly, Brene Brown and others have been incredible in highlighting the importance of respecting and dealing with all emotions. 

Healthy positivity doesn’t involve always being positive or telling people ‘Cheer up it could be worse’. It means in general looking for the positive more often than the negative in a situation whilst also resourcefully dealing with all emotions and feelings as they occur.

WISDOM 💎

You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’

Jim Rohn

It’s wise to spend time with people who generally have a positive outlook for life and who make you feel good.

Tip 1 - A SMART PLAY ✅

Simply by getting decent sleep, exercising regularly and eating well you can be well on your way to a positive outlook. Exercise is a great mood booster and helps release endorphins. Purely by focusing on exercise, stresses can fade away and you can leave feeling revitalised.

Tip 2 - AVOID 🚩

Toxic positivity – it’s healthy to feel a whole range of emotions and to deal with difficult emotions that arise in a resourceful way. Just as in the brilliant Pixar film ‘Inside Out’ sometimes we need to be sad first, before we can feel happy again.

Tip 3 - ACTION 💪

What people are a breath of fresh air? What experiences fill your cup up? What activities make you feel great? Write a list and pack your week with as many as possible.

'We find whatever we're looking for. Look for the good.

Al Carraway