You’ve probably heard the saying, “attitude is everything,” but did you know it can have a tremendous effect on how you feel, your health, and even how long you live?
It’s true!
Staying positive, optimistic and upbeat can influence your outlook on life, recovering from a setback or whether you stick to a project, a diet or exercise plan.
In fact, international speaker and author, Brian Tracy, tells us that healthy, happy people are positive. They think about what they want, how to get it, and stay positive. When you think and talk about what you want and how to get it, you feel happier and are in greater control of your life.
The problem is that many people today get agitated or annoyed when trying to accomplish a task.
This is especially true when it comes to diet and exercise. Although many people are concerned about their health and are eager to eat right and exercise more, they often get frustrated when they don’t see the results that they want. Instead of sticking to a diet plan, many individuals give up or go back to their old eating habits and patterns when they don’t see the changes they want in a short period of time and then lose their optimism.
In my book, Wholey Cow A Simple Guide to Eating and Living, I talk about how many people turn to fad diets or restrictive diets to lose weight. What most people really need, however, is a diet overhaul. Fad diets, although popular, often only offer a temporary solution. A much better option is a lifestyle change with improved eating habits. Add a positive attitude and you’ve got a real solution to weight gain and health issues.
Walter M. Bortz II, M.D., in his great book, Dare to Be 100, tells us that “within attitude lie all the planning and decision making that facilitate the biological steps to be healthy.” Without a positive attitude, more than likely you will experience unnecessary stress, worry, frustration, and it’s very unlikely you will live a long life. He outlines how diet, attitude, rest, and exercise are all important to living to a ripe old age. He uses them as the acronym DARE in the title of his book as steps to live to 100. Sounds like a winning combination to me. Let’s take a look at those steps.
D.A.R.E Steps:
D = Diet:
Having a diet rich in whole foods is important and a strong contributor to health and well being. Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, as well as limiting your intake of processed foods.
A = Attitude:
Having a positive attitude on life and everything for that matter is the most important thing you can have for good health and living to a ripe old age.
R = Rest, Relaxation, Resilience and Retirement:
While work is an important part of life and gives us the means to earn money and provide for our needs and family, it is also important to take time to rest, relax and rejuvenate your body to create balance. Work also provides a sense of purpose, yet many people these days look forward to retirement.
A large number of individuals, however, feel unfulfilled after retiring and may become depressed and withdrawn. That’s not surprising, as work gives meaning and fulfillment to life. Notwithstanding, the happiest older people continue to work, whether it is part-time, volunteering, changing their work path, or helping with their grandchildren or other family members. Sounds a lot like the people living in Blue Zones around the world. If you are not familiar with Blue Zones, they are areas around the world that have the longest living cultures and the most living Centenarians (people over 100 years in age).
E = Exercise:
Exercise is important for overall health. It also changes the chemistry in your brain and helps release feel-good endorphins. It also helps to promote a positive attitude. Make sure you are doing some sort of activity and exercise daily.
How has a positive attitude helped you with your own health? Please share your experiences with us in the comments section below!
– Barbara
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Barbara is a Certified Health Coach, author, and former small business owner. She is passionate about helping others lead more healthful lives by providing healthful information about food and lifestyle and teaching that daily food choices can make a difference in our overall well-being.
