Smiles Prove to Help Your Health
By Sandy Schroeder
I have some friends who just shake their heads when I smile in the face of a problem. I have other friends who agree and use an upbeat attitude every day. I have been using smiles and friendly words all of my life and have found it actually works. When you reach out with a smile, or a kind word, you are quite likely to get the same in return.
As you round the corner in the supermarket and bang into someone's cart, try a smile and offer an apology. At first you may get a look of surprise, but then I suspect you will get a returning smile.
How Smiles Help Your Health
Next question: Does a positive attitude help individuals enjoy better health than that of negative people who always see the bad side?
European and American researchers say the answer is yes, according to Harvard Health.
Researchers found having a positive attitude in the early years plays out with better health and a reduced death rate in the next 15 to 40 years. They also found positive people deal with disease better and recover faster from surgery.
How Positive Attitudes Affect Blood Pressure
Research conducted in Finland looked at the lives of 600 middle-aged men who all had normal blood pressure at the beginning of the four-year study. All participants were matched for smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity and physical inactivity. Their mental attitude was also reviewed with questions about their view of the future. At the end of the four years the men with negative attitudes were three times more apt to have high blood pressure than the positive participants.
Where Do You Fit?
Take a minute and ask yourself if you see the glass as half-full or half-empty.
- Do you get up eager to face the day?
- Do you look for the best in those around you?
- Do you expect things to get better in the future?
- Do you get up tired and irritable every day?
- Do you find it hard to see things improving?
- Do you frequently find fault with your friends and family?
If you feel your attitude could use some help, it may be time to count your blessings and then try to keep that in mind every day. Think about your blessings and see if these fit.
- You have a home to go home to
- You have friends and family who care
- You have pets that you love
- You have a job that fits
Everybody's list is different. Whatever your positives are, make the effort to build on them and share the blessings with those around you. Volunteer in your community and encourage your kids to join you. You are sure to get a lot of smiles of thanks.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Calif.