Shift in Health: How to lead a positive life in a negative world

BY WENDY M. HENRICHS

Board Certified Chiropractic Pediatrician and Nutrition Counselor

Negativity, it surrounds us-TV, Internet, family, friends, coworkers, etc. Just think of all the stress that creates for us, and what that does to our bodies. Did you know that being positive and happy changes your body chemistry? Having a positive attitude reduces stress and the release of the stress hormone Cortisol. Positivity can also add up to seven years to your life. That is half as much as having a normal blood pressure, exercising regularly, having normal cholesterol, and eating a good diet combined. WOW! So how do you lead a positive life in a negative world? You really can train your brain to be positive. Here are some of my suggestions to lead a more positive life.

Intention: What is your intention each day? That is, what kind of day do you want to have? For me it starts when I wake up. I think about the kind of day that I want. My intention each day is to give and receive love, to share my gifts and talents with others to help improve their lives, and to be thankful for all that is good in my life. If this was your last day, how would you live it? It sounds kind of corny, but setting your intention really does work. I have been practicing this for many years, but after the first month or so you no longer need to remind yourself to set your intention for the day. It takes about 30 days to create a habit, so put a reminder on your phone after your alarm goes off to help you create this habit.

Turn off the news: You have probably noticed that news on TV, Internet, or in the newspaper, has a high proportion of negativity. Turn off the news for 30 days and see how much better you feel.

Negative people: Most of us have negative people in our life. Sometimes we cannot completely remove ourselves from the negativity of others especially when it comes to our family and friends. For the next 30 days, ask yourself who adds to and who takes away from your life? Try to increase the number of people in your life that add to or make your life better.

Exercise and diet: If you have read any of my other articles, you may have noticed the importance that I put on exercise and diet. Eating a cleandiet and getting regular exercise create the foundation for feeling good. When you feel good, it is much easier to be happy and positive. For 30 days, make it a priority to eat a clean diet at least five days each week, and to get in your 150 minutes of exercise each week. Your mind and body will thank you.

Life events: The things that we experience in our daily lives are events. The way we feel about these events, is based on the meaning that we give them. We can give our daily experiences a positive, neutral or a negative meaning. Putting a positive meaning on as many of your daily events or experiences as possible creates a positive picture frame through which you see your life. This also changes your body chemistry, and can decrease or remove stress. For 30 days work at putting a positive meaning on your daily events.

Be thankful: A good time to do this is right before bed. Think about at least one thing that was good during your day, and that you were thankful for. It helps to relax your mind and lays the groundwork for a more restful sleep. You can even write it down in a journal. What is important is that you focus on what is good in your life. Set a reminder on your phone to do this for 30 days.

Try a few or all of these tips for 30 days to enjoy a happier, more positive life.

Dr. Wendy Henrichs is a board certified chiropractor and nutrition counselor at Timber Land Chiropractic in Rhinelander. For a complimentary chiropractic, nutrition or lifestyle counseling consultation, visit TimberlandChiropractic.com, Facebook, or call 715-362-4852.