Stay Positive, Stay Healthy

    Scientific studies show that mood and the personality traits of either optimism or pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. Positive thinking is a key part of effective stress management. Positive thinking doesn't mean that any of us at LaserShip keep our heads in the sand and ignore the stresses of our daily work lives and situations. It just means that we all need to approach any difficult situations in a more positive and productive way. 

    With all this in mind, take a refresher course in positive thinking. Learn how to put positive thinking into action in your own life, and reap the benefits. 

                                       Understanding Positive Thinking and Self-Talk

    Self-talk is the endless stream of thoughts that run through our heads every day. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of our self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that we create because of lack of information. 

    For any one of us, if our thoughts are mostly negative, our outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. On the other hand, if our thoughts are mostly positive, we are more likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.
   
   If self-talk is mainly negative doesn't mean you're doomed to an unhappy or unhealthy life. You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it takes time and practice — you're creating a new habit, after all. Here are some ways to think and behave in a more positive way:

• Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.
• Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn to manage stress.
• Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people, those who believe they have no power over their lives, may increase your stress level and may make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.
• Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about yourself.