Choosing Health
Of course, if you asked any of us, we would choose good health. Of course.
But—is choosing positivity an obvious choice? It is if deciding our response to life’s bumps and curves makes an impact on our health. Studies are showing this relationship.
There is evidence that negative emotions are associated with poorer health but what is just being discovered is that positive emotions connect to the work of cytokines to create an environment of healing (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25603133).
Why do we care about cytokines?
Because there is evidence that these chemicals drive the inflammation in the which means they play a major role in the cause of multiple sclerosis (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/
04/150429101034.htm).
These studies say there is a biological bridge between positivity and promoting a healing environment in our bodies.
People with MS know first-hand the determination it takes to not fall into a victim role of negativity with this disease.
Below are some more go-to ideas from friends who choose how they live with MS. I am blessed to know enough people so that all of the ideas don’t fit into one or two blogs! I will keep sending them.
These may be ideas that you have heard—the difference is that these ideas are part of the life choice of people who are living positivity!
One person makes it a choice:
I choose. I'm driving this bus! I'll feel how I decide to feel, not how my world (whether inner or outer) is tempting me to feel right now this minute. And since I'm driving the bus, I can turn the bus in whatever direction I need:
I choose to be grateful.
I choose to be cheerful.
I choose to smile.
I choose to appreciate.
I choose to have a cup of tea and a cookie.
I choose (fill in the blank).
I can also choose NOT to...
.... be unpleasant.
.... get discouraged.
.... let MS define my existence.
.... eat that comfort cupcake.
.... read articles titled "How to choose a wheelchair." Not this year, anyway.
When another friend notices that she is beginning to feel down, chooses to create a different focus, like we do with little children who need a distraction. She says:
I GET OUTSIDE OF MYSELF TO DISTRACT MYSELF , when I do have the blues, I try to listen the liveliest, most cheerful music I can find. Music alters my mood better than anything. I try to find something funny enough to give me a good "belly laugh:" a funny book or story, a comedian on TV, a good YouTube video (I hope that's not an oxymoron!), or one of my husband's stupid jokes. Then, I try to spend time with positive, upbeat people. Nothing causes a blue mood to balloon into something bigger than negative people who whine and complain every time they open their mouths. Oh, and I mustn't forget... get outside. Look at a flower, watch a lizard sun himself or a couple of squirrels play chase, look at the clouds in a bright blue sky during the day or twinkling stars in a black velvet sky at night, see how many different leaf shapes you can find, close your eyes to better feel the warmth of the sun or the touch of the wind on your face, listen to bird calls. I guess all of this is to say I try to get outside myself, to distract myself from whatever it is that is bothering me. If I can get away from my inner turmoil for a while, it's easier to gain some perspective and regain control of my emotions.
Why do we gravitate toward positive people? Something inside of us finds them fun to be around, and intuitively knows that they are part of a healing environment.
These friends, who choose positivity, are my teachers. They show me how we can choose to be that way, for ourselves.
T
Of course, if you asked any of us, we would choose good health. Of course.
But—is choosing positivity an obvious choice? It is if deciding our response to life’s bumps and curves makes an impact on our health. Studies are showing this relationship.
There is evidence that negative emotions are associated with poorer health but what is just being discovered is that positive emotions connect to the work of cytokines to create an environment of healing (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25603133).
Why do we care about cytokines?
Because there is evidence that these chemicals drive the inflammation in the which means they play a major role in the cause of multiple sclerosis (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/
04/150429101034.htm).
These studies say there is a biological bridge between positivity and promoting a healing environment in our bodies.
People with MS know first-hand the determination it takes to not fall into a victim role of negativity with this disease.
Below are some more go-to ideas from friends who choose how they live with MS. I am blessed to know enough people so that all of the ideas don’t fit into one or two blogs! I will keep sending them.
These may be ideas that you have heard—the difference is that these ideas are part of the life choice of people who are living positivity!
One person makes it a choice:
I choose. I'm driving this bus! I'll feel how I decide to feel, not how my world (whether inner or outer) is tempting me to feel right now this minute. And since I'm driving the bus, I can turn the bus in whatever direction I need:
I choose to be grateful.
I choose to be cheerful.
I choose to smile.
I choose to appreciate.
I choose to have a cup of tea and a cookie.
I choose (fill in the blank).
I can also choose NOT to...
.... be unpleasant.
.... get discouraged.
.... let MS define my existence.
.... eat that comfort cupcake.
.... read articles titled "How to choose a wheelchair." Not this year, anyway.
When another friend notices that she is beginning to feel down, chooses to create a different focus, like we do with little children who need a distraction. She says:
I GET OUTSIDE OF MYSELF TO DISTRACT MYSELF , when I do have the blues, I try to listen the liveliest, most cheerful music I can find. Music alters my mood better than anything. I try to find something funny enough to give me a good "belly laugh:" a funny book or story, a comedian on TV, a good YouTube video (I hope that's not an oxymoron!), or one of my husband's stupid jokes. Then, I try to spend time with positive, upbeat people. Nothing causes a blue mood to balloon into something bigger than negative people who whine and complain every time they open their mouths. Oh, and I mustn't forget... get outside. Look at a flower, watch a lizard sun himself or a couple of squirrels play chase, look at the clouds in a bright blue sky during the day or twinkling stars in a black velvet sky at night, see how many different leaf shapes you can find, close your eyes to better feel the warmth of the sun or the touch of the wind on your face, listen to bird calls. I guess all of this is to say I try to get outside myself, to distract myself from whatever it is that is bothering me. If I can get away from my inner turmoil for a while, it's easier to gain some perspective and regain control of my emotions.
Why do we gravitate toward positive people? Something inside of us finds them fun to be around, and intuitively knows that they are part of a healing environment.
These friends, who choose positivity, are my teachers. They show me how we can choose to be that way, for ourselves.
T