Think Better, Live Longer

The headline almost jumped off my screen…

"Want to live longer? Think positive thoughts."

According to this exciting 15 year study of 545 Dutch men between 64 and 84, optimism and an overall positive attitude reduced their risk of cardiovascular death by HALF.

Isn’t that amazing! A 50% difference!

This is proof that positive thinking works! Your mind is incredibly powerful.

The problem is, this means the reverse is true. Negative thinking can have an equally dramatic, but negative, effect on your health. Even though you may consider yourself to be a very positive person, these thoughts often creep in without you even being conscious of them.

You're surrounded! Face it, except for the hermits in caves, negativity is all around us: on television, the news, negative people, and the old stories we tell ourselves.

Fortunately, there are ways to be proactive and counteract this negativity so you can have a healthier mind and attitude.

The first step is to become aware of what is really going into your mind. Try this simple exercise: keep a little notebook for a week and simply write down the negative things you hear and the negative things you think. You will probably be shocked! A lot of these sayings you have heard all your life, thoughtlessly passed down through the generations.

The second step is to take a few minutes a day to actively choose what you want to go into your mind. It may sound corny, but what you say to yourself, both first thing in the morning and throughout the day, has a powerful influence on you. You already know that vitamins and food supplements affect your body chemistry. Now you know that your thoughts also affect your body chemistry.

To get you started, here are a few of my favorite Mind Toners (affirmations). Choose one or more of these to say out loud to yourself every day, or write your own.

The Top 10 Mind Toners
1. I am enjoying life more and more every day!
2. I am making a positive difference today.
3. My world is full of infinite possibilities.
4. I am healthy, active and filled with energy and exuberance.
5. I see new, fresh, exciting things about life. Every day is a new adventure.
6. I think more and more positive thoughts and see how they are true for my life.
7. Positive healing energy is working in my life today
8. Today, I celebrate the magic in each moment.
9. I feel young and free; my heart sings and soars today.
10. My imagination is stirred and my heart sings.
And one more that always makes me smile:

I have the audacity to stay as young as I choose, and to live life on my terms!

By saying these Mind Toners every day, you can increase your positive thoughts and improve your attitude, health and longevity. You will feel younger and your life will be more fun!

Lynn Ward is the founder of http://www.ThrivingAfter50.com . She is a coach, author and speaker specializing in helping people give voice to their Dreams with a Plan of Action for a happier life. Her free ezine offers inspiration and tips on thriving. Get more secrets on Thinking Yourself Young!

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