Look on the Bright Side of Life

Looking on the bright side of life and being optimistic in your thinking and actions can have a direct impact on your life.

Recent studies out of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, indicate that optimists live longer as well as enjoying a highter quality of life, report better physical and social functioning, more vitality, less pain and fewer limitations due to physical and emotional problems.

Christopher Peterson, PhD at the University of Michigan writes that optimists feel that they are"masters of their own fate", they believe that they can make good things happen. They regard their health as something they have control over and therefore engage in more healthful behaviors.

Researchers have also found that optimism leads to development and maintenance of social support systems and the ability to reduce stress better than most of us.

Our thoughts create our reality. Our thoughts regarding health, life and age all mix together to determine how successfully we age.