By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn at The Cedars
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” — John F. Kennedy
Change is a regular part of life. It is all around: in the seasons, in our social environment, and in our own bodies. Beginning with the first few moments of life, a person learns to meet change by being adaptive: your very first breath depends on your ability to adapt from one environment to another. And, just as the seasons change, our health and or living situations may change. Meeting the challenges and going on strong is up to you and depends on using the strengths you have used your entire life to deal with difficult situations.
How can we cope with change as we go through life?
Our thoughts trigger feelings, which trigger behaviors. What we think about what has happened that can make all the difference. Take advantage of the support around you in your community– others are going through similar life changes. Experts continue to find evidence that our expectations—positive and negative—don’t just have psychological effects, they have physical effects as well.
Some of the advantages and benefits of Positive Thinking include:
• Reduced stress
• Better overall physical health
• Better overall emotional health
• Longer lifespan
• Better coping skills
It is easy to see the negative in a situation or the faults in other people. Often a person’s faults are their most memorable qualities. However, we should try to bring to the fore the good qualities inherent in other people. Changing how you think is very helpful, because it helps us be more tolerant and understanding.
Wherever you are right now, no matter what the circumstances might be, simply focus on one good thing about your situation, or one good memory, or one good object. In other words find something that will allow you to shift your focus away from negative thinking and now focus on positive thinking.
While we cannot always do anything to prevent changes from occurring, we can change how we respond. How we perceive and react to what happens in life will make a huge difference in how you feel and are responded to by others.
Take control of your outlook! That is one thing you can change!