This Week’s Theme: Positivity

Assisted Transition is here with another series of articles with the intention of helping our community in aspects of senior living.

This Week’s Theme: Positivity

We’ve heard it all before, “Just be positive, everything is going to be ok,” but how often do we really believe those words, and not just shove them aside amidst the many circumstances that surround us?

The reality is that positive thinking is like any muscle, and with a bit of training and persistence, we can literally teach ourselves how to think in a more healthy manner.

In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision – Dalai Lama

Many of the families that come to Assisted Transition are coming from a state of confusion and worry, where they don’t know what’s about to happen with their lives and in many cases feel a certain uncertainty  for their future prospects.

Knowing this, we want you to take a moment and decide for yourself how best to go along this uncertain path, and see if we can spark a bit of interest in how your own mind takes role in the matter.

Below is a video to help you get started…

Shawn Achor – The Happiness Advantage

 

The Placebo Effect – Positivity Pill

pla·ce·bo

pləˈsēbō/

noun

1. a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.

Though the definition above alludes to it, the placebo effect is a phenomena in which the mind can actually make us not only feel differently, but physically react differently through the power of these thoughts.

The Placebo Effect has been studied for centuries, but only in these last few decades have scientists truly begun to appreciate what these findings imply about how our mind shapes our body.

The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect

Lissa Rankin: Is there scientific proof we can heal ourselves?

Remember to click on the image and use the zoom in feature if you have trouble reading

 

Gratitude – Thankful of Life

grat·i·tude

ˈgratəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

1. the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

An important part of happiness is the idea that we can be grateful for all the things we do have, and not dwell on what we don’t.  Once we understand that we have all we need already to be happy, the world can take on a friendlier shape.

It has been shown that living with gratitude for what we do have,  it can be friends, family, or health, that we then allow ourselves to have more.

“The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.” – Derrick Carpenter 

Studies by Robert Emmons, one of the world’s leading experts on the science of gratitude, has shown that gratefulness can have numerous benefits for people who practice it.

Physical
• Stronger immune systems
• Less bothered by aches and pains
• Lower blood pressure
• Exercise more and take better care of their health
• Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking

Psychological
• Higher levels of positive emotions
• More alert, alive, and awake
• More joy and pleasure
• More optimism and happiness

Social
• More helpful, generous, and compassionate
• More forgiving
• More outgoing
• Feel less lonely and isolated.

For techniques and games on how to become more grateful & happy, check out this website: Happify

 Here are some videos to help you cultivate a feeling of gratitude…

Robert Emmons: Cultivating Gratitude

Gratitude: Louie Schwartzberg

Positivity – How to have MORE

Now that we understand some of the benefits of positivity, it’s time we look into some techniques on how to maintain a positive lifestyle. Below are a few videos and graphs to help you get started.  As with all our themes on this site, we encourage you to do your own research so you can find a more personal way to use this advice.

Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology

 

 

30 Day Affirmation Challenge

If you think this challenge will be easy… prove it.

Take this first step to immediately start living a more positive life.  Try it, and get back to us after one month.  No matter how silly it sounds, no matter how much you want to skip a day… try it.  What do you have to lose?

Remember to click on the image and use the zoom in feature if you have trouble reading the graphic

Positivity Test – See How You Score

After reading these last few articles many of you may be wondering whether you really are positive or not.  Maybe some of you know you’re not, maybe some of you think you are, however the results to this question may actually be quite surprising.

Here is a test developed by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, who is a world renowned researcher and author on positivity, and whose test may show you just how positive you really are.

http://www.positivityratio.com/single.php

Remember, everyday you have a chance to change the very way you see and live.  Hopefully these articles have peeked your interest in the power of positive thinking.

Assisted Transition would like to leave you this week with one last video:

Nancy Etcoff: Happiness & Its Surprises