Nourishing Positive Health Outcomes
Are you one of the many who suffer daily from aches and pains, digestive woes, stress, frailty and other chronic dysfunction? How is it that some people successfully manage these challenges and others repeatedly fail?
We all begin from varying degrees of healthy, so being overly optimistic isn’t necessarily helpful in all circumstances. Believe it or not, in many cases positive health outcomes are greatly influenced by commitment—how deeply you desire something. It may often hinge on cultivation, your ability to foster optimism throughout your journey.
Mindset plays a crucial role in determining whether you can look beyond past failures to attain success. Perhaps you’ve tried several remedies and got nowhere and have now reached that point where you truly believe ”nothing works". My favorite book on the topic is Carol S. Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. It’s an easy read and worth every page, especially if you’ve struggled on your path to feeling better.
Acceptance Comes First
It’s easy to take on a negative outlook when your latest health plan or diet doesn’t turn out how you intended. This happens often when we make lifestyle changes and we expect everything to be instantly better. If you’ve been ill for awhile, overweight for years or sedentary for some time, expect some ups and downs as you find your new path to better practices. If you’re looking for overnight miracles, you are on the wrong path. Healing takes time; strength builds with repetition and rest.
There is no sustainable fast path here. Trial and error are part of the plan — Always. You must trust the process and understand that there is no straight path to success. Consistency is key. Setbacks will always be part of the journey and that’s ok. This is your turning point. When you realize this simple fact, you can accept where you are and enable a shift to a more positive mindset that will lead you forward.
A positive mindset has the potential to make a significant impact on not only mental well-being, but physical well being too. Embracing positive thoughts can reduces your stress and possibly enhance immune function as well. Studies even suggest that it may contribute to a longer lifespan, but let’s just focus on what it can do for us right now.
You can set yourself up for mindfulness practices, tailoring them to a depth that suits you. Activities like meditation, deep breathing or nature walks may substantially decrease stress and bolster your overall mental resilience, aiding in positivity. Furthermore, incorporating breath work into your routine can work wonders for your digestive health, heart health, and physical resilience that will also help fortify your immune system. Finding time may be your biggest challenge.
Commitment Makes all the Difference
I’ve seen a lot of women give up and miss out because they lose patience and lose sight of their goals. It’s easy to do. One must stay committed in order to achieve what one expects. Sometimes adapting a daily mantra can help reinforce a positive focus. Try saying this one every morning when you look at yourself in the mirror: “I’m one day closer to my goal today. I’ve got this.” Repeat it every day. Literally anything goes, all you need is a first step in a positive direction.
Track Progress
Tracking your daily habits, exercise and dietary choices can be very helpful and provide a sense of achievement , small or big. Writing or typing these in a designated notebook or file keeps you committed to routines. This can also be a vital part of helping you to figure out why something might not be working in your favor. Jot it down.
More Thankful Than Numbers
Success doesn’t always come in numbers. Improvements to health come in small shifts of daily energy, mood, sleep quality, skin health, muscle integrity and many other things. So don’t sell yourself short because the number on the scale isn’t budging. There’s much more to understanding true health and feeling well. Observe and be thankful.
Stay Connected
Strong social connections can make all of our emotional challenges easier. We all need someone to watch our back, no matter how independent we pride ourselves in being. We must take the time to cultivate meaningful relationships with friends, family and community. This is difficult for many of us over 50. Yet, this is where we must face optimism head on. Remember you have nothing to fear, yet everything to give and gain with persistent effort. When you have someone to share your wins and losses with, you’re more likely to keep up the positive energy needed to keep those health goals in sight. There are people out there that need you as much as you need them. Don’t give up searching for them.
Laugh It Off
Laughter is one of those elixirs that goes a long way. Although laughter therapy is actually a real thing, you likely don’t need anyone to teach you how to laugh, but you may need a push to actually let yourself. In this chaotic world we live in it’s easy to let everything bring you down. Yet for every bit of dire news, there is something else that’s going on that may not carry world significance but carries sunshine and laughter to those who acknowledge it. Try to seek out the lightness when your load is heavy. You can find it in the most unusual places if you look for it. Seek balance.
Keep tabs on the aspects of your life that make you feel good. Allow yourself to acknowledge a sense of appreciation and contentment from them. This will inevitably help you navigate the path to healthier aging. It can also lead you on a journey to knowledge and inspiration, so that a positive outlook becomes the norm, cultivating optimism becomes second nature and your commitments have no barriers.
Small consistent steps lead to significant changes over time and you alone have the power to shape your journey towards a healthier and happier you.
Go ahead and take your first steps in a positive direction.
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Dimitri, Alex MD. Good Health Requires Commitment and Constancy. Psychology Today 2022 May 19. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-and-sleep/202205/good-health-requires-commitment-and-consistency
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