Increase Longevity With A Positive Mental Outlook

When it comes to living a long and healthy life, we tend to focus on diet and exercise practices that have a longevity effect. Just as important: Having a positive mental outlook.

Studies consistently show that how you view the world matters. People who report more satisfaction and enjoyment in life have greater longevity and well being. This is all well and good for people who are naturally upbeat and optimistic, but what can those of us who tend to view the world from a “glass half empty” point of view do?

Smile More: Research shows that “faking it ’til you make it” by forcing your face into a grin has real-life mood boosting effects. One study found that baseball players who smiled in their playing card photographs lived seven years longer than those who looked stern. The next time the going gets tough, force a grin onto your face for a positive mood boost.

View Stress As A Positive: There’s no doubt that stress is bad for you: It raises the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, significantly increasing blood pressure and rates of atrial fibrillation. But how you view stress can impact your physiological response. By defining stress as a challenge that will make your stronger, better, or smarter, you can reduce how hard it feels and minimize the negative impact on your body.

Take Aging One Step At A Time: People who embrace the aging process and feel like life will continue to get better live nearly 8 years longer than those who dread it. Looking forward to later years that can be truly golden may be one of the best things you can do for your health—especially if you do the little things like diet, good sleep, and exercise that help maintain your body and mind in tip top shape for years to come.