Attitude - Is Your Glass Half Full Or Half Empty?

Solomon the wisest man that ever lived had quite a lot to say about attitude or outlook. Writing in the book of Proverbs he said, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Findings from a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2006 noted that participants with cardiovascular disease with an optimistic outlook had greater survival rates independent of traditional risk factors and depression. The researchers noted that low optimism should be added to the list of risk markers for cardiovascular mortality.

Optimism is a key contributor to wellbeing. It promotes self-esteem and positive relationships. According to Carlos Castaneda we either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. So, is your glass half empty or half full?

Laughter

A good laugh makes you healthy (Swedish proverb). Laughter produces greater positive response to stress, improves function of the immune system, and is associated with long life. Shakespeare summed it up nicely when he stated, “Mirth and merriment…bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.”

Use laugher to provide physical release from tension, reduce pain, and blood pressure. Laughter also improves your mood and enhances creativity (Hassard, 2001). The ability to find humor in a situation gives a better sense of perspective to our problems.