Do happy people live longer, more productive lives?

Research suggests that they may. Studies have shown that specific personality traits, whether you're an optimist or pessimist, can determine many areas of your health and overall well-being. They have found that people who have a sunny disposition on growing older, actually live longer than those who are constantly worrying and feel bad about aging. A positive attitude, believe it or not, can add more years to your life than participating in regular exercise or refraining from smoking. Research also suggests that people who focus negatively on aging, actually accelerate the ageing process.

Positive thinking doesn't just mean that you ignore some of the unpleasant things that life throws your way, but by handling these things in a positive way helps you solve these problems more productively. Positive thinking is a vital part in managing stress effectively.

Endless thoughts that run through our heads on a daily basis are referred to as "Self-Talk". These automatic thoughts can be either positive or negative and we are usually unaware that we are even thinking them. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you are most likely an optimist, however, if most of these thoughts are negative, your outlook is probably pessimistic. Some common forms of negative self-talk would include: when something bad happens, you blame yourself, or you automatically expect the worst. You see things in black and white, not shades of gray, in other words, good or bad. Negative aspects of a situation are magnified and completely push out any positive ones. Any of these thoughts can accentuate a pessimistic outlook.

We are usually unaware of our self-talk, but if we evaluate ourselves periodically throughout the day, we can determine what type of person we are. If it turns out that you are a pessimist, you can change your outlook by building on new ways to think and behave to create a more positive approach.

One simple rule to follow is: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to someone else. We often forget to be encouraging and loving towards ourselves. Remind yourself that you are a good person and surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Exercising also allows us to reduce stress and create a more positive mood. Laugh at life, especially through trying times. Laughing automatically relieves stress. When negative thoughts do come into your mind, try to find something positive out of the situation and focus on that.

The health benefits of positive thinking may include: increased life span; lower rates of depression; reduced risk of heart disease; better coping skills during times of stress; and better physical and mental well-being.

It is unclear why positive thinking people experience these health benefits. Some believe that focusing on the positive helps you cope better with stressful situations. Here, at The Villas at Gulf Breeze, we encourage our residents to stay positive even during difficult times. Our residents have become a wonderful support group for one another. By applying a positive twist to life's ups and downs, you too can become an optimist!