Nurturing Yourself

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Nurturing Yourself The Role of Positive Psychology

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Positive psychology is an emerging field recognized by the American

Psychological Association, and many experts who design stress-control programs

harness its principles. It focuses on determining and promoting the factors that

permit people to thrive. Rather than search for the roots of unhappiness,

research coming out of this field investigates the ingredients of a good life

and weighs the effects of traits like optimism, humor, and even eccentricity.

Optimists, for example, tend to do better than pessimists when coping with

stressful situations. They are more likely to put a positive spin on stressors,

look for ways to make the best of a bad situation, and use problem-solving

strategies to tackle difficulties. Some studies indicate that optimists often

fare better physically, too. A long-term study of more than 830 Mayo Clinic

patients published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2000 found that those

classified as pessimists had a 19% higher risk of mortality over the course of

30 years than those who were optimists. A 10-year study of 1,300 men based on

data drawn from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study was reported in

Psychosomatic Medicine in 2001. It suggested that a sense of optimism may

protect older men against developing heart disease.

If you're not a natural optimist, this information could merely fuel your

pessimism. Don't let it. Take a deep breath and relax. Evidence suggests

avoiding pessimism is more important than boosting optimism. It's true that

there are people with naturally sunny natures, but it's equally true that the

way you handle yourself emotionally owes a great deal to nurture. With practice,

your current outlook and behaviors can change for the better.

You may already have tried some techniques used in positive psychology. They

include cognitive restructuring and journal writing, as well as emphasizing the

importance of intimate bonds. Other techniques help people tap into a sense of

gratitude and thankfulness or simply a sense of humor. All of these therapeutic

approaches focus on amplifying the positive.

While research backing some positive psychology approaches is still preliminary,

there have been many intriguing studies on humor. Researchers have found

laughter boosts immune system activity and lowers the amount of circulating

stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. No wonder many mind/body

practitioners prescribe laughter. They often urge patients to rent funny movies,

spend time at comedy clubs, peruse amusing books, and embrace the absurd in

daily life.

Quote of the Day

" Don't let other people tell you what you want. "

– Pat Riley