"Attitude Adjustment"

"Optimistic thinking leads to a longer, healthier, and happier life."
-Allure Magazine

"It's not like, put on a smiley face button and live forever. Optimistic people act differently. They do things that public health experts say are associated with good health. They eat sensibly, they don't drink senselessly, they exercise, and they get their sleep. They even tend to look better as they age because they take better care of themselves. Optimists believe good things will happen in the future because they have some sort of control over them."

The people around you influence whether you have a positive or negative outlook on life. Surround yourself with friends who will elevate your state of mind, not bring you down. Nobody likes a downer. You know that one person who constantly finds something wrong no matter what the situation. Optimists categorize things differently than pessimists. The way you view the world and your experiences significantly effects your mental health.

And don't be too modest or attribute your successes to luck. Research shows that rejoicing in your successes leads to a more optimistic outlook on life. It will keep you feeling younger, too. Positivity and happiness are linked to youthfulness, so being this way simply makes you seem younger.

I think these points are important to consider because not many individuals consider their mental or emotional health. It is just as vital to your overall health as staying in shape physically and eating right. Most people think of the physical aspect when it comes to health. When we are stressed with school and work, it is easy to overlook the way we feel. It's important to take a few minutes each day to relax by doing something you enjoy doing and want to do, not something you have to or should do. Read a book or magazine, write in a journal, go for a walk, play basketball, paint, or draw. Find a hobby that you like because it can a have a big impact on the quality of your life. When we're expected to accomplish a certain amount of tasks each day, taking time to focus on yourself isn't usually included. My point is that it should be on your priorities list.