What we need to be doing is focusing our attention on all the good things we already have. What you focus on expands, so if you put your energy into noticing all the good things in your life, then more good things will come along! And it seems that paying attention to the beautiful things in the world around us can also help protect our health.
I also think that, as parents, we have a fantastic opportunity to experience these positive emotions, including awe, on a regular basis. All we need to do is stop, get down on our children’s level and try to see the world through their eyes. The whole world is new, exciting and awe-inspiring to young children. We just need to reconnect with that way of looking at things!
So this Spring and Summer I’m planning on being even more mindful when I’m out with my children, taking time as we walk round the park to stop and admire all the beautiful flowers and all the other wonders nature has to offer.
It’s good for our health after all!
The study asked 200 people to report their emotions and took a swab from their cheeks to measure their levels of these cytokines. Those who reported feeling positive emotions such as amusement, joy, love and awe were found to have lower levels of inflammatory cytokines; with awe having a particularly strong association.
It seems that looking at the world from a perspective of curiosity and wonder can help to protect us from physical and mental illnesses such as depression, which is shown to be linked to higher levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Dr Dacher Keltner, one of the study’s authors, said:
“That awe, wonder and beauty promote healthier levels of cytokines suggests that the things we do to experience these emotions — a walk in nature, losing oneself in music, beholding art — have a direct influence upon health and life expectancy.”
I have a positive blog and as someone who has lived with panic attack disorder I can tell you thinking positively and saying no to the fear has dramatically changed my life in the last 7/8 months, and I mean DRAMATICALLY. It’s hard to do for some people though, my bf finds it practically impossible to be positive in any situation.
I’ve just popped over and had a quick look at your blog, I love your positive outlook! I’m so impressed with your courage to take control and not be defeated by the panic attacks. I definitely think that thinking positively is something that a lot of people have to really put a lot of effort into doing, but it’s really worth the effort isn’t it! x