| Another New Year is here--although, marking time is | | | | self-talk, here are seven important reasons. |
| an ego need--unlike the spiritual mind, the ego mind | | | | 1. Sustains a healthy immune system. Positive people |
| needs these reference points. Given the ego's | | | | have stronger, more robust, immune systems, which |
| paradigm, millions of people will make New Year's | | | | means they can ward off colds, flu, infections and |
| resolutions as a declaration of commitment to | | | | more. |
| themselves to make changes in their lives. | | | | 2. More successful in life--relationships/career. One |
| Have you wondered how effective resolutions are? | | | | study found that a woman's future career success |
| Do you achieve your New Year's resolutions? If you | | | | could be predicted by the intensity of her smile. |
| achieve your New Year's resolutions you are in the | | | | 3. Live longer. According to a study in the Archives of |
| minority. Surveys reveal that less than one percent of | | | | General Psychiatry, optimistic/positive people are 55 |
| New Year's resolutions are achieved. It is merely a | | | | percent less likely to die from diseases than pessimists, |
| ritual people have followed for decades. The question | | | | according. When the results were adjusted for |
| is, "Do you want to make changes in your life?" | | | | smoking, age, exercise levels and other measures of |
| Making a resolution to accomplish something without a | | | | health, the number increased to 71 percent! |
| plan to achieve it is like putting gasoline into a car that | | | | 4. Healthier in general. Studies reveal overwhelmingly |
| doesn't have an engine or without changing your | | | | that a positive outlook helps people maintain better |
| self-talk is doing the same thing over and over | | | | health than those with a negative outlook. |
| expecting different results. | | | | 5. Age gracefully: Positive self-talk affects the aging |
| Given the tradition of viewing the New Year as a new | | | | process. People who hold on to negative associations |
| beginning, what better time to put on a new hat and | | | | of aging are more likely to feel and act older than |
| adopt a "glass-half-full" perspective, for good? Aside | | | | those who have positive self-talk about their age. |
| from clearly being more fun, having positive self-talk is | | | | 6. Protect your heart. Studies have found that people |
| good for your health, both physically and mentally. | | | | with higher levels of well-being have lower |
| Studies reveal that simply having optimistic/positive | | | | cardiovascular risk. |
| self-talk can affect your physical biology for the better. | | | | 7. Reduce stress. Research shows that feeling happy |
| "There is a science that is emerging that says positive | | | | lowers levels of stress hormones in the body. |
| self-talk isn't just a state of mind," said Carol Ryff, a | | | | The choice is yours. Make your New Year's |
| psychology professor at the University of | | | | Resolutions with a well-honed plan to achieve them |
| Wisconsin-Madison. "It also has linkages to what's going | | | | and positive self-talk and you will find that you achieve |
| on in the brain and in the body." For those of you who | | | | your goals with less effort and more quickly than you |
| need a reason (or a reminder) to adopt positive | | | | imagined. |