When we think positive thoughts or experience things of beauty, like sunrises and sunsets, or the hug of a friend or family member, our mind signals our body to create good chemicals like endorphins (euphoria and determination), oxytocin (trust and belonging), serotonin (safety and respect) and dopamine (motivation). It also causes the body to release more IgA which is a chemical that supports our immune system. Therefore positive thinking results not only in feeling good, but supports your overall health. To the contrary, when we are under stress, whatever the source, our body releases cortisol, which supports getting the body back to a state of rest, but over the long term wears the body down.

Want to be happier and have better health? It’s as simple as changing the way you think. That’s the power of positive thinking. It’s not ignoring problems, its acknowledging them and focusing on how to work through them, not on the problems themselves. It’s focusing on what is right with things in general, not what is wrong. We are blessed and can be grateful for many many things in our lives.