7 traits you can develop to stay healthy that have to do with how you think and your attitude about life!
1. The ACE Factor- attend,connect, express. or Biblically speaking "to thine own self be true." If you are aware of what stresses you, your anger or discomfort, you are equipped to better cope psychologically thus having a healthier cardiovascular system.
2. The Capacity to Confide- when you can "spill your guts" over unpleasant experiences--you literally release toxins that would accumulate in the "seat of your soul" the gut.
3. Hardiness- Commitment, control and challenge- realizing you can control your quality of life, health and social conditions; committment to work, creative activities or relationships and looking at stress as a challenge--actually increases your immune system.
4. Assertiveness- in the area of psychoneuroimmunology (that is how your personality affects your health) when we assert our feelings and needs--and feelings our immune systems become stronger--Biblically spoken of as faith or knowing God has highly favored you to receive what you ask for.
5. Affiliative trust-If the best weapon is Love then persons who can love unconditionally--and are motivated to form relationships based on this emotion
have more vigorous immune systems and less bouts with illnesses.Biblically spoken of as Agape.
6. The trait of ALTRUISM--giving without expecting in direct return. Understanding that you will be blessed from OTHER sources abundantly--proof from studies at the Institute for the Advancement of Health shows spiritual and physical benefits as well.
7. Self-Complexity-- knowing the many aspects of your personality--called (self-aspects) can better withstand stressful life events. This high self-esteem (differentiated from self-worth,though inexplicably tied) have strengths to fall back on--when one part of themselves is lost or wounded.
Stress reduction through the methodology written in countless articles is not sufficient--there is always an underlying bio-psycho-social mind that influences living cells. During hard economic times--it is believed that you cannot help but worry about your future--but it is precisely how you perceive the strengths you have in dealing with the stressors of the unknown that can reduce needless worry.
Here is cultural interpretation of the above--in China the word (symbol) for Crisis--
encompasses both danger AND opportunity. Either you collapse from the weight of the stress or you turn it around and use it as an opportunity for growth-- this climate we are in at this time--represents a tremendous opportunity for growth--embrace it!!
Posted By: Marta Fernandez
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 at 2:30PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
