Be Optimistic and Stay Healthy and Live Longer.

Glorious Sunrise!


Do you know that our outlook on life can impact our health in terms of feelings of well-being, quality of life and even longevity? Some of us are born pessimists but do not despair because we can change this through some self help strategies. Shifting from this dark side would need us to become aware of our pessimistic ways that influence how we think and feel, ...... Eureka!

The followings are some steps we can take:

■ Refocus our perspective
Everyone has ups and downs. Just because something goes wrong, doesn't mean we're doomed to fail. Refocus when our thinking is clouded by negative thoughts.

■ Look for the good in life
Try this in situations we might normally feel depressed such as losing at the stock market, look at the loss as an opportunity to learn more about tactical investing and to be more vigilant.

■ Be grateful and savour good times
Take stock of what we have to be grateful for. Gratitude can help us focus on what's good in our life. Cherish the time when all is well - those memories can be invaluable when times are rough

■ Look for pleasure in small things
Find simple pleasure in everyday things, like sitting and talking with a friend, sipping a glass of cool fruit juice or reading a good book.

■ Practice random kindness
Reaching beyond ourselves to treat friends and even strangers with unexpected kindness not only enriches them, but it also can help us feel better.

■ Reconsider our pessimism of others
Constantly thinking or talking in a pessimistic or critical way way won't help solve problems and can dampen our mood and the moods of those around us. Reduce the frequency of discussing issues (or even bad gossiping) that irritate us instead try challenging ourselves to look for the positive aspects in things we dislike.

All these remind me very much the Obama speech to the Muslim world two weeks ago at Al Azhar University in Egypt.... we are here together on this planet earth, but for a brief time!

So be optimistic, stay healthy and enjoy our life on this wonderful earth intelligently blessed by Nature for our survival.