Judith T. Moskowitz, a professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, observed that people with Type 2 diabetes, AIDS, and other chronic illnesses lived longer if they showed positive emotions.
Inspired, she decided to test whether teaching people skills that promote positive emotions can impact how well they cope with stress and have an effect on their physical health. It did.
Patients who practised one or more of the positive behaviours experienced a boost to their immune system, were more likely to take their medication correctly and observed a decreased need for antidepressants to help them cope with illness.
Here are the 8 behaviours recommended by prof. Moskowitz:
1. Recognise a positive event each day.
2. Savour that event and write it down or tell someone about it.
3. Begin a daily gratitude journal.
4. List a personal strength and record how you used it.
5. Set an attainable goal and observe your progress.
6. Report a relatively minor stress and list ways to reappraise the event positively.
7. Practice small acts of kindness daily and recognise them around you.
8. Practice mindfulness - focusing on the here and now.
In another study, professors from the Yale School of Public Health demonstrated that having a positive view of ageing can have a positive influence on health outcomes and longevity.
Why not commit 5 minutes a day to practising one of these behaviours? So simple, and so worth it.