Do you identify with Eeyore?

How did you feel when you saw this clip?  Did you identify with Eeyore?  Or were you sad because of his disposition? 

How you relate to this clip may reflect on your mortality and morbidity to a myocardial infarct.  

A recent medical article of over a quarter-million people identified that a positive outlook on life has a statistically significant reduction in ischemic myocardial events of all types, as well as reduced mortality overall. 

The Power Of A Positive Attitude

Yes, you read that correctly.  A positive attitude had a positive impact on the mortality of individuals.  

The article (link here) provides a nice discussion of the study parameters and confounding or co-existing risk factors, including other associated behavioral habits with positive and negative outlooks (i.e. optimism vs. pessimism).

What You Think Does Matter 

In conclusion, what you think can make you sick.  A negative disposition does have a negative impact on your health and outcomes.  For that reason, it's ideal to work on a more positive attitude in life.  For those with positive attitudes, kudos!  Keep up the great work and get even more positive.  

But if you are an "Eeyore" in life, it's time to adopt a more positive mindset.  It's time to become a...

If I only had this, I would be happy.

If only this had not happened, it would make me happy.

Does this sound like you?

Is happiness just a bit beyond your reach? 

Is there just one more thing until you achieve it?

Perhaps it's better to look to achieve happiness with what you already have.

Being grateful and happy for what you have is a great place to launch yourself to an even greater degree of happiness.

Sunday Morning Happiness

It's Sunday morning.  Nothing special happening.  Just sitting on the couch with a warm cup of coffee.  Nothing planned.  Just a quiet day.  We are just relaxing on the couch.  The dogs are fed, content and sleeping.  I am enjoying writing this post for you.

Life is good.

Are there some less than bucolic elements happing in my life?  Probably, but for now, I am grateful for what I have. Where I am. What I am doing. Who I am with. I am happy.

Am I doing anything special that I am doing to make me happy?  Am I trying to make myself happy by an external stimulus?  Nope.  It's all internal.  It's being grateful for what I have.  Not seeking out anything more at this moment.  Being happy with the way things are. 

Being "Present" and Grateful

Being present is different from being grateful, but I believe they are closely related.  You can be present in the moment and...