Live LONGER and BETTER with This “Mindset Trick”

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 20, 2022

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty person?

Do you think things will be better or worse when you look to the future?

Does every cloud have a silver lining? Or is doom hiding around every corner?

These are simple questions that help define your mindset.

But they do more than just explain your outlook. The way you look at life has a dramatic impact on your health.

In fact, new research shows this one “mindset trick” can actually literally help you live longer.

You might think that optimism or pessimism is baked into your personality. You’re simply born that way. But that’s not true. You CAN change the way you look at life.

And making those changes can literally affect how long you live.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society followed 161,808 women between 50 and 79. The research focused on whether or not being optimistic or pessimistic affected the women’s physical health.

The researchers found that the ladies with high levels of optimism lived longer, had better moods, exercised more, and ate better food. (And there’s every reason to believe that the same would be true of men had they been included in the study.)

At this point, you may wonder, “Are these women optimistic and in a better mood because they exercise and eat well, or do they eat well and exercise because they’re in a better mood?”

And my answer is, “Yes.” Because BOTH are true.

If you don’t feel well because you sit on the couch all day eating junk food your mood and outlook on life will be worse. But the opposite is true, as well.

I’ve seen it time and again. People who start living healthier get a boost in their mood and mindset. All it takes is practice.

Try to be more positive. Catch yourself when your mood is darkening and recommit to your positive outlook. When you do, you’ll find yourself eating better and wanting to exercise more without any extra effort.

Don’t worry. You don’t need to be Pollyanna and pretend everything is always great. We all know life can really be a struggle at times.

But, focusing on the good and being grateful for what you do have can lead to big payoffs for your health. And it could literally help you live longer.

PS: Wondering how long you’ll stick around? Take this four-question quiz to see if you’re likely to make it to 100.

Source:

“Optimism, lifestyle, and longevity in a racially diverse cohort of women,” Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue, First published: 08 June 2022, https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17897

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND