Photograph Think Do Be Positive by Marek Uliasz

I love this quote because even though I get so annoyed at exceptionally happy and positive people (especially in the early a.m.), I strive to be just like them.

Through some research I'm doing I've found out that our thoughts have a direct impact on our emotions, attitudes and behaviors. When we repeat positive thoughts and maintain a positive attitude it helps our brain create new neural pathways. It's like wiring our brain for success.

It is medically proven that positivity is a cause in many ways to better physical health. Positive people have lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, lower levels of stress hormones, and stronger immune systems. Positivity lowers the probability of hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.

Positive people sleep better and report experiencing less pain than negative people. And since positive people are healthier, they can live up to 10 years longer than negative people.
I am not talking about the Pollyanna positivity where everything is up and happy all the time.

I am talking about how we react to the situations we find ourselves in. How we handle stress and how we handle difficult people.

"Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes the solutions, knows about the difficulties but believes they can be overcome, sees the negatives but accentuates the positives, is exposed to the worst but expects the best, has reason to complain but chooses to smile."

~ William Arthur Ward

According to Barbara Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Theory, positive emotions serve to broaden our mind's focus and to help us build valuable resources over time.

Another psychological resource that positivity brings is resilience. Resilience refers to one's ability to bounce back from difficult situations and to adapt to the changing demands of stressful events.

Dr. Beth Cabera shares that positive people are more resilient because they have more effective coping skills. They are proactive and problem focused when facing difficulties. They are more likely to use humor when dealing with stressful events and to find positive meaning in their negative circumstances. People who experience more frequent positive emotions face hardships with hope rather than despair, reacting to what is happening at the moment rather than spending energy worrying about the future. Positive emotions can put the brakes on the potential downward spiral created by negative thinking.

So, with all the health benefits and psychological benefits I really believe positivity trumps negativity.

"You can't think your way into acting positively, but you can act your way into thinking positively."

~ Nido Qubein

Step into leading and play a Bigger Game in your life...don't wait...model leadership...the World needs us to do this.

Lead strong!

Pat

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Photograph Free Fall by Alice Popkorn

A Spider Playing in the House

Conventional knowledge is death
to our souls, and it is not really ours.

We must become ignorant
of what we've been taught,
and be, instead, bewildered.

Run from what's profitable and comfortable.
If you drink those liqueurs, you'll spill
the springwater of your real life.

Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.

I have tried prudent planning
long enough. From now
on, I'll be mad.

~ Rumi

• Take two minutes to complete the Positivity Self Test now. Your score provides a snapshot of how your emotions of the past day combine to create your positivity ratio.
• Video: The timeliness of positivity
• 10 Ways to Power Your Positivity
  

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"Pat Obuchowski is a master of extracting an individual and a team vision. She assisted my VISION Statement with the passionate energy of her heart and a crystal clear mind that helped me synthesize my ideas and see the larger picture of my vision. I have clarity where there was none and am confident on the direction I must head into."

~Akasa Tseng, M. A.

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