When I used to be upset and frustrated as a kid, my father, ninety four years old now, would say, “If you don’t like the way you are feeling right now, change the way you are thinking.”
I didn’t really understand what my dad was saying at the time.
But, now, at least, I understand more about how our brain works, now I see my dad was absolutely right though my dad was not a trained psychologist by any means.
It was all his life experiences.
Remember, stories and experiences of other people including our own dad and mom can play a powerful role in changing our thoughts and actions.
In my case, my dad always taught me to work with an uncomfortable feeling like my anger which eventually drove a change to me unknowingly in my life.
Sometimes, we have to accept that anger or similar uncomfortable feelings can motivate positive changes that are best for us in the long run.
This is one way to cultivate and nurture positivity in our lives.
“For all of us, having a sense of humor is an enormous positive attitude towards life.”
I would like to share a story of a past CEO of a company.
Two months after becoming CEO of Kimberly Clark, a renowned paper company at the time, doctors diagnosed Kimberly Clark CEO, Darwin Smith, with nose and throat cancer, giving him time that he had less than a year to live.
Mr. Smith, the CEO of the company, informed about his health status to the board and made it clear that he was not dead yet and had no plan to die anytime soon.
Darwin Smith held fully to his demanding work schedule while commuting weekly from Wisconsin to Houston for cancer therapy and lived twenty five more years than the timeline that his doctors had predicted, most of them as a vibrant value creator CEO of the company.
This is not just a motivation example for us but rather a science driven inspiration example, there is a difference between motivation and inspiration as motivation could be a fleeting emotion but inspiration could be a long term positive strength in our lives.
This is the greatest proof of how ingrained positivity in us can evaporate the chronic infection in our body.
By the way, there are many such examples around us, this is just one that I shared.
Simon Sinek, the author of ‘Start With Why’ an astounding book to read, says, “There are only two ways to influence human behavior, you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.”
Inspiration always wins because it craves the path for positivity in life.
Born on Feb 21, 1875, Jeanne Calment lived for 122 years, she stayed mentally and physically active for most of her life.
When asked about her longevity, she attributed it to port wine, olive oil, and a sense of humor.
For all of us, having a sense of humor is an enormous positive attitude towards life.
“People who have higher self-esteem have a higher positive learning rate, they are more likely to update their outdated life quickly.”
Our value system guides our choices according to our past experiences, current needs, and future goals.
Our brain is capable of imagining nearly limitless possibilities in our lives.
But we have a tendency to put most weight on immediate outcomes, immediate self relevance, and immediate social relevance.
We focus on ‘right now’ most of the time.
But the outcome of life is not fixed and doesn’t appear immediately most of the time.
Emily Falk, Upenn professor and author of ‘What We Value’ says, “We do have the ability to change, and that change is contagious. What we value, what we pay attention to, and how we connect with others all shape the paths we take to build a life and a world that reflects what matters most to us.”
Positivity is a message to the brain that there are enormous possibilities to change our as well as others’ lives for prosperity.
In my experience, with positive people, fast is always slow and slow is always fast.
Positive people can be inspired slowly and show empathy, patience, and resiliency.
They understand their autonomy, choice, and self-esteem.
In fact, people’s greatest value comes when that autonomy is willingly and passionately given, engaged, and unleashed.
People who have higher self-esteem have a higher positive learning rate, they are more likely to update their outdated life quickly.
“Research shows that women who consumed tomatoes at least 3 or 4 times a week reduced their chances of getting ovarian cancer by 70 percent.”
I recall my one habit that I updated over the years, and as much as I can, I always try to follow it.
When I pass the drinking water station in any place, I just drink. I know it’s a wonderful habit. When I first enter home, the first thing I do is drink water, when I leave the house, the last thing I do is drink water.
These things seem small but they do amazing things for our body.
When we become busy at work, most of the time we forget to drink and our body remains dehydrated.
Body dehydration is not only the hidden cause of many chronic diseases in our body but also a most stressed and tired body to elevate negativity in our brain.
When I read about old healthy centenarians from blue zone areas, what I found is they are mostly positive people and have amazing food habits.
They mostly consume home grown fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that seem to be protective for a wide variety of diseases including cancers.
Research shows that women who consumed tomatoes at least 3 or 4 times a week reduced their chances of getting ovarian cancer by 70 percent.
Eating a lot of tomatoes also seemed to have an effect on reducing prostate and colon cancer for men.
“Red wine, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and dark chocolate are good sources of flavonoids.”
Robert N Butler, MD, a professor and author of ‘Why Survive’ says “Most important multivitamins which are most effective and cheap are achieved by eating 6 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.”
Another fascinating fact is most blue zone centenarians love sun exposure and spend a lot of time outside their home.
Remember, our skin manufactures vitamin D when it comes into contact with the sun.
Without vitamin D, we increase our risk for nearly all age related diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis.
Without enough vitamin D, bones become brittle, the key hip and leg muscles become weak.
I’m a scientist, and with no valid data I don’t like to make any conclusions.
All of these things I’m sharing here are based on research data.
When you are exposed to the sun, it elevates your mood, and most specifically, you elevate positivity for your task at hand.
Personally, I think of myself as a sincere worker, a loyal friend, a data driven scientist, a patient son, a patient dad, and, of course, a supportive husband.
But, sometimes, I’m also an impatient runner because I run too much, an impatient dad who stops to listen to my kids, and an oblivious colleague.
But whatever the circumstances, I always try to win over my immediate emotions and try to bring sustaining positivity to my brain.
Is there any pattern between positivity and longevity?
After reading Sardinian people’s lives, a place in Italy, in a book ‘Blue Zones’ by Dan Buettner, I realized there must be some connection directly and indirectly.
Research shows that red blood cells are smaller than normal in Sardinian people which is a home for many centenarians, which means they are resistant to malaria and less likely to have dangerous blood clots.
Studies show that they eat a diet high in flavonoids which is associated with a reduced incidence of certain cancers and heart disease.
Red wine, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and dark chocolate are good sources of flavonoids.
“Wisdom is nothing but the sum of knowledge plus experience, older people have more wisdom because of their lifelong experiences.”
It has been documented that fava beans, goat milk, and mastic oil are Sardinia’s longevity secrets.
Mastic oil has antibacterial and antimutagenic properties.
Sardinian goat milk may protect from aging diseases like atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
Remember, goat milk is more powerful than cow milk.
One glass of goat milk contains 13 percent more calcium, 25 percent more vitamin B6, 47 percent more vitamin A, 134 percent more potassium, and 3 times more niacin.
It’s better in preventing iron deficiency and mineral loss in bones.
Sardinians walk a lot which has a positive impact on their longevity.
Walking is a low intensity exercise for all age people that produces all the cardiovascular benefits you might get.
It has a positive effect on muscles and bones without joint pounding damage caused by running marathons or triathlons.
Walking is one tool that can help us to let go of rigid ideas of who we are and what we are capable of.
People who walk have brain patterns that look different from most normal people, particularly when it comes to brain regions that construct our sense of self.
Research suggests that exercises can make us more open and positive to new ideas about who we are or could be.
Engaging in healthy behaviors like calling a dad, getting a good night’s sleep, going for a walk regularly, meeting a good friend, and reading a good book, all can help boost a purpose in life.
Steven N Austad, PhD, a professor and author of ‘Why We Age’ says “Aging is a gradual and progressive loss of physical and mental abilities which you were able to do before but not anymore.”
A positive mind breeds wisdom and helps to slow down the deterioration of physical and mental abilities.
Wisdom is nothing but the sum of knowledge plus experience, older people have more wisdom because of their lifelong experiences.
All older people are not equal in wisdom but the old people with positivity and a sense of purpose are the assets for the younger generations.
“When you eat less, it slows down your body’s metabolism so that it produces less damaging oxidants that rust the body from within.”
We must maintain unwavering faith that we can and will prevail up to old age, regardless of the difficulties and at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of our current improper lifestyle, whatever it might be.
Do you have a culture of disciplined lifestyle?
When you have a disciplined lifestyle, you don’t need complexity.
When you have disciplined habits, you don’t need excessive controls in your life.
When you combine a culture of disciplined lifestyle with an ethic of positive attitude, you get the magical alchemy of great life.
While the practices of science continually evolve and change, the laws of great life remain relatively the same.
For example, scientific research shows that only about 25 percent of how long we live is dictated by genes, the other 75 percent is determined by our lifestyle and the everyday choices we make.
I would like to share some amazing food habits from another longevity hotspot, Okinawa, Japan.
People from Okinawa, Japan, eat sweet potatoes all the time which are packed with vitamins and minerals especially vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid.
It is also high in fiber and beta-carotene which have cancer fighting properties.
Okinawa people restrict how many calories they eat, and they do it by reminding themselves to eat until they’re 80 percent full.
When you eat less, it slows down your body’s metabolism so that it produces less damaging oxidants that rust the body from within.
Conclusion
Okinawan’s other favorite food is tofu.
Tofu, a main source of soy, plays a role in reducing the risk of heart disease because it reduces the level of bad LDL cholesterol in the body.
Beside tofu, soymilk and edamame, the whole soybeans in their pods, are good sources of proteins for them.
Okinawan’s love pepper, goya, and turmeric in regular food.
Research shows that these foods are directly or indirectly attributing their longevity.
In fact, capsaicin in pepper is a natural disinfectant and it kills many types of food borne bacteria.
For example, if you put hot pepper in slightly rancid meat, it inhibits bacteria.
It is believed that the person who eats the meat with the pepper lives longer.
Goya, also known as bitter melon, contains high amounts of antioxidants, and three major compounds, Polypeptide-p, Charantin, and Vicine to lower blood sugar.
Turmeric is an amazing spice that has curcumin as an active component.
It has antioxidant properties and helps to ease inflammatory ailments.
Remember, inflammation is the main culprit of many old age diseases.
Turmeric is one fifth as powerful as cisplatin, one of the most powerful drugs in chemotherapy. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer in its action.
Thomas T Perls, MD, MPH, a professor and author of ‘Living to 100’ says “The older you get , the healthier you’ve been by living the lifestyle of Blue Zones’s people.”
If you have positive vibes regarding your life and if you combine that with good food habits, you certainly live longer, healthily and happily.
Mel Robbins, author of ‘The Let Them Theory’ says “Stop wasting your time trying to get people to love you. It’s time to choose the love you deserve.”
Positivity is choosing the love you deserve for your longevity.
No doubt about it.
Yam Timsina, PhD, writes primarily on health basics, scientific progress, social upliftment, and value creation.
Disclaimer: “Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.”
