LifeNuts
  • LifeNuts
    • What is a LifeNut?
    • Origin of LifeNuts
    • LifeNuts Levels
    • What is a LifeNuts Community?
    • Why LifeNuts Works
    • How to Get Started
    • Current LifeNuts Communities
  • Founder's Story
    • Speaking
    • Credentials
  • Stress
    • Concepts of Stress
    • Diseases of Stress
    • PNI
    • The Relaxation Response
    • Psychological Stress Management
    • The Faith Factor
    • Relationships
  • Health
    • Nutrition
    • LifeNuts Fitness
    • Supplements
    • Sleep
    • Excuses
    • Time Management
    • Children >
      • Childhood Obesity
      • LifeNuts for Kids
  • Financial
    • Financial Stress Management
    • Transitioning
    • Goal Setting
  • Blog ...
    • LifeNuts in the News!
    • Blog
    • Are You Faster Than a 91-year-old Challenge
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • The LifeNut Forms

Positivity vs. Negativity and Aging

7/29/2018

0 Comments

 
When I Googled the phrase, positive thinking and aging, I got just over four million sites, a bit too many to look at. But, since all of them posted results connecting the power of positive thinking with an increased life expectancy, I didn’t delve further. Next, I did a search on the phrase, negative thinking and aging, and got just under two million sites, still too many to go through, though I did look briefly at one, a Reader’s Digest article - https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/negative-thoughts-aging/
 
As you might guess, it commented on cell death caused by a variety of negative expressions such as pessimism, cynicism, hostility, and others. The article cited several studies linking these behaviors with the shortening of telomeres, which leads to cell death. Ironically, the author did not mention frustration, jealousy, anger, or sadness, which have all been shown to release cortisol, the hormone that suppresses the immune response. If such behaviors become chronic, the effect of cortisol release can lead to a challenged immune system, which can foster the growth of viral cells (the common cold), bacterial infections, and even cancer.
 
The reason I brought this up is because I spent a group dinner with such a negative person not long ago. There was some arrogance and rudeness on this person’s part, which I tried to ignore, but it got old quickly. Even though I had not met this person, I thought that I would enjoy the dinner since I thought we had something in common and since other friends also would be there. But, when I couldn’t get involved in the conversation and tried to figure out what to do, I thought of Wayne Dyer, the psychologist, motivational speaker, and author, whom I studied and listened to during my early business years in the 1980s. His books and tapes helped me a lot. Interestingly, his personal life didn’t mirror his writings and motivational advice. Married three times, the last one ending in separation. Leukemia in 2009. He died in 2015 of a heart attack at the age of 75. A wise psychologist but not a lifenut.
 
Well, what would Wayne do, I wondered as I sat next to this chap at dinner. Once someone asked that question to Dr. Dyer. His response was that he would avoid such an individual. Well, I couldn’t walk out on a dinner with several husbands and wives present. No way. That’s rude, too. So I meditated. How? By repeating “calm, calm, calm” silently in my mind. A soft smile came with that. Peace followed. And, the evening finally ended. On the drive home I told my wife that I wouldn’t have dinner with that person again. And, after a day, I forgot about it.
 
Two days later I had a “fix” of positivity with my nutritional mentor Mike Fremont on a 45-minute walk in the park. I explained the situation to him and listened. Mike, a gentle soul with amazing sensitivity for a Yale-educated engineer, agreed that negative emotions can cause problems. Kindness never hurts. And, Mike is never quick to criticize nor is he cynical. So I just listened as he rambled on, as vibrant as any 25-year-old, and I marveled at his mental acuity. I needed a dose of positive thinking and I got it from this lifenut, now only 96 and going strong. A few weeks later I asked him to do a blog for this site. Maybe we’ll get some more of his lessons next month.
 


0 Comments

    Author

    Dr. Bob Kroeger is the founder of LifeNuts. He's also proud to be a LifeNut.

    Archives

    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Photos used under Creative Commons from USACE Europe District, GerryT, uyeah, thelesleyshow, Elvert Barnes, phalinn, achimh, lilli2de, SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Serge Melki, Ryan Somma, CitySkylineSouvenir, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., Iman Mosaad, Skånska Matupplevelser, Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation RI, SteakEat, Spirit-Fire, rexipe, Mark Z., db Photography | Demi-Brooke, Official U.S. Navy Imagery, whistler1984, sillygwailo, paddling, USACE Europe District, smith_cl9, emilio labrador, Kevin M. Gill, Kai Brinker, Victor Olausson, Joe Shlabotnik, cNathanielw, treehouse1977