Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

I remember walking the steep coblestone streets of Italy, drooling over biscotti, drinking cafe, aromas of fresh cooked foods … and loving every minute of it. Distinctly remember an old, old couple walking arm in arm down the street under a slight mist with an umbrella; a classic Italian theme. On a trip to Molise, we were offered the most memorable meal of our entire lives. Our hosts of the night prepared for us ALL of their speciality dishes. We were seated for three hours and were served at least fifteen different dishes. That was the first time I ate Monkfish. It was served open faced on the plate and had very little meat on it, however, I recall it to be the tastiest fish I’d ever eaten.

Italians seem to have a beautiful way of living their life! They rejoice in their vegetables. Celebrate small and large moments grandly. We as Americans were treated like kings and queens that night and it lives on in our memories. I would like to take their LOVE of living into a list of ways to always consider the positives in our lives.

WAYS TO INFLUENCE HOW YOU THINK:

“DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR-EVEN IN YOUR MIND”. Daniel G. Amen, M.D

Lately, I’ve focused on nothing but “my body hurts”. My apologies if my posts have come across in a negative way. Seems like I get a positive comment, and yet still focus on the negative. This is an incredibly bad habit. I was just reading that what you focus on will become the truth. “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.” Richard Bach Author of Jonathon Livingston Seagull. Before today, on a run, I would focus on what’s going to hurt today? Gee, you think I’m setting myself up for pain? Negative thoughts turn into negative pains in my body. I can distinctly remember times in my athletic career where my brain tricked me into thinking I was tired, couldn’t keep up, not fit enough and also can remember times when my mind tricked me RIGHT.

So, here’s to some ways to turn negatives into positives.

Instead of thinking, me knees are trashed. I am thinking that this is my body’s way of telling me it needs to rest. Rest will heel the pain. My body will come back stronger and faster after this setback.

Instead of worrying and fretting about how the marathon is going to go, I will now turn my attention to the fact that I have done the training. I have every RIGHT to be there. I will do well.

Weaknesses are signs that my body is telling me to gather strength in all areas of my body. Never focus on just one aspect of physical fitness. Physical fitness is all things related to your body including the cardiovascular, muscular, flexibility, and strength of mind.

Chasing all negative thoughts OUT OF MY BRAIN. My subconscious needs to see the POSITIVES only. In the book Eat, Pray, Love the author learns that the negative is not making her into a healthy individual. It only slowed her down. So, here is my advice to myself and to you. Do NOT allow the negative thoughts to rule your day! Only you have the power to change how you think, your success, and your failures. So, when you get a compliment, say THANK YOU. That’s it. Accept it with grace and offer a compliment in return.

Please offer any other ways YOU use to keep a positive healthy mindset.