Optimism and Gratitude

Besides the fact that the entire month of March is Optimism month, you really can't deny all the research that indicates that optimism and gratitude do lead to good health and happiness and many people like me find it to be "The Magic Pill", besides optimism and gratitude are easier to get than you might think, said the founder of LuvIsTheAnswer.org.

Research suggests that optimism significantly predicts rates of recovery, such that optimists are faster in achieving behavioral milestones, such as sitting up in bed and walking, than are pessimists, and are rated by staff members as showing a better physical recovery. Even at six-month follow-ups, optimists still continued to have a recovery advantage.

"I´m living proof that optimism and gratitude lead to better health and happiness. Every year I used to get sicker and sicker for longer and longer periods of time," said Katrina Balance, founder of LuvIsTheAnswer.org. "As my attitude changed, so did my health and happiness. Now I hardly ever get sick and when I do it doesn´t last very long."

Research also indicates that those who write out their gratitude on a weekly basis report fewer physical symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the upcoming week. Grateful people also tend to be more optimistic overall, a characteristic that boosts the immune system. Grateful people also report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, and lower levels of depression and stress.

"Since I´m a lot happier and healthier now I want to show everyone that it´s a lot easier than they might think," said Katrina Balance. "That´s why I recently started the optimism board at LuvIsTheAnswer.org to help people re-frame things. For an instant jolt of happiness though you might want to read the gratitude board. The real secret to good health and happiness though is in writing out your gratitude and optimism for the whole world to see, even if you remain anonymous, because that helps others remember things they are grateful for as well. Which leads to the other secret to good health and happiness, helping others."

LuvIsTheAnswer.org, a site dedicated to peace, love and joy, has chat, message boards, and now a blog dedicated to gratitude (GivingLuv.com gratitude blog) an optimism board, and so much more. For more information you can visit the optimism board at http://www.LuvIsTheAnswer.org/optimism.html or the gratitude board at http://www.GivingLuv.com.