Everything that we do begins and ends with a thought. Some of us are genetically programmed to look on the bright side but a large number of people have tendencies to always look for the negative aspect of everything. This habit causes anxiety. If you are geared this way, you may be having a great day and think about one negative possibility and it shoots your whole day down. All of a sudden everything seems hopeless. There are ways to combat this tendency.

I have to say here that I am not attempting to remedy clinical depression. That is a serious issue that must be addressed with your physician. I cannot diagnose or treat any medical or psychiatric disorder. These are merely tools to help brighten a bad mood because our bodies follow our minds. Unless we learn how to control our thoughts, we will never be able to control our bodies. The desperation of the negative mindset will permeate our existence and we will forever be trying quick fixes to make the mental anguish subside. This takes our focus away from our health incentives and practically insures failure in our nutrition and fitness program.

As soon as you realize that you are having a negative thought, stop it, immediately. If you entertain that thought beyond your recognition of it being bad for you, it will take over your mind in that moment. It will then proceed to take over your day. How many days of the limited number that you have on Earth are you willing to give up to wallowing in misery? If you have to say “Stop it!” out loud, do it. You only have one life and this day will never come again.

With your doctor’s permission, get some exercise for Heaven’s sake! Sitting in a dark room perusing every wrong ever committed against you is not the road to health. It’s the road to the drive-thru fast food emporium, the liquor store and the doctor’s office. Get up!

Only associate with people who make you feel good. If you have to work with negative people, don’t join in the negative scuttlebutt. Tune out. Stay busy. Find ways to do your job better. Walk away and don’t gossip. If it’s family members who bring you down, limit their access to you any way possible. Run for your life. Negative people can make your life miserable. Ditch them first chance you get.

Decide who or what makes you feel good and talk to those people and do those things. My favorite dog and sunshine are a sure thing for lifting my mood. Sun is a known anti-depressant. It changes the chemistry of your brain. While I don’t condone tanning, it causes premature aging, about 15 minutes of sunlight can do wonders for your state of mind.

Work hard. Pay your bills. Avoid unnecessary conflict. Think your way through difficulties. Pursue joy with your whole heart, true joy that comes from a healthy life well lived and above all, never ever give up. You are worth the effort.