Podcast Center
Video Center
Webcasts
Resource Center
Events
December 28, 2016 at 02:00 AM
It’s sad but true: Americans are becoming overwhelmingly pessimistic. And, there’s no shortage of studies to prove it. From reported data citing that a paltry 6 percent of Americans think the world is getting better to the staggering finding that more than two-thirds of Americans think the country is moving in the wrong direction, all of this negativity is understandably taking its toll.
In fact, this rampant pessimism is taking a major toll as stress and depression loom large across the U.S. The most recent American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey reports over a third of adults are experiencing increased stress over the previous year, while this year the National Center for Health Statistics show suicide rates in America at a 30-year high.
Related: A jaw-dropping sum: mobile app revenue in 2017 [infographic]
Even those seemingly dedicated to making positive changes in their lives systematically fail. For instance, while many lean on New Year’s resolutions in a heartfelt attempt to promote positive life changes, the chances of realizing success are slim.
Reports indicate that upwards of 25 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions will already have failed at keeping them a mere 7 days into January. As for those who managed to outlast the week and stick it out the entire year? That number is a dismal 8 percent.
While the statistics themselves might be depressing, there is hope for those dedicated to making favorable changes. When put into practice, there are three timeless truths that can help people take their focus off their problems in order to lead more positive and productive lives.
Timeless truth No. 1
The first truth is to “think it.” It is widely believed that one’s mind has a powerful influence on the physical body — a belief that can be traced back to Hippocrates in the fourth century.
Scientific data backs up this connection, which even mainstream medicine leverages in a variety of treatments, from biofeedback and cognitive behavioral therapy to simple relaxation techniques. But, you can use this connection quite effectively yourself every day.
To unlock inner greatness at work, at home, in social circles and with other aspects of your life, you have to maintain a transformational, positivity-oriented mindset that’s also open to change and adaptation. The mind has the greatest propensity to enrich our personal growth or limit it.
It has the highest potential to advance our life or destroy it. Tame this tool or realize opportunity loss at best or suffer grave consequences at worst.
Related: How Trump has changed the 2017 outlook
The practice of audible affirmations has a powerful, positive effect that has been recently scientifically documented by several university studies. (Photo: Thinkstock.)
