Improve Your Mindset, Improve Your Health
2024-06-18
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2Prince Bhojwani never thought of himself as a negative person.
3But three trips to the hospital in one month led him to reconsider his thoughts, or mindset, toward life.
4Before May of 2018, he was healthy.
5He was living in New York City, working at a startup company he founded.
6He found time to ride his bicycle each day.
7Yet Bhojwani always felt worried.
8One day, his health began to suffer.
9He could barely walk.
10He could not see clearly.
11And his blood pressure suddenly increased greatly.
12At a hospital emergency room, doctors suspected he had had a stroke.
13But they never could find the cause of his illness.
14A close friend pointed out that Bhojwani had a negative mindset.
15He often lacked the belief that things would go well.
16The friend suggested that Bhojwani might be burned out.
17Bhojwani describes this friend as "one of the most optimistic people" he knows.
18Bhojwani said that he "started looking at the world very differently..." as soon as recovered.
19He started deep, calm, purposeful breathing.
20He started taking time every morning to feel thankful to be alive.
21And he also found purpose in his life by co-founding a nonprofit, Asana Voices, a South Asian support organization.
22In the years since, he has not had any similar health problems.
23He credits his new positive mindset.
24"After there was a life-changing event," he said, "it kind of forced me to become optimistic. I can't even imagine living life the way I did back then."
25Numerous studies over the years have shown a link between a positive mindset and good health.
26Experts say a standard for measuring someone's optimism has long been the 10-question Life Orientation Test (Revised), published in 1994.
27Questions from that test include:
28In uncertain times, I usually expect the best.
29It's easy for me to relax.
30I rarely count on good things happening to me.
31Respondents answer using a scale of zero to four.
32Zero means you "strongly disagree" with the statement and 4 means you "strongly agree" with the statement.
33"Optimism means the "expectation that good things will happen, or believing the future will be favorable because we can control important outcomes," said Hayami Koga.
34She is a researcher at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.
35She was the lead writer on a 2022 study that found optimism was linked to longer lives and a greater chance of living past the age of 90.
36In another study, published in May in JAMA Psychiatry, Koga and other researchers found that optimists generally stayed in better physical health as they aged.
37Over a six-year period, the researchers looked at 5,930 women who had all gone through menopause.
38"We know that more optimistic people are more likely to live a healthier life, with healthier habits, eating healthier, having more exercise," Koga said.
39Some people are born more optimistic.
40However, it can be learned, said Sue Varma.
41She is a professor of psychiatry at New York University.
42She also wrote the book "Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being."
43Varma noted that her book builds upon the work of Martin Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology.
44Optimism training, Varma said, can improve life satisfaction and reduce worry.
45She told the Associated Press that some people are not naturally positive. They are more pessimistic.
46However, they can learn skills to help see the world more in a more positive way.
47Varma said that even for people who do not naturally "see the glass half full, there are skills that you can learn."
48Someone who "sees the glass half full" views a situation with hope or optimism.
49Someone who "sees the glass half empty" is more negative or pessimistic about a situation.
50So, what skills should glass half-empty people learn to become more optimistic?
51Begin by noticing how you deal with uncertainty, Varma said.
52Do you worry and wait for the worst to happen?
53If you do, then try to re-think the situation in a different way.
54Varman suggests asking yourself some questions.
55Is there a silver lining, or something good about the situation?
56Is this a problem to be solved or a truth to be accepted?"
57Varma then suggests imagining the best possible result and a step-by-step path to get there.
58Varma asks her patients to describe those steps in detail until the problem is resolved.
59Then she tells her patients to celebrate their success.
60The result is that people may become more positive and better prepared to deal with difficulties and struggles.
61Finding a sense of purpose can also help. Volunteering is a good choice for some.
62For those who may not have the time for volunteering, Varma suggests bringing your interests to your day job.
63That could be as simple as organizing outings with co-workers.
64Another suggestion is to learn something new.
65Whether it is a sport, musical instrument or a language, learning a new skill can help keep your mind from thinking too much about negative situations or possibilities.
66Even with these and other methods, Varma noted that changing your mindset is not easy.
67But practice helps.
68"It's a toolset. It's a mindset," she said, adding that it is something she practices every day.
69And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Dan Friedell.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2Prince Bhojwani never thought of himself as a negative person. But three trips to the hospital in one month led him to reconsider his thoughts, or mindset, toward life. 3Before May of 2018, he was healthy. He was living in New York City, working at a startup company he founded. He found time to ride his bicycle each day. Yet Bhojwani always felt worried. One day, his health began to suffer. He could barely walk. He could not see clearly. And his blood pressure suddenly increased greatly. 4At a hospital emergency room, doctors suspected he had had a stroke. But they never could find the cause of his illness. 5A close friend pointed out that Bhojwani had a negative mindset. He often lacked the belief that things would go well. The friend suggested that Bhojwani might be burned out. Bhojwani describes this friend as "one of the most optimistic people" he knows. 6Bhojwani said that he "started looking at the world very differently..." as soon as recovered. He started deep, calm, purposeful breathing. He started taking time every morning to feel thankful to be alive. And he also found purpose in his life by co-founding a nonprofit, Asana Voices, a South Asian support organization. 7In the years since, he has not had any similar health problems. He credits his new positive mindset. 8"After there was a life-changing event," he said, "it kind of forced me to become optimistic. I can't even imagine living life the way I did back then." 9A longer, healthier life? 10Numerous studies over the years have shown a link between a positive mindset and good health. 11Experts say a standard for measuring someone's optimism has long been the 10-question Life Orientation Test (Revised), published in 1994. 12Questions from that test include: 13In uncertain times, I usually expect the best. 14It's easy for me to relax. 15I rarely count on good things happening to me. 16Respondents answer using a scale of zero to four. Zero means you "strongly disagree" with the statement and 4 means you "strongly agree" with the statement. 17"Optimism means the "expectation that good things will happen, or believing the future will be favorable because we can control important outcomes," said Hayami Koga. She is a researcher at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies. 18She was the lead writer on a 2022 study that found optimism was linked to longer lives and a greater chance of living past the age of 90. 19In another study, published in May in JAMA Psychiatry, Koga and other researchers found that optimists generally stayed in better physical health as they aged. Over a six-year period, the researchers looked at 5,930 women who had all gone through menopause. 20"We know that more optimistic people are more likely to live a healthier life, with healthier habits, eating healthier, having more exercise," Koga said. 21Can I learn to be an optimist? 22Some people are born more optimistic. However, it can be learned, said Sue Varma. She is a professor of psychiatry at New York University. She also wrote the book "Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being." 23Varma noted that her book builds upon the work of Martin Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology. 24Optimism training, Varma said, can improve life satisfaction and reduce worry. She told the Associated Press that some people are not naturally positive. They are more pessimistic. However, they can learn skills to help see the world more in a more positive way. 25Varma said that even for people who do not naturally "see the glass half full, there are skills that you can learn." Someone who "sees the glass half full" views a situation with hope or optimism. Someone who "sees the glass half empty" is more negative or pessimistic about a situation. 26So, what skills should glass half-empty people learn to become more optimistic? 27Begin by noticing how you deal with uncertainty, Varma said. Do you worry and wait for the worst to happen? If you do, then try to re-think the situation in a different way. Varman suggests asking yourself some questions. Is there a silver lining, or something good about the situation? Is this a problem to be solved or a truth to be accepted?" 28Varma then suggests imagining the best possible result and a step-by-step path to get there. Varma asks her patients to describe those steps in detail until the problem is resolved. Then she tells her patients to celebrate their success. The result is that people may become more positive and better prepared to deal with difficulties and struggles. 29Finding a sense of purpose can also help. Volunteering is a good choice for some. For those who may not have the time for volunteering, Varma suggests bringing your interests to your day job. That could be as simple as organizing outings with co-workers. 30Another suggestion is to learn something new. Whether it is a sport, musical instrument or a language, learning a new skill can help keep your mind from thinking too much about negative situations or possibilities. 31Even with these and other methods, Varma noted that changing your mindset is not easy. But practice helps. 32"It's a toolset. It's a mindset," she said, adding that it is something she practices every day. 33And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Dan Friedell. 34Albert Stumm reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 35_________________________________________________ 36Words in This Story 37negative - adj. not positive or helpful 38mindset - n. a mental inclination, tendency, or habit 39burned out - phrasal verb worn out 40optimistic - adj. expecting everything to come out all right : hopeful 41menopause - n. the natural cessation of menstruation that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 42habit - n. a way of behaving that has become fixed by being repeated often 43psychiatry - n. a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders 44pessimistic - adj. expecting everything to NOT come out all right : not hopeful 45glass half full - idiom viewing the situation optimistically or hopefully : glass half empty (opposite) viewing the situation pessimistically or without hope 46silver lining - n. a consoling or hopeful prospect 47We want to hear from you. 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