We often hear about medication, herbs and food as well as a host of other therapies that help in combating illness and boosting immune function, yet often the most powerful factor in fighting this illness is actually our mind, which means our emotions, our mood, our attitudes, thoughts and feelings.
A while ago I met Criselda Kananda from Metro FM who embodies just the type of mental attitude that I am writing about and also reminded me how important this aspect of the fight against HIV and other illnesses is.
Inspired by that meeting I decided to write this email to you, describing 3 mental states and attitudes which no doubt will have a profound effect on the health of not only a person who is HIV positive but of each and every individual in this beautiful world.
Mental attitude has a direct correlation with both physical health and mental fitness. An attitude of fear, indecision, indifference, inflexibility, and negativism produces stress, ill-health and a generally deteriorating set of mental skills.
Studies by the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association have shown that as much as 80% of illness is caused by unhealthy mental attitudes.
Whether you are ill or not these healthy mental attitudes below can help you live a more fulfilling, rewarding and healthy life:
1. Acceptance - Acceptance is more of an attitude and action than a mood and therefore one that is easier to adopt but nevertheless the most essential of all the mental states.
The minute you accept your condition and realise that it does not change who you are, is the moment you move on and realise that yes, you can achieve what you wish in spite of any illness or circumstance you are faced with.
Why should your circumstance stop you? Why should it make you pause on your way?
What does it help to not face up to it? The minute you face up to it, accept it for what it is and continue with your life is the moment you begin bettering yourself and the world around you!
2. Being positive! - I am sure you have heard this many times before and yet it will always remain true, life is what you make of it.
Herbert Samuels said: "The world is like a mirror; frown at it, and it frowns at you. Smile and it smiles, too."
Can you become more optimistic? Can you simply "choose" to think more positively? Yes, you can. The simplest way is to empty your mind, clear it of all fears and anxieties while replacing them with positive thoughts. Declare Independence of negative thinking! Surround yourself with positive people because positivity is contagious. So is pessimism or negativity.
Studies find that people who live with depressed people tend to become depressed themselves. Surrounding yourself with optimistic, positive and supportive people will help you turn occasional optimistic thoughts into a habitual positive way of thinking.
3. Laugh often! - We have all heard the expression: "laughter is the best medicine", but in fact it is more than just an expression or wishful thinking, in the last few decades, researchers have studied laughter's effects on the body and turned up some potentially interesting information on how it affects us:
Blood flow. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects on blood vessels when people were shown either comedies or dramas. After the screening, the blood vessels of the group who watched the comedy behaved normally -- expanding and contracting easily. But the blood vessels in people who watched the drama tended to tense up, restricting blood flow.
Immune response. Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system response. Some studies have shown that the ability to use humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, as well.
Blood sugar levels. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture. 
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