Constructive suggestions
The metaphysical teacher, Seth, advises keeping yourself pointed in a healthful direction by using an all-purpose affirmation: "I respond only to constructive suggestions, from myself and others." Taken seriously, this declaration can serve as a mental sieve, filtering out the welter of fear-based suggestions that come to you from the news, advertising, your doctor, your associates, and, yes, even yourself, when you're not paying attention.
Because we literally live in the body of our beliefs, setting your mental dial to respond only to constructive suggestions directly affects your body. The Buddha said, "You are what you think." Psychoneuroimmunology has confirmed this in a concrete way by showing that our biochemistry -- the chemical messages that run our bodies -- responds in concert with our emotional states. Reams of scientific research show that mind-body factors -- the focuses of attention that generate the emotions that are reflected in our biochemistry -- affect health more strongly than genetics, or things we believe to be health risk factors, like diet and exercise.
What this means is that our health is a product of our habits of attention. Studies reveal that optimism is strongly health promoting, yet today most health suggestions are given in ways that promote pessimism and fear. "Eat broccoli to avoid cancer. Exercise to avoid heart disease. Search yourself for signs of disease to prevent illness. Prepare for the inevitable physical deterioration of age." This kind of advice wouldn't be allowed through the constructive suggestion filter if you recognized that fearing illness is not a constructive basis for health.
While it should be obvious that suggestions that promote fear do not promote health, common sense has been short-circuited by the culturally-endorsed belief that the best way to stay well is to stay worried. The idea that worrying about your health will keep you healthy is an unconstructive suggestion. When you make a habit of filtering it out, you automatically boost your immunity -- literally and figuratively.
Here are some suggestions for a year of exuberant health: Optimism promotes well being. An optimistic outlook can be learned. Optimism is more fun than pessimism. Fun is better for you than broccoli, exercise, or regular checkups.
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