HEALTH & WELLNESS
You are what you think
“Positive emotions, such as optimism, are associ-
ated with better immune function.”
– Andrew Weil, MD
How many times have you said to yourself: I need
to lose weight, I just won’t have cake, I’ll eat more
fruit, I’ll join the gym, I’ll try Weight Watchers, South
Beach, Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig diet? I wish I was
thinner, taller, had more hair and of course, differ-
MICHAEL
ent colored eyes. Are we ever satisfied?
BIZZARRO,
Ask yourself the following questions: Are you hap-
PHD, LCSW py with who you are? Do you often wish you were
someone else? Are you satisfied with where you are
in life at this exact moment in time? The optimist views this as an
opportunity, while the pessimist sees difficulty in every opportu-
nity. Everyone has asked themselves questions such as these. The
real question becomes: What are you willing to do about it? Re-
member, the very first step in the process of change is awareness.
How do you see yourself and what messages do you tell your-
self?
When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Ask
yourself, can I change what I see? It is all about your belief sys-
tem and the thoughts you tell yourself. Remember: What you
think, you are. When we promise ourselves that we are going to
do something and then choose not to do it, we have just planted
a seed of negativity.
Think how often you have engaged in negative thinking. Your
perception is directly related to what you think, feel and do. Peo-
ple with a positive attitude have a clear and accurate perception
of who they are and how they look. They accept themselves and
understand that physical appearances say little about character.
They spend very little time worrying about how they look, or how
much they weigh and what other people may think. They feel
comfortable and confident about who they are.
Individuals who engage in negative thinking often have a poor
self-image. They often feel ashamed, self-conscious, depressed
and anxious. They are convinced that their body is a personal fail-
ure. Unfortunately, they don’t stop there; they see themselves as a
failure. People tend to engage in a dialogue between their positive
and negative self, a process known as self-talk. For example, our
mind is like a tape recorder; it records everything we say, think
and hear. If you engage in negative thinking, this tape will remind
you of your past failures and future fears. More importantly, you
will believe the messages on the tape.
How does this relate to your physical health?
Our mind is a complex organ that experiences every con-
scious and unconscious experience. Research suggests that our
thoughts and feelings are the result of a continuous interaction
between our body, mind and environment. These constant inter-
actions influence brain chemistry which in turn influences our
feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Our bodies are not much differ-
ent; the food we put in will either optimize or minimize how we
feel, think and act. In a sense, we are not only what we think; we
are what we eat.
It’s all about attitude: Create positive expectations for healthy
living.
Mental expectations can influence medical outcomes. When
we believe we are in good care and that we will recover, that atti-
tude has a positive effect on the medical outcome.
We all have days when we are feeling down in the dumps. The
key is developing and maintaining a positive mindset. Although
not easy, with daily practice your thinking and attitude will be-
gin to change. When your self-talk changes, so will your thoughts,
feelings and overall wellbeing.
The following exercises will be helpful in changing your
thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behavior.
• Make a list of five things you like about yourself and look at
them every day.
• Try to incorporate the concept of “one day at a time.” Try not
to project into the future. Most projections are fear based. A
helpful exercise with this concept is looking at where your feet
are and seeing where your head is. Chances are that they are
not in the same place.
• Make a commitment to yourself to eat healthier foods. Re-
member, eating late at night interferes with a good night’s
sleep, and forces your body to work when it needs rest. Start
an exercise program that you can commit to. Don’t set your-
self up to fail by setting unrealistic goals.
Although you may not have control over what thought pops
into your head, you do have control over how long you entertain
it. d
Dr. Michael Bizzarro, PhD, LCSW, BCD, is director of clinical ser-
vices for first responder treatment services at Princeton House Be-
havioral Health. To learn more about treatment services available
at Princeton House, call 888-437-1610 (outpatient) or 800-242-
2550 (inpatient) or visit princetonhouse.org.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ MAY 2018 89