Rain, shine, sleet or snow… you can choose to feel good.

We say it at MOBE over and over again: the things you think about matter. Your thoughts and feelings, which you ultimately control, directly affect your physical well-being. That’s because happiness, positivity and all those other things that make your day better impact your whole body through the release of hormones and brain chemicals. A University of Michigan study found that optimistic retirees had a 73% lower risk of heart failure compared with those who were pessimistic.

An optimistic perspective naturally encourages people to adopt healthier habits like eating right, managing their stress and exercising. That’s not always easy, but that’s also why we have each other. Turning to friends or family and forging happy, healthy relationships cause your body to produce more cytokines—powerful natural healing compounds.

So whether the sun is shining outside your window, or the view is blocked by drifting snow…. you can choose to smile. It’s contagious and it looks good on anyone.

For more:

University of Michigan: Optimism associated with lower risk of heart failure.