Law Of Life

As a young man, Norman Vincent Peale had a difficult time coping with tough problems in his life. He took his problems to a trusted friend, and asked, “Why can’t I cope with these problems?” The friend suggested, “Maybe it’s because you are not grateful enough.” Peale was perplexed. What did he mean?

The older friend explained the law of life: focus on your troubles and they will multiply; count your blessings and your life will grow more and more joyous.

“Become less of a complainer and more of a thanks-giver. Then your problems will get managed.” When you thank God or another, your heart expands. This strengthens the immune system. Medical research indicates that positive emotions like love and gratitude enhance the immune system, the body’s shield against disease and illness. Our mental attitude has a direct bearing on the immune system. Positive feelings of gratitude and joy release endorphins into the bloodstream, the body’s natural painkillers. They are said to stimulate dilation of blood vessels and relax the cardiac muscles. You become strong.

However, negative emotions such as anger, grief and bitterness dump high levels of adrenaline in the blood, constricting blood to the heart; it slows down movement of white blood cells which fight disease.

Gratitude releases happy hormones and inhibits ‘unhappy’ hormones in our system so we can live longer and healthier lives.