Having positive emotions can be a powerful antidote to stress, pain and illness. Whether people who are happier tend to perform more healthful behaviors like exercising more, eating well and getting enough sleep, or whether those who exercise more, eat better and sleep well are happier the end result is the same, better health over all.

Many people find it easy to be positive most of the time. Perhaps they are genetically predisposed to walk on the sunny side of the street, or perhaps they were raised to always see the glass as half full. Then there are those who have to work a little harder to remind themselves to see themselves and the world in a positive light. The good news is, is that no matter how you achieve this positivity the end result is the same: better health.

The first step to becoming more positive person and better health is to reflect on how you currently treat yourself. Try to understand your emotions and how they make you feel physically. Once you have a better grasp on these emotions, work on improving how you perceive the causes of these emotions; work on improving the respect you have for yourself and feel your health improve.