The last couple of months have held some real challenges for me, both good and bad. I was again reminded of how I am impacted by those people in my life that generate positive energy. I am sure you have all experienced the feeling of increased energy after spending time with someone who is excited about their life and excited about what you are doing in your own. Because of contact with them, you have a lighter step and feel motivated to jump over those hurdles that may be obscuring your goals.

Whenever I think about positive thinking, my mind flies back to that classic Disney movie, Pollyanna, based on Eleanor Hodgman Porter’s 1913 novel. The message illustrated the importance of looking on the bright or positive side. Although we loved Haley Mills in her featured role, the name Pollyanna has morphed into a definition of someone who is foolishly or blindly optimistic. And, nobody wants to be accused of being THAT!

Our attitude in our life is a choice that we make every day whether consciously or not. We also have the choice of whom to spend our precious, spare time with. And, especially at this time in our life, are reviewing options of whom to spend our working hours with.

More and more research is revealing that our state of mind has a tremendous influence on our overall health.

I was recently impressed by a friend who in a group of women at lunch, cut short a conversation that was definitely going in the wrong direction by paraphrasing a quote from one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s poems, “Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people.” Immediately after which, the conversation took a positive turn.

Sometimes a negative or angry attitude becomes habitual and, as we all know, it is difficult to change our behavior once it has become a habit. But, bad habits can be broken and good habits can be developed. Even when our hormones are raging, and sometimes I feel like slapping myself for saying it, “We do have a choice.”

People who choose to grapple with the challenges in their lives from a positive point of view and who are excited about life can open our eyes to new possibilities, new ideas, and get us motivated. I believe that these people are a gift to us. And that we can be a gift to someone else as a result.

Here’s to good health, a motivating group of friends, an open mind, and positively impacting those we love!