by Lee

Created on: June 21, 2009

How do you keep smiling when a skin rash makes you want to scratch your flesh off? How do you laugh when a runny nose makes you wish you had a faucet in your head that you could turn on full blast to get rid of the mucus all at once? You can start by realizing that the way you think about an event or a stressor will influence your feelings and behaviors (both inward and outward). When you first notice the event or stressor (e.g., some shortness of breath), slow down your thought processes and relax for a few moments. You have control of how you want to think about it. Instead of saying to yourself, Oh no, here comes another asthma attack! say, I can handle this. I'm going to slow down now, take some deep breaths, and visualize the opening and relaxing of my bronchial tubes. Remember to keep the stressor or event in perspective, and make plans for the best way to handle the situation.

Besides taking control of your thoughts, try laughing more (unless this happens to be an asthma trigger for you). Increasing your laugh-per-minute ratio is a great way to put yourself in a positive frame of mind. Allow yourself to laugh more, and look for opportunities to do so. Read joke books, see funny movies, and watch silly sitcoms. Ask people if they have any good jokes to tell you. If your friends send you jokes and comics via the Internet, print them out, and save them for future tickling of the funny bone. Stand out on the lawn in your bathing suit with your arms spread and the sprinklers going full blast. Participate in fun events like Halloween parties or sing-a-longs. Or start the dress-like-your-favorite-character-from-'Star Trek' day at work. Live a little; it will increase your positivity quotient!
Here are some other ways to generate positive thoughts and feel good about yourself:

- Volunteer at a senior citizens center.
- Participate in a wilderness cleanup project.
- Help serve meals to the homeless.
- Mentor a disadvantaged youngster.
- Play with your kids.
- Visit a beautiful garden.
- Create your own beautiful garden.
- Exercise.
- Meditate.
- Read something uplifting.
- Call your mother.
- Make something by hand.
- Count your blessings.

Finally, adopt a positive philosophy about life. Instead of wondering if the glass is half full or half empty, just grab that glass and start drinking! Positive thinking won't magically eliminate your symptoms, but it will help ease the way and make everything seem a little (or a lot) better.

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