Our thoughts can keep us young and healthy or age us quickly and make us sick. Research shows that a positive attitude can lead to a longer, healthier life, while negative thinking can have dire effects.

Nothing can age you quicker than negativity. Scientists have found that certain negative thought patterns can shorten telomeres (sequences of DNA - chains of chemical code), leading to cells aging and dying earlier, increasing the risk of disease and, ultimately, death).

Negative Thinking Harms The Brain

Researchers at King's College London found that a habit of prolonged negative thinking diminishes your brain's ability to think, reason, and form memories. Essentially draining your brain's resources. Another study reported that cynical thinking also produces a greater dementia risk.

Negativity also leads to stress and stress leads to increased blood pressure and sleep disruptions. Sleep deprivation is linked to speeding-up the aging process, reduced skin elasticity, uneven pigmentation and under-eye puffiness (bags).

How To Change Your Thoughts

While it is impossible to turn back the hands of time, there are some things we can do to slow down the aging process. And one thing is, change our thought process, and avoid negative thoughts like the plague

When negative thoughts come, and they will, don't just ignore them. Instead: Pay attention. Stop what you are doing. Close your eyes if you need to. Replace the negative thought with a positive thought.

Hold that positive thought in your mind for a full minute, or more.

Think on these things:

Think on things that are true and honest, instead of the lies and deceits we are hearing so much of today. Dwell on what is noble and right - your actions will follow your thoughts. Feed your mind with whatever is pure, lovely and admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

Search for the good, rather than the bad in others. Look for the beauty in all things, and direct your attention to those things and think on them. Contemplate on worthy and excellent things.

If you're having trouble in your business, start seeing your business taking off and new customers showing up. Are you sick or ailing? Start seeing yourself healthy and full of energy, living a long, healthy life. If you use your mind the right way, it will help you stay positive and filled with hope.

Refrain From Complaining

Complaining Rewires our Brain for Negativity. Complaining makes you a magnet of negativity.

When you complain, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. All the cortisol released by frequent complaining impairs your immune system and makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It even makes the brain more vulnerable to strokes.

One study found that engaging in complaining or simply hearing someone complain for more than 30 minutes could physically damage your heath and your brain.

Go for a whole week without complaining. Not even once. If you relapse, start over. When you go for a week without complaining, everything around you will change; people, situations, and your attitude.

Resist Talking Bad About People

Talking bad about other's makes our heart hard. Plus, we fill with great negativity while looking at the bad, wrong or weaknesses in other people.

The best way to deal with this type of behavior is to confront it immediately and nip in the bud.

Be mindful of what it feels like to resist a negative urge (gossiping) and how relatively easy it is to replace it with a positive one (kindness).

Distance Yourself From Negative People

Avoid negative people when possible. Negative people will suck all the energy out of you. Negative people will drag you down with them to the dark side. They will impact your way of thinking and you will soon realize you will be thinking the same way as them.

Negative people are tremendously good at discouraging. Someone has well said that discouragement is a darkroom where the negatives of fear and failure are developed. They're like a drink of water to a drowning man. They can brighten up a room by leaving it. They leave you drained and depressed.

Choose your company wisely.

"Do not let anyone lead you astray. "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33. Good character, good manners, good habits.

This not to say that you should not help someone, instead encourage them and try to lift them up, but do not hang around them.

Conclusion

It's easy to dwell on the negative when life is hard, disappointing, or painful. So, choose to redirect your thoughts when you "begin" to get down. Replace those negative thoughts with things that are good - things that are positive.

Face your problems head-on, do you succumb to negative thoughts. By choosing good thoughts, you'll become healthier and more vibrant in your aging years.

When you change your thinking, your whole life will change.

Have a wonderful, positive, lovely thought filled life.