The power of positivity. Why smiling through the situation will make all the difference…
Last week we said we have some exciting news coming up. Before we get into that, we wanted to cover a remarkable feat by a Kenyan man called Eliud Kipchoge.
We consider it a marvel when a marathon, a distance of 26.2 miles, is run in less than 4 hours. I certainly couldn’t achieve that! And yet, the incredible Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon in less than 2 hours (1:59:40 to be precise)! I gather the record doesn’t officially count due to the methods he used, however it is still a great achievement.
The power of positivity
Eliud used the power of positivity to get through the pain and relax during the race by smiling. Science suggests that making a facial expression may result in us experiencing the emotional state we associate with that expression. So, smiling, even when things are tough, creates a greater feeling of positivity and happiness.
One scientific study, published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, even found that runners were 2.8% more efficient when smiling than frowning [1]! Similar findings are also true when ‘faking it’. And sporting a smile, even when you don’t feel like it, can be learned. So when you’re feeling low, we recommend giving smiling a go; and the goofier the better! 🤪
Pete
Recently I was gifted a small, knitted potato which is holding a sign saying, ‘Positive Potato’. It is supposed to be a silly reminder to be positive. I named him Pete the Positive Potato. Although, whenever I looked at him, it was hard to feel positive as he wasn’t smiling! So, I took out my needle and thread and gave him an enormous, gaping smile. Now whenever I look at him, I chuckle to myself and he certainly lifts my mood! Here’s the new and improved Pete.
African marvels
Speaking of African marvels, I will be trekking up Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Eastern Africa, in 3 weeks’ time. I will be remembering Pete and using the power of positivity to grimace my way through the pain of reaching the highest peak in Africa.
Kilimanjaro is a snow-capped volcano standing at 5,895m. All going well, it will be the highest altitude I have ever reached as it is 531m higher than Everest Base Camp, at 5,364m, to which I trekked in 2019 for Marmalade Trust, a leading loneliness charity.
Wish me luck!
Mental Health Getaway understand that not everyone will be able to use our paid services and whilst we issue a lot of information for free, such as these newsletters, social media posts, free talks and initial 1-2-1 consultations, we also want to support access to other free forms of mental health support.
As such, we are raising money for the Mental Health Charity, Mind. We realise that it is a tough time financially right now, however if you would like to donate, we would appreciate even a small token, such as £5, to support their good work. You can donate here.
Given that I have arthritis in my feet from wear and tear (too many mountains, perhaps!?), and could barely walk due to the pain 2 months ago, there is a chance I may not make it to the summit. So any financial help, or words of encouragement, that you can give will no-doubt spud me on! 🥔 😂 Get it!? Don’t forget to Gift Aid it!
I will leave Pete the Positive Potato safely at home so he can continue his good work of helping me feel more positive on my return.
Until next time, remember to power through the pain with positivity and flash yourself a little smile. 😊
Well wishes,
Andie x
[1] The effects of facial expression and relaxation cues on movement economy, physiological, and perceptual responses during running
Brick et al, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 34, January 2018, Pages 20-28
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1469029217303461
Image: from Freepik