7 Ways to Spread Hope & Health (instead of fear or germs)

The world needs healthy people. And that includes your emotions, which affect your body (and immune system).

In times of crisis, you have a choice: contribute to the problem or contribute to the solution. Being part of the solution includes more than finding answers. It includes how you approach the crisis, how you manage your reactions, and how you deal with people.

As I write this, the world faces a pandemic. This new coronavirus spreads quickly, and so do the uncertainty and doubt that go with it. Most people don’t think or act well when under stress or feeling panicky. What about you? Are you contributing to stress and panic? Or are you spreading reassurance and encouragement? Your reactions affect everyone around you.

Positive emotions (such as awe, happiness, contentment, and gratitude) boost the immune system. Negative emotions and stress increase cortisol, which inhibits the immune system. So, you can literally make the world a healthier place when you manage your response and communicate hope and wellness instead of fear.

Here are 7 ways to do that:

1. Build your immunity to the negative.

Watch what goes on in your own head, first. When you find yourself ruminating on worries or…