By Danice Akiyoshi, N.D.

Danice Akiyoshi

A Letter From C.J.

Q:  I am a senior citizen.  I am wondering how to overcome a constant negative focus on my health issues.  These issues are both real and imaginary.  My poor health consumes my thoughts, and I feel depressed.  I don’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling this way.  Please help.

A:  It’s important to understand that where you place your focus in life is where you will have the most growth.  If you focus on negative matters, your negative concerns will seem to expand.   My guess is that you don’t have enough balance in your life.  Constantly looking at a problem is not as helpful as concentrating on a solution.  Try to balance your worry with some activities that bring you joy.  Just because you are a senior citizen, does not mean you have to start preparing for a life filled with illness.  Better yet, it’s time to plan for as much enjoyment as possible.  Shift your thoughts to people and situations that bring laughter into your life.  Release the ones that bring you upset and grief.  This is very important. If you are sitting around watching television as your main activity, you are taking on a lot of negativity from the news and being exposed to lots of commercials relating to health disorders.  Free yourself from all the negative feedback and visit some healthy and happy friends and family instead.  If visiting is too hard, then invite them to visit you, but don’t weigh the conversation down with your health concerns.  Altering your point of view will alter your life.  I hope you realize the choice is yours to make.

Danice Akiyoshi is a Naturopathic Doctor and the head of Candid Coaching Service. She offers personal coaching services relating to all types of issues and concerns. This is a letter she received from an anonymous reader. To send a question to Danice, email her atstraighttalk@candidcoachingservices.com. You can also visit her website at http://www.candidcoachingservices.com.