As a physiologist when I see the letters ACTH, what comes to mind is Adreno-Cortico-Tropic Hormone. ACTH is a hormone thats principal function is to stimulate the production and release of Cortisol. You may have heard of Cortisol, it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Stress Hormone’. While having very important functions, too much or chronic stimulation of Cortisol has huge implications on your health. So let’s turn this puppy on its head and use the acronym for good affect and reducing our Cortisol levels to boot.
A: Acknowledge what is right. Notice positive events during the day. Too often we only focus on what goes wrong, and often allow this to become disproportionately important. Days or weeks later we usually laugh about these events, so why let them seem so serious at the time, it’s your choice. Celebrate little successes or everyday events all the time.
C: Create positive events or happiness in others. If there aren’t any positive events, make it happen. Random acts of kindness, they don’t cost anything. If you’re able help and give to others, do it, no matter how insignificant it may seem, it may not be to that person.
T: Turn it around. One of my closest friends lives by this credo. Negative events happen, that’s undeniable, but, even in the worst of situations, can you re-frame it? Take the negative event, and see if you can learn anything from it? Use it as a teaching experience or a springboard for action. Look for the silver lining to even the darkest cloud.
H: Honour your own strengths. We all have strengths, but we often aren’t very good at recognising our own worth. You are your strengths, be proud of them. We live in an extremely competitive world where negativity is used as leverage, so that’s what we tend to focus on. But once again it’s disproportionate, we are all generally doing the best we can, so give yourself a break and forget the minor mishaps or mistakes and appreciate your achievements, no matter how small.
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