Practical Psychology is a weekly newspaper column I have been writing for over 20 years. It is designed to address psychological topics that are most useful to its readers. Please feel free to re-print any of them in any form you wish. I ask only that you give the information about how to subscribe and credit for authorship. Thanks.

INCREASING YOUR VITALITY
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

My grandson, Luke, is two and a half years old. He runs. He runs from place to place. He runs from activity to activity. He runs at the mouth. He runs to Daddy to be picked up. He seems to run throughout the day. He only stops running when he is either watching television or sleeping.

Last week, when we were camping with Luke, I crawled out of my sleeping bag and not only wondered where children get their energetic vitality, I also asked myself where all of mine seems to have gone! As Mark Twain once said, "Youth is wasted on the young."

As we grow older, our youthful, high vitality seems to diminish, often to the point where we can work as hard as we ever could...for about half the time, and it takes twice as long to recover.

Does human vitality always drain out of our bodies, psyches and souls as we become older? Some of the most vital people I've ever met, other than 2-3 year olds, have been in their seventies and eighties! How do they do it? Here are some possible answers.

First of all, they maintain good nutritional habits. They keep the quantity of food intake low. They rarely eat salt, sugar and fat. They eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and grains. Lee Iacocca is reported to have claimed he personally saved the lives of 500 people by telling them to eat a high-fiber diet and supplement it with some type of soluble fiber.

Staying physically fit increases your energy. Regular exercise and rest increases the amount of energy your body produces. When your body produces more energy, you have more energy to use.

Be certain you have met most of your emotional needs for positive attention, closeness, novelty and nurturing. Fulfilling your needs increases your zest for being alive.

Keeping the company of children, and allowing the child aspect of you out to play with them, is an excellent way to upgrade your enthusiasm and fun.

Taking voluntary and conscious control of the changes in your life keeps you from becoming a habitual victim. People who are actively involved in managing their own lives usually enjoy living them.

Work hard. Despite the current rebellion against hard work, working hard and intensely on a given activity increases your sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Get away from work. The old proverb, "All work and no play makes John a dull boy" reflects a vital psychological truth. It is also true about Jane, Sally, you and me. We need to change our life's routine once in a while. If nothing else, it increases our appreciation of the work we do.

High vitality people are always growing, finding some new project to tackle, remaining curious about ideas, and always open to new experiences.

An optimistic attitude creates considerably more vitality than a pessimistic one. Most every high-energy person seems to emanate optimism about life's events.

Increasing your social contacts with interesting friends and colleagues increases your interest in others. Increasing your interest in others is a key to the lock of personal happiness.

Develop your own sense of humor. Learn to tell jokes. Appreciate others' humor. Take your life a little less seriously.

Evolve a personal and guiding philosophy of life. When you see your life in a purposeful context, you create a sense of belonging and freedom.

Finally, celebrate! Auntie Mame was right when she said, "Life is a banquet and most poor bastards are starving to death!" Celebrate your living! Celebrate the lives of others! Sister Corita once wrote on a colorful poster, "Damn everything but the circus!"

Any one of the above suggestions will increase your vitality. Perhaps your 2 and a half year-old running vitality will be rediscovered if you see your life as one great, joyful circus and celebrate its happening every day.

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life Coach and Licensed Psychologist. He is available for coaching in any area presented in "Practical Psychology." Initial coaching sessions are free. Contact him: (970) 568-0173 or E-mail: DrLloyd@CreatingLeaders.com or LJTDAT@aol.com.

Dr. Thomas also serves on the faculty of the Institute For Life Coach Training and the International University of Professional Studies. He recently co-authored (with Patrick Williams) the book: *Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills and Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice*and Your Life!* (W.W. Norton 2005) available at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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