October 10^th was World Mental Health Day, established in 1992 to raise awareness of mental health challenges, reduce stigma, and mobilize efforts to improve care worldwide. Each year, it reminds us that mental well-being is just as essential as physical health—and that none of us are alone in our struggles.

As the founder of the worldwide Inclusive Health movement, this mission resonates deeply with me. I have seen over and over again how our mental outlook affects our health. That’s why I believe that mindset is medicine.

Years ago, a patient came to see me for a routine checkup. Physically, they were perfectly healthy—but nevertheless, they were visibly distressed. When I asked what was wrong, they listed a string of small frustrations: traffic, a minor disagreement with a friend, arriving late to work. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to leave them upset.

I listened, and then I gently said:
“You’re healthy. You’re here. You’re loved. Why not choose a good day?”

That simple phrase stayed with me. And it stayed with them.

Over the years, I’ve shared that same thought with countless others, and I’ve come to realize how powerful it can be. We often can’t control what happens around us—but we can choose how we experience it. And when we choose to shift our perspective, something remarkable happens in the body.

A positive mindset is more than a nice idea—it’s good medicine. Choosing acceptance, optimism, gratitude, or joy—even in small ways—creates a cascade of benefits:

• Stress hormones like cortisol go down, allowing the body to heal and restore.
• The immune system becomes stronger and more resilient.
• The heart benefits—blood pressure lowers, circulation improves, and risk of disease decreases.
• The brain works better—focus, memory, and creativity all sharpen.
• And ultimately, positivity helps us live longer, healthier lives.

This doesn’t mean ignoring pain, grief, or real struggles. It means giving yourself permission, whenever possible, to notice the good alongside the difficult. To reframe the minor annoyances of daily life and put them in perspective. To transform stress into eustress. I have a friend who calls this “the equanimity challenge.” How much “upset” can you allow in your day without losing your sense of well-being?

In honor of World Mental Health Day, I want to encourage you to try this simple shift: The next time you start to let the little things get you down, pause and ask yourself—Why have a bad day when you can have a good day?

Sometimes, the answer is as simple as taking a deep breath, smiling at a stranger, calling a loved one, listening to your favorite music, going for a run, or reminding yourself of what’s already going right.

Mindset, after all, is medicine. And joy, even in the smallest doses, is one of the most powerful prescriptions we can give ourselves.

That’s #ModernWellness!

P.S. To help my patients begin each day with a positive mindset, I created this set of 11 positive Insight cards. In a clinical study of 40 patients over four weeks, daily focus on these 11 cards reduced patients’ stress as measured by heart rate and the perceived stress scale. Why have a bad day when you can have a good day?