Yes it's not about just positive thinking or faith but more about making informed decisions based on professional guidance .... not fantasy or fairy tales.

A positive outlook and/or faith may not help avoid contact with the virus.  NAd the jury is (imo) still out on whether they help the immune response.

But they certainly help.  THey change how we respond to the world around us, both the good and the bad.  Even if they don't keep us physically healthy, they help keep us psychically healthy.

I believe that a positive outlook can help us heal if we are ill.  Once when very ill in hospital my physician actually told me that I had to concentrate on myself  and forget all other worries in my life if I was to heal. I believe positive thinking can have a big effect on our health. Faith can also play a role in helping us remain positive.

As far as the current flu situation and the flu shots are concerned, the best we can do is follow best practices as we have been advised by the medical community.......as jes stated, make informed decisions with professional guidance.

imho, there is simply no amount of positive thinking that will prevent your body from succumbing to the h1n1 virus if it crosses the barrier...

I agree with you sigh!

Above I was just saying that sometimes staying positive might help us fight it a bit better, and being grouchy never  helped any one, did it?

A positive attitude, low stress, a good diet and enough rest are all proven factors to avoid and fight illness.  Faith and prayer are not.

However you want to achieve a positive frame of mind will work fine.  If prayer is what does it for you, then do that.  If thinking of bunnies in meadows does it, dream of large bunnies in especially lush meadows.

I like to think of large bunnies....

... in mushroom gravy.

Yes, attitude can help.

See "The Cure WIthin" - Dr. Anne Harrington

I read some reviews on Dr. Harrington's book and it sounds very interesting....think I'll give it a try.

I misunderstood once when I heard that a cold is only contagious for 3 days, I thought that a cold only lasts 3 days.  I've never had a cold that has lasted for more than 3 days.

My positive thinking in reference to H1N1 is that if only 1/3 of all people who come in contact with H1N1 will contract it, Somekid is 1/3 of my household and he has the flu, so he is the only one who will get it.

 With onions too....  For the immune system.

Research into positive thinking and cancer has proven hands down that positive thinking and cancer remission do not  necessarily correlate. 

 jlin, I've seen that study and it looked well done.  That said, if you are stressing about catching the flu, especially if you are losing sleep over it that would probably have a negative impact on your immune system making you susceptible to whatever you are exposed to, including the flu.

A positive outlook probably doesn't help much, but a negative one probably makes it worse.  A positive outlook when you are sick also might make you feel physically better, even if you don't get over it any quicker.

The local Christian Science congregation has a big banner advertising an upcoming lecture which states you can be safe from contagion through faith. Scary.

Or you can take this Catholic church's approach with its new Holy water dispensers: