What is your outlook on life? Is it positive or negative, and does that matter? You can answer such questions yourself with the help of some old school methods. For instance, do you perceive the glass to be half empty or half full?
Of course, it is such a cliche question, but the answer to this question relates to one’s concept of thinking – whether that is positive or negative.
It is a fact that positivity and overall positive thinking have a vital role in the subfield of positive psychology. It is a subfield dedicated to observing and studying the causes of people’s happiness.
According to the research staff at Click Pharmacy, positive thinking can help manage stress and elevate an individual’s overall health as well as well-being.
Most importantly, it can significantly help you encounter feelings of low self-esteem, boost your physical health, and create a better overall outlook on life.
So, what exactly is positive thinking, and how big of a role does it play in one’s mental well-being? Keep reading to find out!
Positive Thinking: What is it?
Due to people misusing the concept of positive thinking, the term has received a ton of backlash during the past few years. Even so, many have created misconceptions regarding the term and whole-heartedly resent it. So, what is positive thinking?
One might be tempted to assume that it means you should see the world through a rainbow lens by ignoring or disregarding the apparent negative aspects of life.
This outlook is common thanks to people telling those with mental disorders to ‘think happy’ to make their conditions disappear. However, the truth is that positive thinking refers to approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook.
To reiterate, positive thinking in no way necessarily means avoiding or ignoring the bad parts of life. Instead, it revolves around the idea of making the most of potentially bad situations.
Similarly, trying to see the best in other people as much as you can, and even viewing yourself and your characteristics in a positive light.
Remember that positive thinking usually begins with self-talk. Self-talk refers to the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that constantly run through your head. Most of the time, automatic thoughts like self-talk can be negative comments about yourself.
But, it can be positive, too. So, one could say that a good amount of self-talk stems from logical thinking. However, in some cases, self-talk arises from misconceptions created thanks to the utter lack of information or expectations forced upon oneself due to preconceived ideas.
Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
Although positive thinking has become a trend of sorts during the past years, there is still some stigma surrounding the phenomenon. The so-called “power of positive thinking” has gained a great deal of following.
However, there is actual evidence to back up the benefits of positivity. According to several empirical research conducted over decades, it has been established that there are a ton of genuine health benefits linked directly to positive thinking as well as optimistic attitudes.
- Increase in life span
- Significantly lower rates of depression
- Relatively lower levels of distress and pain
- Helps form a greater resistance to illnesses
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health
- Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke
- Reduced risk of death from cancer
- Reduced risk of death from respiratory conditions
- Reduced risk of death from different types of infections
- Gain better coping skills during hardships and stressful situations
The Road To Practising Positive Thinking
It is natural to be more prone to negative thinking, but that does not necessarily mean that you can not make changes to your thinking to improve the quality of your life.
Positive psychologists recommend several strategies that you can implement to become a better positive thinker. Furthermore, practising the following techniques regularly can allow you to get in the habit of maintaining a more positive outlook on life.
Keep A Gratitude Journal
It is vital to keep practising gratitude as it can result in a wide range of positive benefits. And, it can even help you learn to develop a better outlook on things. Through this, you can train yourself to be a bit more optimistic.
Only Use Positive Self-talk
Kindness begins within. It is vital to change how you talk to yourself – especially if most of it is negative. Positive self-talk can lead to better self-esteem and can improve emotions significantly. Consequently, the levels of depression, anxiety and such disorder can reduce little by little.
Determine Areas that Require Change
You need to identify problematic aspects of your life – whether that is work or a particular friend. Anything or person that seeps unwanted negativity into your daily life should be altered. It would help if you started small by approaching the tiniest problem that seems easy to resolve and then moving further.
Stop and Evaluate
Throughout the day, make a habit of stopping and evaluating your thoughts. Filter out ones that are deemed unnecessary and try to put a positive spin on the negative thoughts.
Final Word
Positivity can help in almost every part of life. From mental health to physical health, the impact remains beneficial and life-changing. Therefore, implementing positivity and positive thinking into your life is crucial to living a fulfilling and good life.