The power of positive thinking is an ever present and popular concept. It is something much greater than just being happy and putting on a smile. Positive thinking is about making the best out of situations that might not be ideal, seeing the good in other people, and most importantly, viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light. Positive thinking not only can transform your mental life by boosting your daily happiness levels, but a more positive mindset can also extend your physical health.
Researchers are finding more and more evidence pointing towards the many benefits of positive thinking. These studies suggest that positive thinkers are healthier, less stressed, and their well-being overall is greater. There are also links to a wide range of other health benefits that include:
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- Better psychological health
- Lower rates of depression
- Increased physical well-being
- Better resilience
- Increased immunity
When faced with a stressful situation, positive thinkers tend to cope more effectively. Rather than assume the situation is out of their hands or dwell on their frustrations, positive thinkers develop an action plan and are not afraid to reach out for help.
While positive thinking may come naturally for some people, for others, like those with anxiety it requires a conscious effort. With a little bit of work, negative thoughts can be transformed in to positive thoughts, and there are so many reasons to start cultivating these today.
Here are some simple self help things you can do:
Gratitude Journal
One of the best ways to invite positivity in to your life is by practicing gratitude. By focusing on the negatives, we tend to forget about all the positive things. A great way to practice gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. Every day list several things that you are grateful for. When you are feeling down, go back to your journal and fill your mind with all the positive things you have written.
Separate Yourself from Negative Thoughts
The most challenging but most effective exercise you can do is to remove the negative thoughts all together. If you focus on your thought process, you can begin to recognize when negative thoughts occur. When this happens, stop yourself and try to reframe the thought in a more positive way. The more you try, the easier it will become over time to reach that positive state and who knows, one day you might catch yourself thinking positively with no prompting at all!
Meditation
Meditation is an invaluable tool that anyone can tap into to become more mindful and aware of themselves and their surroundings. By committing just five or ten minutes each day to the practice of meditation, we can reap countless benefits, from improved mental clarity to lowered stress levels, and even reduced symptoms of depression or anxiety.
These simple steps are a great way to help you start turning your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Sometimes our negative thoughts require a little bit more help to overcome, especially if we also suffer from depression. In these situations, it is importing to reach out to a medical professional for help. They can suggest therapy and/or ketamine treatments to get you on a more positive track.
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