Do you see your glass as half-full or half-empty? How you respond to this age-old issue about positive thinking may indicate your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic — and it could even have an impact on your health.
Indeed, some research suggests that personality traits like optimism and pessimism may have an impact on a number of health and well-being factors. Positive thinking, which is frequently connected with optimism, is a crucial component of effective stress management. And good stress management has been linked to a host of health benefits. If you’re a skeptic, don’t worry; positive thinking skills can be developed.
Positive thinking does not involve burying one’s head in the sand and disregarding the negative aspects of life. Positive thinking simply refers to how you tackle difficult problems in a more positive and constructive way. You hope for the best rather than the worse.
Self-talk is a typical place to start when it comes to positive thinking.
Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that runs through your mind. These thoughts could be positive or bad. Some of your self-talk is based on logic and reason. Other self-talk could be the consequence of misunderstandings you’ve developed as a result of a lack of knowledge.
If the majority of your thoughts are negative, you are more likely to have a pessimistic attitude toward life. You’re probably an optimist if your ideas are primarily optimistic.
Scientists are still looking into the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Positive thinking has been linked to a variety of health advantages, including:
Increased life span
Lower rates of depression
Lower levels of distress
Greater resistance to the common cold
Better psychological and physical well-being
Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
It’s unclear why those who practice positive thinking have such good health. According to one idea, having a positive mindset helps you cope better with stressful events, reducing the negative health impacts of stress on your body.
Positive and optimistic people are also regarded to have healthier lifestyles, as they engage in more physical exercise, eat a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink excessively.
Identifying negative thinking
1. Filtering
You highlight the negative aspects of a circumstance while disregarding the favorable parts. For example, let’s say you had a terrific day at work. You completed your assignment ahead of schedule, and your efficiency and thoroughness were applauded. You’ve totally ignored the praises you’ve received that evening, and you’re only thinking about your plans to do even more tasks.
2. Personalizing
When something bad happens, you instantly blame yourself. You could assume that if an evening out with friends has been canceled, it’s because no one wants to be around you.
3. Catastrophizing
You have a natural aversion to the worst-case scenario. You believe the rest of your day will be a nightmare when the drive-through coffee shop makes a mistake with your order. According to the Mayo Clinic.
4. Polarizing
There are only two ways to look at things: good or bad. There is no such thing as a neutral position. You believe that if you aren’t perfect, you will be a complete failure.