The saying positive thinking leads to positive living may sound trite, but there’s more than a little truth to it. Studies have shown that negative thinking can lead to everything from depression and anxiety to obesity and heart disease—but positive thinking has the opposite effect on your body and mind, improving your immune system and lowering stress levels, among other benefits. Learn how to start thinking positively by reading the following article about the connection between positive thinking and your health.
What Is Negative Thinking?
Negative thinking is the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, causing feelings of sadness, anger or fear. Negative thoughts can lead to anxiety and depression. Thoughts that are typically seen as negative include I’ll never get this done or What if I fail? Positive thinking, on the other hand, is simply the opposite. It's focusing on what you want rather than what you don't want to have to happen. Positive thinkers have an optimistic outlook and set goals they know they can achieve. They believe in themselves even when things don't go their way and are resilient in the face of difficult circumstances. They also show gratitude for what they have, not just for what others do not have. Research has shown positive thinking has benefits for both your physical health and mental well-being. One study showed people who practiced more positive self-talk reported better moods, less anxiety, lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), improved immune function, and fewer visits to doctors due to illness!
The Effects of Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts can do more than just bring you down; they can actually have a detrimental effect on your health. Negative thinking has been linked to high blood pressure, higher heart rates, higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and an increased risk of depression.A recent study found that people who were told that they had cancer were twice as likely to die within two years if they thought their disease was incurable. On the other hand, those who kept their expectations positive had much better outcomes. Optimistic patients in the same study lived three times longer after diagnosis. Positive thinking is not only good for mental health, but also for physical well-being! What's interesting about this research is that it reveals how our minds play such a powerful role in our overall health. When we are surrounded by negative thoughts and pessimism, it leads to illness or mortality. The reverse holds true too - when we focus on positivity and optimism, our life expectancy increases significantly!
Why Do People Develop Negativity?
Negativity can develop when people in the same situation see things differently. For example, if your friend is always complaining about her job, you may start to feel negative about it as well. If you find yourself feeling negative for no reason at all, it could be due to a chemical imbalance in your brain. One symptom of this imbalance is anhedonia, which is when someone feels unable to experience pleasure from activities they once enjoyed. Another cause of negativity can come from low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate moods. Talk with your doctor or therapist if you think this may apply to you! There are many ways to combat negativity, such as by doing deep breathing exercises, listening to music you enjoy, talking to a loved one, taking care of your physical health (eating well and exercising), practicing mindfulness (taking time each day for just being), volunteering for causes you care about. Find what works best for you!
How To Overcome Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts can be overwhelming, but you don't have to let them take over. You are in control of your life and your happiness, so try these steps to take back control of your thoughts.
1) Question the thought- If it's negative, challenge it with a positive thought.
2) Replace the Negative Thought- Replace a negative thought with a positive one. If you're thinking about how you might fail at something, think about all the reasons why that won't happen instead. If you're feeling like others are more successful than you, remind yourself that their success doesn't diminish yours. It may seem hard at first, but we guarantee it will get easier as time goes on! Acknowledge when you feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts and consider how to tackle them head-on. Just remember that you are always in control of your own emotions, which is empowering.
Conclusion
In this post, you have learned about the relationship between positive thinking and your health. As a result, you may be tempted to adopt an optimistic outlook on life. However, it is important to remember that not all thoughts are good thoughts. Therefore, it is necessary to think positively when appropriate but also be mindful of what is going on in your mind so that you can identify negative thoughts before they spiral out of control. You should do this by practicing gratitude or mentally counting your blessings. What's more, don't just focus on what could go wrong; also consider how things will turn out for the best. For example, rather than worrying about whether you will get that promotion at work, spend some time imagining how wonderful it would feel if you did get promoted.
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