Positive Thinking and 7 Advantages – That Will Actually Make Your Life Better

Positive thinking is helpful for managing stress and can even improve your health. Practice overcoming negative self-talk using the examples provided.

Written by Mayo Clinic staff

Is your glass half empty or half full? How you answer this age-old positive thinking question can reflect your outlook on life, how you feel about yourself, whether you're optimistic or pessimistic, and even affect your health.

In fact, some studies show that personality traits like optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that often accompanies optimism is an essential part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is linked to many health benefits. If you are prone to pessimism, do not despair, you can learn to think positively.

Information on positive thinking and self-talk

Positive thinking just means that you face inconveniences in a more positive and productive way. They believe that the best will happen, not the worst.

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Another part can arise from misunderstandings that you create due to lack of information.

If you have mostly negative thoughts running through your head, your attitude towards life is rather pessimistic.

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The health benefits of positive thinking

Some of the health benefits that positive thinking can provide include:

·        Increased life expectancy

·        Lower rates of depression

·        Lower stress levels

·        Greater resistance to the common cold

·        Greater mental and physical well-being

·        Good cardiovascular health.

·        Better ability to deal with a difficult situation in difficult and stressful times

It’s not proved that why positive thinking has good effects on health. One theory is that having a positive attitude allows you to deal better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful effects of stress on your body.

It is also believed that positive and optimistic people tend to lead healthier lifestyles: they are more physically active, eat healthier foods, and don't smoke or drink excessively.

This healthier life is base for success.

 Also read : Self-Development 9 Great Ideas Nobody Told You About

How to recognize negative thoughts

You are not knowing whether you are thinking negative or positive? The following are some common forms of negative self-talk:

Filter. They exaggerate the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all the positive aspects and leave them aside. Let’s take an example You completed your tasks early and were recognized for your quick and thorough work. That night you just focus on your plan to get more work done and forget about the recognition you received.

Personalize. You blame yourself if something bad happens to you. For example, you find out that a trip with friends has been canceled and you assume the change in plans is because no one wanted to be around you.

Dramatize. You automatically assume the worst. The cafeteria gets the order wrong and you automatically think the rest of the day will be a disaster.

Polarize. They only see things as good or bad. There is no middle ground. You feel like you have to be perfect or you're a total failure.

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