Positivity can help you reach weight loss goals, build confidence, age gracefully, and feel better about the overall direction of your life. With a bit of practice, anyone can improve their mindset and reap the rewards associated with positive thinking.
Better Thoughts, Better Sleep, Better Energy
Physical, mental and emotional wellbeing are all interconnected. It’s amazing to see how positive thinking can improve sleep quality, increase daytime energy, help build more meaningful relationships, and support healthier diet and exercise choices overall.
When paired with other healthy habits, practicing a positive mindset can lead to tangible health benefits over time. As research shows, these include lower blood pressure, lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, decreased stress and anxiety, lower incidence of depression, faster recovery time after injury or illness, and even a longer lifespan.
5 Ways to Practice Positive Thinking
Positivity can feel difficult when facing health challenges, stressful life changes, or for those who generally tend to overthink or worry more frequently.
In reality, positive thinking is like a mental muscle – it needs exercise to be strengthened and maintained. Here’s what you can do to practice positive thinking.
Gratitude Journal – Most of us notice when things go wrong. But what about when they go right? Take time to reflect on all the good stuff going on in life. Start or end the day by listing 5 things you’re grateful for, big or small. Maybe you hit a string of green lights on your daily commute – even small wins count! The key is to make a habit of noting and appreciating good things every day.
Mindfulness – While the gratitude journal is a first step, it can quickly lead to a prolonged habit of paying attention and staying present. Worrying about bad things to come is often a source of negativity and stress. Many of the things we worry about don’t even happen in the long run! Staying present can be key to reducing the amount of negative thoughts that enter the mind.
Take pause throughout the day and tune into all 5 senses by actively asking – what do I see, taste, smell, hear, feel? Chances are, you’ll start noticing all sorts of beautiful things to list in your gratitude journal!
Be Honest Before Choosing Positivity – Thinking positively does not mean ignoring the very real (and sometimes scary or unpleasant) things happening around you. It simply means acknowledging those difficulties before opting for a more positive perspective. Perhaps things will work out or get better. If not, what are the details you can appreciate, even in the midst of challenges?
Connect with Like-Minded Friends – Optimism can be contagious. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who understand your wellness goals, and take a break from naysayers when needed.
Give Yourself Credit – Self-talk is super important when it comes to positive thinking and resisting self-blame in every negative scenario. When things go wrong, can you expand your viewpoint to see the larger forces outside your control that may have been blockers from the beginning? And when things go right – give yourself credit for the actions you took to help them go that way!
Consider positivity another proven tool for the toolbox that helps you build wellness, one step at a time.
