Days and weeks are never entirely good nor bad, though we often label them that way. Even in the most challenging times, the power of positive thinking reveals the wins waiting to be discovered – moments of joy, accomplishments, and instances of growth that are good and reassuring. Our dietitian Jessie shares ways to have a positive outlook, and how doing so is also good for your mental and physical health.
5 Ways To Be A Positive Thinker
Use these strategies to gain a larger life perspective and positive mindset. Soon, the small daily wins and joys become easier to find and the negative thinking fades away.
- Best Case Scenario: It’s easy to focus on setbacks and challenges. But whenever you find yourself spiraling into negatives, reframe each bad thing by listing a small victory. If you tend to worry a lot and find yourself imagining worst-case scenarios, you owe it to yourself to also imagine the best-case scenario, as well as the most realistic scenario. This positive psychology shift can quickly turn a pessimist into a realist or even an optimist.
- Find The Joy That’s Around You: Instead of waiting for an external force to make you happy, open your eyes to the small moments of joy and beauty that already surround you each day. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset, a funny moment with a loved one, or witnessing kindness in the world, you’ll get better at savoring these quick moments and letting them fill you with gratitude and happiness.
- Recognize Small Wins: You may be so accustomed to having small daily wins that you glide right over them without recognition. Whether it’s eating a nutritious breakfast, completing a task on your to-do list, making progress on a project, reading or sending an email, having a positive family dinner, or just getting out of bed on a difficult morning, take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate these “small” victories with affirmations.
- Give Thanks: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by regularly acknowledging people and things you’re thankful for, either out loud or in a gratitude journal. Make an effort to actually say or write “Thank You” more often … to yourself, to others, and even to things that are a positive source in your life (like nature, a delicious bite of food, or a pen that glides on your notepad just right). This gratitude shift makes it easier to sustain positive emotions.
- Share Wins: You’ve heard the proverb “Shared joy is double joy; Shared sorrow is half sorrow.” And the same is true of small wins. Don’t be afraid to share your positive moments with others and celebrate their victories as well. In fact, you may even find it easier to recognize and celebrate the small wins you see for others. Use them to double your daily joys while also creating camaraderie with friends, family, and colleagues.
3 Benefits Of Positive Thinking
Several studies show that positive people who are able to counter negative thoughts with a positive attitude reap both mental and physical health benefits. When you embrace the art of positive thoughts, you could also experience these health benefits of positive thinking:
- Improved Mental Health: Having a positive state of mind and fostering positive self talk has been associated with reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, stronger resilience to stress, stronger coping skills and problem-solving with difficult situations, fewer negative emotions, and better overall well-being.
- Better Physical Health: Studies show that people who cultivate positive thinking have lower risk of cardiovascular disease (including fewer instances of heart disease, heart attacks, and high blood pressure) as well as stronger immunity.
- Longer Lifespan: Optimism and positive thinking have been linked to living more years, especially in men.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While relentless toxic positivity is both unrealistic and unnecessary (even inappropriate at times), learning to find silver linings and recognize small wins can provide a larger perspective. Cultivating positive thought patterns and shedding the negative outlook can also have a good impact on your relationships, as well as your mental and physical health.
Written by Jessie Shafer.
Jessie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Colorado where she splits her time among nearby playgrounds, typing away at her trusty laptop, and heating up her home kitchen with delicious experiments. A former magazine editor-in-chief, Jessie has a long career in food publishing and health writing. She is currently the editor at The Real Food Dietitians and a nutrition consultant through her business crdible.
