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Sometimes it can be hard to stay positive. Furthermore, there are benefits of doing so for your physical and mental health. There are also some things that you can do to add positivity into your life. However, if you are constantly overwhelmed by negative thoughts and emotions, then you may want to seek the help of a mental help professional at BetterHelp.com.
Benefits of Positive Thinking
Negative thinking can harm your health. It is related to stress, anger, irritability, and pessimism. It can also cause a host of physical issues like disease. It can even decrease your lifespan and positive thinking reduced the chance of death from heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other illnesses.
Positive thinking will also increase the quality of your life and provide you with more energy. It can help you reduce the chance of developing depression and improve your stress management techniques. However, none of this means that it is easy to just start thinking positive thoughts.
Focus on the Good
Problems will always arise. That is just a part of life. However, managing your perspective and response to the unavoidable stressors can go a long way towards a positive life. Focus on the good things that are either still present or that are related to the problems that you face. Do this no matter how small or insignificant the good things may seem.
Be Grateful
Practicing gratitude can help you improve your wellbeing. Think of the things that you enjoy, the people you cherish, or the things that you find comfort in. Be thankful for those things and express your gratitude. Tell people thank you for the things that they do for you.
You may also want to try keeping a gratitude journal. Writing down the things that you are grateful for can help you improve your outlook and mental health. Be specific and write down things no matter how small they are.
Laugh Often
Laughter is good for us and can help our stress and anxiety levels as well as symptoms associated with depression. Laughing often can help us develop better coping skills and improves self-esteem.
Try to find the humor in the little things, especially during stressful times. Laughing can lighten the mood during difficult times and help provide you with a positive perspective.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
People often say that laughter is contagious, but so is positivity. Are you spending time with positive people or surrounding yourself with negativity? Negative people can bring you down, so you want to avoid them if possible.
Instead, try to spend time with people who are optimistic and happy. Doing so can help you improve your mood and help you see the good side of situations.
Positive Self Talk
The voice inside of our heads can sometimes be negative and critical of our behavior. Try to respond to the voice’s negativity in a positive way. Think about the ways that you can change the negative thoughts into positive ones. Just small changes in self-talk can help you manage your thoughts and feelings. If you find yourself having a negative thought, think about the positive aspects or a different, more optimistic way of looking at it.
Start Positive
We often do things in the morning that determine our mood for the rest of the day. Try to start every day on a positive note. You can tell yourself it will be a great day or listen to a song that puts you in a good mood. Just listening to a positive song may help you release dopamine which can improve your mood.
Do Something Fun
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget to do things that we enjoy. Try to find time for yourself to do things that make you smile. If you do not currently have any hobbies, or even if you do, you can learn a musical instrument, start to paint, begin a journal, or learn to knit.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness meditation can help you improve your mood and reduce your stress levels. You can also use your mindful time to have more awareness of the things that bring negativity into your life. Then, you can try to avoid those things or change your perspective so that you see them in a positive light.
Generosity
Being generous can have a beneficial affect on your mood. It can release dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. It can also help us connect with others. Just doing small acts of kindness may be enough to boost your mood. Give up your seat on the bus to someone or donate to a charity. It may help you improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Final Thoughts on Positive Thinking
Not everything that happens to will be good, but if you have the right frame of mind, you may be able to see the silver lining during the most difficult times. Try to practice gratitude daily and smile and laugh more often. Be sure to leave the time in your schedule to enjoy life and surround yourself with positive people. You may also benefit from learning mindfulness and meditation techniques.