Positive Thinking
Positive thinking means approaching life's challenges with a positive outlook. It
doesn't mean seeing the world through rose-colored lenses by ignoring or glossing
over the negative aspects of life.
Positive thinking does not necessarily mean avoiding difficult situations. Instead,
positive thinking means making the most of potential obstacles, trying to see the best
in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.
Some researchers, including positive psychologist Martin Seligman, frame positive
thinking in terms of explanatory style.2 Your explanatory style is how you explain
why events happened.
● Optimistic explanatory style: People with an optimistic explanatory style
tend to give themselves credit when good things happen and typically blame
outside forces for bad outcomes. They also tend to see negative events as
temporary and atypical.
● Pessimistic explanatory style: People with a pessimistic explanatory style
often blame themselves when bad things happen, but fail to give themselves
adequate credit for successful outcomes.3 They also have a tendency to view
negative events as expected and lasting. As you can imagine, blaming
yourself for events outside of your control or viewing these unfortunate
events as a persistent part of your life can have a detrimental impact on your
state of mind.
Positive thinkers are more apt to use an optimistic explanatory style, but the way in
which people attribute events can also vary depending upon the exact situation. For
example, a person who is generally a positive thinker might use a more pessimistic
explanatory style in particularly challenging situations, such as at work or at school.
Positive Psychology vs. Positive Thinking
While the terms "positive thinking" and "positive psychology" are sometimes used
interchangeably, it is important to understand that they are not the same thing.
Positive thinking is about looking at things from a positive point of view. It is a type
of thinking that focuses on maintaining a positive, optimistic attitude. Positive
psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the effects of optimism, what
causes it, and when it is best utilized.
Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
In recent years, the so-called "power of positive thinking" has gained a great deal of
attention thanks to self-help books such as "The Secret." While these pop-psychology
books often tout positive thinking or philosophies like the law of attraction as a sort
of psychological panacea, empirical research has found that there are many very real
health benefits linked to positive thinking and optimistic attitudes.4
Positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits,
● Better stress management and coping skills
● Enhanced psychological health
● Greater resistance to the common cold
● Increased physical well-being
● Longer life span
● Lower rates of depression
● Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-related death
● One theory is that people who think positively tend to be less affected by
stress. Research suggests that having more positive automatic thoughts helps
people become more resilient in the face of life's stressful events. People who
had high levels of positive thinking were more likely to walk away from
stressful life events with a higher sense of the meaningfulness of life.8
● Another possibility is that people who think positively tend to live healthier
lives in general; they may exercise more, follow a more nutritious diet, and
avoid unhealthy behaviors.
How to Practice Positive Thinking
While you might be more prone to negative thinking, there are strategies that you
can use to become a more positive thinker. Practicing these strategies regularly can
help you get in the habit of maintaining a more positive outlook on life.
● Notice your thoughts: Start paying attention to the type of thoughts you have
each day. If you notice that many of them are negative, make a conscious
effort to reframe how you are thinking in a more positive way.
● Write in a gratitude journal: Practicing gratitude can have a range of positive
benefits and it can help you learn to develop a better outlook. Experiencing
grateful thoughts helps people to feel more optimistic.
Use positive self-talk: How you talk to yourself can play an important role in
shaping your outlook. Studies have shown that shifting to more positive self-talk
can have a positive impact on your emotions and how you respond to stress.
How do I start practicing positive thinking?
Strategies that can improve your positive thinking include noticing your
thoughts and making a conscious effort to shift from negative thoughts to
more positive one. Practicing positive self-talk and practicing gratitude can
also be helpful ways to start having a more positive outlook.
Why is positive thinking important?
Positive thinking is important because it can have a beneficial impact on both
physical and mental well-being. People who maintain a more positive outlook
on life cope better with stress, have better immunity, and have a lower risk of
premature death. Positive thinking also helps promote greater feelings of
happiness and overall satisfaction with life.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of positive thinking?
Positive thinking has been shown to help people live healthier, happier lives.
When they have a positive outlook, they are more likely to engage in healthy
behaviors such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting plenty of rest.
Downsides of positive thinking include the risk of forming overly high
expectations that result in disappointment and being affected by toxic
positivity.
How do you change your thinking from negative to positive?
Practicing mindfulness can be a way to build self-awareness and become
more conscious of how your negative thoughts affect your moods and
behaviors. As you become better at identifying negative thought patterns, you
can then take steps to shift into a more positive mindset. Actively replacing
negative thoughts with positive ones can help you eventually learn to become
a more positive thinker.
Difference among hope, optimism and positivity?
Hope, optimism, and positivity are related concepts but have distinct meanings:
1. **Hope**: This is the desire for a certain outcome and the belief that it is possible, even if
it might be difficult. Hope involves a sense of longing and expectation for future events to
turn out well.
2. **Optimism**: This is a general outlook on life where one expects good things to happen.
Optimists tend to have a positive expectation for the future and believe that challenges can be
overcome.
3. **Positivity**: This refers to having a positive attitude or demeanor. It involves focusing
on the good aspects of situations, maintaining a cheerful and constructive mindset, and often
expressing positive emotions.
In summary, hope is about desiring and believing in a specific outcome, optimism is a
broader expectation of positive outcomes in life, and positivity is the general attitude of
focusing on and appreciating the good.
