Numerous studies have shown that positive thinking can help with stress management. If the power of positive thinking has such an impact on your mental health, it’s worth discovering how to harness this. So, what can you do to ensure you’re thinking more positively?
Speak kindly to, and about, yourself.
That voice in your head has more power than you may think. If you are constantly thinking of the negatives, then you will soon believe those thoughts to be the reality. For example, if trying something new, and the voice in your head says, “I can’t do this”, turn this around and think “I may not have done this before, but I’m going to give it a go.” Instead of telling yourself that the results of what you are going to do are going to turn out badly, consider the positives.Say your positive thoughts out loud
Affirmations are popular for a reason and people find it helpful to start each day with a positive sentence or phrase. Affirmations can help you view yourself in a positive light, increasing your self-confidence and self-worth. You can create your own phrase or sentence that resonates personally for you. Some examples might include:“I am good enough”
“I am confident”
“I am powerful”
Find your own positive affirmation and say it to yourself each morning, even if you don’t initially feel like it’s true.
Be around positive people
It makes sense that if you are always surrounded by negative people who say negative things then you too will become embroiled in that cycle of negativity. Find people that see the good in others and are happy to share their positive thoughts. It’s difficult to ignore the good energy from positive people. Their positive spin on things can begin to influence the way you see things too, especially yourself.Adopt a healthy lifestyle
You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase, “you are what you eat” and there’s more than a grain of truth in this saying. Certain foods and drinks can affect your mood and mental health. Caffeine and alcohol can have a negative effect on your temperament so aim to cut down or eliminate these from your diet. You should also consider:- Exercise – be it an exercise class, going for a walk during your lunch hour or investing in an exercise bike, exercise encourages endorphin production which is the body’s 'happy hormone'.
- Hydration – drink plenty of water throughout the day as dehydration can lead to lack of concentration, decreased energy, and low mood.
- Food – leafy greens like spinach, watercress, and kale contain folate and magnesium, which have been shown to improve mood and even reduce anxiety.
Learn to appreciate
We often go through life thinking about all the things that go wrong and don't notice all the things that are good in our lives. Write down two things each day that you are grateful for. These can be tiny things or huge things.
For example, you may be grateful for the postman bringing your post, or the ability to cook lovely food, or for having a comfortable bed, for the moment the sun shone on your face today, for the birdsong, for having a lovely partner, for having a family who love you, for someone's random act of kindness, for the wind in your face, for a strong body that allows you to exercise, the smell of some lovely flowers, etc. The list really is endless. There are so many things you can be thankful for and the more you think about them, the more your mind will focus on what you have rather than what you don't have.
A final word on positivity
Positivity doesn't mean pretending the bad things aren't there. It's important to recognise that things in life aren't always the way we want them to be and life can be extremely tough at times. However, it's also important to spend more time focusing on the good things rather than dwelling on the bad things. The more we start to appreciate what we have, the more positive we will feel and the easier it will be to think of more things and before we know it, we will have started building a positive mindset.
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