It’s only human that however strong we are, there are times in all our lives when we can all become a little overwhelmed. In the last 2 years, we have been through a world pandemic, now a cost-of-living crisis coupled with a potential recession. This is on top of the day-to-day stresses we all experience.
It’s easy to hold back your true feelings or tell everyone you are ok. However, that might not be best for you in the long run.
Mind UK Suggests that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year and 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.
Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on optimistic thoughts. It is a mindset that looks on the bright side of life and manifests happiness, good health, and success.
What are the benefits of Positive Thinking?
A positive mental attitude produces positive thoughts, which can result in
- improving your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as strengthening your immunity to have a better quality of life
- reducing stress and anxiety
- increasing confidence, happiness and improving energy levels
- makes you more optimistic, friendly, and considerate. This improves your relationships with people
- with a positive outlook, you can become more motivated and motivate others around you
- positive thoughts awakens positive emotions and drives away negative emotions
Positive thinking isn’t magic, and it won’t make all your problems disappear. What it will do is make problems seem more manageable and help you approach hardships more positively and productively.
How to put positive thinking into your day
Positive thinking can be achieved through a few different techniques that have been proven effective, such as:
Start every day on a positive note – focusing on the positive things that could happen such as telling yourself that it’s going to be a great day or even just listening to one of your favourite songs, playlists or podcasts can help
Focus on the good – challenging situations and obstacles are a part of life. When you’re faced with one, focus on the good things no matter how small they seem. If you look for it, you can always find it!
Meditation – can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit your overall health
Practice gratitude – being grateful and thankful for what you have. Acknowledging the goodness in your life, appreciating even the tiny things
Envision the future – use your imagination what do you want and how can you be happier?
Exercise – even walking and yoga can have a big impact
Laughter – really is the best medicine
Be present – take time to be in the moment and have time away from devices or the TV, for instance, watch the sunrise, wish on a star be part of the here and now
Surround yourself with positive people – negativity and positivity have both been shown to be contagious
Practice self-love – we tend to be the hardest on ourselves and be our own worst critic. Over time, this can cause you to form a negative opinion of yourself that can be hard to shake. To stop this, you’ll need to be mindful of the voice in your head and respond with positive messages, also known as self-love
You won’t be able to undo years of pessimism and negative thoughts overnight, but with some practice, you can learn how to approach things with a more positive outlook. And the most beautiful thing is that your positivity can have a big impact on others!
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
