Positive thinking can help in reducing stress levels and can improve one’s health.
Such benefits have been manifested by multiple scientific studies. A positive mindset can give you more confidence, improve your mood, and even reduce the likelihood of developing conditions such as depression, anxiety and other stress- related disorders.
What does positive thinking really mean?
Positive thinking is when you imagine positive outcomes from situations, which usually may cause a lot of anxiety. It means, positive self-talk or general optimism.
The below are concrete examples of how can one be more positive:
- Start the day with a Positive Mantra/ Affirmation.
Ex: Look into the mirror and say “Today is going to be a very good day!” Yes this sounds silly, but it works wonders! If you repeat this daily, your mind will start believing it and it will have a positive affect on your mindset.
- Focus on your blessings/ Good things.
Ex: obstacles are going to be encountered on daily basis, but when you do, focus on the challenge and the satisfaction of being able to overcome it! This will help you grow but in life and professionally.
- Find humor in bad situations.
Ex: When facing a very difficult situation, at home or at work, joke about it. As crazy as it might sound, you will be helping both yourself and other people facing the difficult situation.
- When you fail, turn into a lesson for life.
Ex: Everyone is going to make mistakes, the only difference is our attitude towards that mistake. If you are focused on the mistake, you will only feel anger and other negative emotions. Instead, reflect on the mistake and evaluate what you can do better next time.
- Focus on the present.
Ex: Anxiety is when we cannot stop thinking about the future and what could happen. This inevitably, will instigate a lot of negative emotions. Focus instead, on that very present moment. When you do, you will realise that nothing is as bad as your mind seems to imagine it. You will also be happier!
- Shift your negative self- talk to positive self-talk.
Ex: Negative self-talk seems to come easy to the best of us, and sometimes we do not realise how much it is affecting us. When you find yourself thinking negative things about your capabilities, try and replace them with positive ones. For example, turn the phrase “I cannot do this, I do not think I am capable to do this” into “Let me give it a try, I can always learn from it”.
- Surround yourself with positive friends, mentors and co-workers.
Ex: You will hear positive outlooks, positive stories and positive affirmations when you surround yourself with positive people. This will affect your own line of thought, and ultimately, the people around you. Do not be afraid to remove negativity from your life, and do what you can to improve the positivity around you <3
These lessons can be applied to both one’s personal and professional life!
Good luck 😊
Luana Caruana
HR Executive
AX Care