The Benefits of Positive Thinking for a Healthy Body and Mind

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The Benefits of Positive Thinking

Positive thinking? What does this actually mean? As much as we would all love to have a positive attitude to everything in life and see the world through rose tinted glasses, this is not actually the true definition of positive thinking.

Positive thinking is a skill that some are lucky to be born with or have a natural aptitude for. Positive thinking means you approach life's troublesome times in a more productive and optimistic way. 

Training our mind to be positive will take time as our minds are in constant 'chatter' mode. We have thousands of thoughts that pass through our minds daily. In fact a 2020 study suggests that we have over 6000 thoughts running through our minds every single day. That's a lot of thoughts!

The Benefits of Positive Thinking - How to Practice Positivity

Start this process slowly. Trying to change all your thoughts into positive notions from day one will be overwhelming and nigh on impossible. Break down your thoughts into categories and work your way through the negativity one step at a time. Just like your diet or exercise regime, they need time and patience to obtain your desired results.

  • Check in with yourself: During your day, once in a while, just check in with your thoughts. Listen to the "chatter" and see where the negative thoughts come from? Maybe it's your work, a relationship or an up and coming event. Try to see where the negativity appears? Maybe you can alter this area to a more positive situation or look for ways to change the unpleasant feelings you have?
  • Write a journal: Write down your negative thoughts as they happen in a journal. There is no need to scrutinise the thoughts as they occur. Reflect on the day and your thoughts when you have more time and see if you can make a more positive outcome for another day? 
  • Take a look at your lifestyle: Is it stressful? Are you exercising and eating a healthy diet? All of these factors affect your positivity. Make sure you exercise for 30 minutes a day. A walk in nature, a gym workout or even a swim in the sea. Learn some techniques to manage stress. This all adds to a healthier lifestyle. Check your diet too. There may be a few healthier alterations you can make with your food. Your nutrition is fuel for your body. If you are unsure of how to eat a healthy diet for optimal health then have a read of this article.
  • Try and surround yourself with positive people: Negative people will bring negative thoughts. Take a look at the friends and family you mix and socialise with. Supportive friends and family will help you see the positive aspects of your life bringing peace and calm into your thoughts. Negative people will increase your stress levels and bring disturbance into your life.
  • Affirmations: Positive affirmations are a very powerful tool. Affirmations have the ability to programme our minds into positive thinking. This practice is used for encouraging a positive mindset. Often we are cruel to ourselves in our thoughts. We chastise ourselves for not living up to our own expectations. In fact we would not even talk to our enemies the way we speak to ourselves. By using affirmations we can prevent negative thoughts before they have time to arise. Speak nicely to yourself each day with positive statements such as "I did well today" especially if you were finding the day quite a struggle. Concentrate on the good things and all that you did achieve.

How to Increase Positive Thinking for a Healthy Mind and Body

What can we do to make our thoughts more positive? Engaging in the things we love to do!

We need to make time for positive activities in our lives. Maybe you have a hobby you enjoy or friends you love to spend time and socialise with? Perhaps you enjoy gardening and visiting garden centres?

There are some tried and tested activities that bring positive thoughts and happiness to our mind and body that you may practice already or you may want to try:

Relaxation : When is the last time you put aside some time for total relaxation? This is not time spent scrolling through your social media or watching T.V. This is something that brings total relaxation, where your whole being has time to totally chill.

Meditation: Meditation is a practice where we can focus on our thoughts. Meditation enables our thoughts to pass us by without processing or analysing and without judgement. We can bring our attention to our breath so our mind does not wander whilst we sit in peace and quiet. There are some calming guided meditations to focus our minds or perhaps listening to meditation music to help release tension in the body. However you choose to meditate you will reap the benefits of improved well-being and self-care.

Gratitude Journal: Gratitude disconnects us from negative feelings. Writing down just 3 things which you are grateful for each day, will set you on a path of positive thinking. Journal writing helps you to focus on the good things in life and drives your thoughts away from negativity. Gratitude has been known to increase our happy hormones and improve our overall health and well-being.

What are the Benefits of Positive Thinking


There are a lot of studies regarding positivity and positive thinking. Positive Psychology is a young science and concentrates on the discovery of what leads people to a meaningful life. This helps in the management of mental illness, correcting negative behaviours and increasing our levels of happiness. Many health benefits arise from a change of thought pattern both physically and mentally. 
  • Lower levels of depression
  • lower levels of pain
  • Improved immune system
  • Decrease in stress levels
  • Better coping skills and stress management
  • Longer life span
  • Better physical and mental health
  • improved creativity
  • improved cognitive skills
  • Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke

The Benefits of Positive Thinking for a Healthy Body and Mind

Dr. Shaila Margain talks about benefits of positive thinking

If you have a mind full of negative thoughts, do not expect to have a 'half full' glass by next week. It takes time to train the mind to turn negativity into a positive outcome. With consistent practice you will learn to be less critical and more accepting of your daily life without judgement. 

You will be able to manage stress and cope with unpleasant situations in a more productive way. You will find that your health and well-being will improve and you will attract positive people and leave behind any negative behaviour. 

©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

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