Mind Over Matter: Harnessing the Power of Positive Thinking
Alar Arvind
March 18 , 2024
A question posed very often is if one sees a glass as half full or half empty. This perspective defines the thinking style of an individual. People who see the glass as half full are termed as optimistic and use a positive thinking style. Renowned American psychologist and researcher, Barbara Fredrickson developed the “Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions.” The theory describes how an increase in positive thinking leads to broadening of one’s perspective and building of one’s personal resources.
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What is Positive Thinking?
A common misconception about positive thinking is that it involves ignoring all the negative or adverse situations in one’s life. Positive thinking is actually a lens through which an individual can view life and its various circumstances. Unpleasant situations can be approached via a positive standpoint. For example, when posed with a new challenge, instead of thinking, “I have never done this before,” a person can think, “This is an opportunity for me to learn something new.” Thus, positive thinking can have an effect of life enhancement.
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Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
Increase in longevity of life
Increase in resilience and the ability to bounce back from adversities
Increase in immunity to illness
Increase in gratitude levels
Enhancement of mental health
Enhancement in physical well-being
Better coping skills and stress management
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How to be a Positive Thinker
Positive Self-Talk: How one talks to themselves plays a vital role in the outlook of the individual. Identifying negative self-talk and practicing positive self-talk influences how one copes with challenges.
Reframing Thoughts: Noticing and acknowledging one’s thoughts regularly is important to build positive thinking. If one has the tendency to think negatively a conscious effort can be made to reframe their thought process to gain a positive outlook.
Regular Exercise: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle influences positive thinking. The release of “happy hormones” due to exercise and a healthy diet play a role in developing positive thinking in an individual.
Building Awareness: Being aware of all aspects of one’s life will help an individual recognise which situations trigger negative emotions and how to work on them. Here, rather than building maladaptive coping styles, habits can be changed via positive thinking. This emerges from an attempt to grow as a person and enhance oneself.
Being Mindful: Positive thinking requires consistency and practice. Journaling, meditation and being mindful are means of engaging in positive thinking. Positive thinking is a skill that is developed over time with continuous effort.
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When can Positive Thinking become Toxic?
All the rage now on social media, "toxic positivity" has
become a term that everyone must have come across. So, is too much positivity
harmful? Maintaining a positive mindset and rejecting any kind of difficult or
challenging emotion is harmful for an individual. The expectation and pressure
to stay positive or put up a positive facade through any kind of adversity is
impossible to live up to. Hence, positive thinking is harnessed in a way where realistic
thinking is also simultaneously employed. In this means the individual's health and well-being is upheld while maintaining a positive attitude.
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