THE SCIENCE BEHIND POSITIVE THINKING
Thinking positively is a lot harder than it seems. It’s not as simple as just switching on the sunshine and thinking happy thoughts, unfortunately. Negativity often creeps up on us at the worst times and can leave us feeling powerless to change our mood. But this isn’t something that should make you feel any less about positivity. In fact, there are many reasons why the power of positive thinking actually works. Read on to understand why the power of positive thinking actually works, and what you can do to harness its benefits for yourself.
CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK WITH POSITIVE THINKING
One of the biggest benefits of positive thinking is that it can change your outlook. If you spend your time only thinking about the negative things in life, you are likely to feel more negative about those things. Habitual, positive thinking can help you to approach the problems in your life with a more optimistic view, allowing you to feel more empowered to solve them. This can also help you to feel more confident in other areas of your life, from academically to socially, making positive thinking incredibly beneficial on many different levels.
FEEL GOOD INSTANTLY
Feeling good instantly is one of the best benefits of positive thinking. When we are feeling positive, our brain releases lots of chemicals that make us feel amazing, such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals make us feel happier, calmer, and more relaxed, which is what we want from positive thinking. When we are feeling good in this way, our mood is also more likely to stay positive, as there is less chance of it being brought down by a sudden change in circumstance.
BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
Another great advantage of positive thinking is that it can help you to become more successful. If you are constantly thinking negatively, you will be focusing on all the things that could go wrong, which makes them more likely to happen. When you are thinking positively, you are likely to be more focused on all the good things in your life, which is likely to make them happen.
If you want to learn more, check out this Twitter thread from the incomparable Sahil Bloom:
HELP YOU BUILD CONFIDENCE
Confidence is often the biggest hurdle for people who are trying to think positively. If you feel like you can’t find the positivity within yourself, you can often feel more anxious and worried, leading to greater negative thinking. Positive thinking can help to build your confidence, as you will likely feel more happy and satisfied with your life. This can help you to feel more positive about yourself and your abilities, which in turn can help you to feel more confident.
REDUCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
When you are feeling positive, your brain chemistry is different to when you are feeling negative. This means that your thoughts are likely to be different to when you are feeling negative as well. Negative thinking often leads to anxiety and depression, while positive thinking can lead to a reduction of these feelings. More positive thinking can help to reduce the likelihood of negative thinking, meaning that you are less likely to experience anxiety and depression.
CONCLUSION
Positive thoughts are powerful and can really help to improve your life in a variety of ways. When you are thinking positively, you are less likely to experience anxiety or depression, and you are more likely to succeed at whatever you are doing. It is easier to build confidence and find happiness when your brain is full of positive thoughts. Thinking positively can help to keep your mood from being brought down by negative events. If you want to reap the benefits of positive thinking, you need to make sure that you are thinking positively as often as possible. This is easier said than done, but with these points in mind, it should be a little easier.