Positive Thinking & Its Benefits

There are people around us who always tell us to have a positive approach towards life and to look on the brighter side. These people who make these comments can be considered positive thinkers. There are researches about the benefits of positive thinking and optimism going on for a very long time. The findings prove that the people who are positive thinkers are healthier, less stressed, and have greater overall well-being. Several studies show that optimists are both psychologically and physiologically healthier.

Following are the benefits of practicing positive thinking –

1. When positive thinkers got themselves stuck in a stressful situation, they usually cope better than any other. They don’t dwell on the things that they can’t change, they used to ask others for advice and assistance. Whereas Pessimists simply assume that the situation is not in their control and they start to cramp.

2. The mind has a powerful effect on our bodies. Immunity is the area where our thoughts and attitudes can have a powerful influence. The research has found out that brain areas that are associated with negative emotions lead to a weaker immune response to certain diseases. People with positive thinking have a stronger immune response than those who have a negative view of the situation.

3. Positive thinking not only impacts our ability to cope with our immunity and stress but also impacts our overall well-being, reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular problems leading to less depression and an increased lifespan. The reason behind having improved health and well-being is better coping with stress and avoiding unhealthy behaviors.

4. The ability to cope with problems refers to resilience. These people are strong enough to face trauma or crisis with strength. They can eventually overcome and carry on from such adversity rather than falling apart from such stress. Therefore, it can be said that positive thinking plays an important role in resilience. They don’t lose hope and try to fix the problems. The chances of getting into a depression are less among positive thinkers as compared to others.

The researchers also believe that such resilience and positivism can be cultivated. By encouraging positive thoughts and emotions during the time of terrible events, people can get both short-term and long-term rewards, which include stress management, less depression, and better coping skills which will help them in the future.