There are plenty of reasons why you should think positively. In this article, you will find five of them. When you know the reasons, you will be more motivated to adopt this attitude of being positive.
When you’re feeling down, the last thing you want to hear is that glass half full metaphor. What’s that supposed to do for you?
It can seem like there are no positive thinking benefits in that moment. You’re disappointed because you want the full glass. And you don’t have it. Or, maybe you feel like your glass doesn’t exist at all. It’s broken, stolen, shattered, someone else’s.
Angry, frustrated, disappointed, sad, afraid — you need to spend some time with those negative feelings. The key is to acknowledge them, then move on.
Trying something new
Your coworker just called in sick, but their work still has to be completed to meet the deadline. You’ve never done their job before, and you’re worried you’ll fail and ruin the entire project. Rather than spiraling into thinking the worst, you see this as an opportunity.
Your team needs you, and you get to learn new skills, work with new people, and experience the tasks that your coworker handles. You might nail it, or you might just get by, and either is ok.
Getting out of your comfort zone
You’re invited to a friend’s party. A few of your mutual friends were supposed to go, but they canceled at the last minute. You show up to the party and only know the host, making you feel awkward and bored.
Rather than feeling like a socially-awkward loser or feeling resentful toward your friends who canceled, you accept that you don’t know many people here and feel grateful for seeing your friend on their birthday. You focus on your friend’s special moment and do your best to meet new people.
Thinking positively reduced stress
When faced with stressful situations, positive thinkers cope more effectively than pessimistic thinkers—and with less anxiety and worry.2 Rather than dwelling on their frustrations or things that they cannot change, they will devise a plan of action and ask others for assistance and advice.
Pessimistic thinkers, on the other hand, are more likely to assume that the situation is out of their control. They often believe that there is nothing they can do to change it.
Increased immunity
In recent years, researchers have found that the mind can have a powerful effect on the body. Immunity is one area where one’s thoughts and attitudes can have a particularly powerful influence.
According to one published article, the more positive thoughts a person has, the better their ability to fight off disease. The authors also suggest that the opposite is true—the fewer positive thoughts a person has, the greater their disease risk.
Improved wellness
Not only can positive thinking impact the ability to cope with stress and compromise immunity, but it also has an impact on overall well-being. Specifically, it is tied to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular issues, lower depression risk, and an increased lifespan.
While researchers aren’t entirely clear on why positive thinking benefits health, some suggest that positive people might lead healthier lifestyles. By coping better with stress and avoiding unhealthy behaviors, they are able to improve their health and well-being.
