The True Power of Positive Thinking

We’ve heard it ad nauseum: ‘think positive thoughts’. In fact, it’s been repeated so often that we now identify something known as ‘toxic positivity’. Toxic ❌ positivity is the idea that forcing ourselves to be perpetually positive is robbing us of the authentic expression of ALL the necessary human emotions. And while expressing the entire range of normal human emotions is both healthy and necessary, there is a reason that we keep sharing the ‘think positive’ 😀 message. This is because it has a powerful effect on our mental health and overall wellness.

So, what happens to the brain 🧠 and the body 🏃‍♀️ on a physiological level when we start to put a positive ➕ spin on things? According to scientific research, our brains are hard-wired from an evolutionary vantage point to see the negative aspects of daily life as a way of being able to spot potential danger ❗ and increase our chances of survival. However, in modern times we are not faced with the same threats as our ancestors were and this survival technique can often cause more harm than good.

Benefits of Positive Thinking

Researchers have discovered the following benefits that we can experience when we focus more on the positive than on the negative:

~Longer life span 🧓

~Decreased rates of depression 👍

~Reduced stress 🕊️

~Stronger immune system 💪

~Better psychological AND physical well-being 🤸

~Improved cardiovascular health ❣️

~Stronger coping skills 💭

It’s clear that there are some pretty powerful benefits from choosing a more optimistic outlook.

Ways to Practice

Some of the ways that we can practice positivity include:

~retraining the brain (neuroplasticity) 🧠

~~using positive affirmations* 🥰

~embracing the ‘placebo effect’ **➕

~showing gratitude 💌

It’s never too late to adopt a new mindset. 💗

*If you're ready to put positive thinking into regular practice, why not start with this free month of empowering positive affirmations and see how your life changes? https://www.healthisharmony.com/challenge-page/c03c7871-8b04-4c7d-a468-72c5976be0de

**Check out this book for in-depth information on the amazing power of the placebo effect! You can get it here: https://amzn.to/3RTJB0N

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