The psychology behind positive thinking

Do you think you have a positive or negative outlook on life?

Even if you’re someone that sees the glass as half empty rather than half full, you can learn the power of positive thinking and incorporate it into your everyday.

Positive psychology is a subfield of psychology that focuses on studying what really makes people happy and feel fulfilled. Studies show that even just thinking positively can help with managing stress and boosting your overall health.

So, what actually is positive thinking, and how can you benefit from it?

What is positive thinking?

Those that naturally see the glass half empty will be quick to assume that positive thinking is all about ignoring what’s really there and looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses. It’s sometimes much easier to allow bad situations or negativity to swallow us whole but approaching these challenging times with a positive outlook can do wonders.

Positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring the bad, either. Instead, it’s about seeing those silver linings – no matter how small.

Identifying your explanatory style

Researchers like Martin Seligman report that positive thinking is part of your overall explanatory style. An explanatory style is simply how you relate events in your life to others. When you tell someone else what happened in a certain situation, are you subconsciously adding a positive or negative light to it?

Everyone adds their own slant to a situation. If you and your friends all experienced the same thing, you’d all have a different way of telling the story. Those with an optimistic explanatory style are much more likely to highlight the positives, give themselves credit when credit’s due, and see negative events as merely temporary. They’re also more likely to blame negative outcomes on outside forces, rather than themselves.

On the flip side, those with a pessimistic explanatory style do the opposite. They’ll typically blame themselves for bad outcomes and very rarely give themselves the credit for their successes. Negative situations are usually assumed to be long-lasting and expected. But all of this can have a serious impact on a person’s mental wellbeing, self-worth, and overall enjoyment in life.

Next time you relate an event back to someone else, try to identify which type of explanatory style is your go-to, and how you might be able to change certain aspects for a more positive outlook. Alternatively, speak to a positive thinking counsellor at heavenandearthmassage.co.uk.

The health benefits of positive thinking

‘The power of positive thinking’ has certainly become a buzzphrase over the past few years. And with the past 18 months of the pandemic, people have certainly needed that little bit extra of a nudge to stay positive.

Although there are plenty of people online giving advice about how positive thinking can help you, there are also a number of real health benefits you be had from the practice.

Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that positive thinking is linked to several benefits like better stress management, increased physical wellbeing, and a longer lifespan. It’s also been found to provide greater resistance to the common cold and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

So, if you’re struggling to think positively, try to put a healthy twist on it! You may find it’s the gentle push you need to step in the right direction.