Due to society changes, we now, unfortunately, live in a world where stress is a daily occurrence.
So much so, it has become the new “norm”.
Managing our stress has taken part in our daily routines and leading a stress-free life seems almost impossible.
But, as surprising at it might sound, pretty much anyone can take control of their stress.
It is completely possible to reduce your stress levels by thinking positive thoughts about almost everything which happens around us.
Most of us have experienced someone saying to us “think positive” or “just look on the bright side” when something we had planned didn’t go quite right.
But, as unhelpful it may seem at the time, there is some truth to it.
Positive thinking can go a long way in reducing your stress levels and help you feel much better about yourself and the situation you are involved in, as well as your overall outlook and well-being.
However, the only issue is that it isn’t always easy to have a positive outlook and some circumstances can make it seem much more of a challenge than others.
But, the good news is that with some work, you can turn your negative thoughts around and become an optimist.
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What Is Positive Thinking?
In simple terms, positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude when it comes to expecting good results.
It doesn’t mean that you just see the world in rainbow colours and ignore any negativity, but that you approach any unpleasantness with a more constructive and positive attitude.
A lot of people confuse positive thinking with being blindly optimistic when, in reality, positive thinking is based on a number of different approaches to life’s situations where being positive towards problem-solving is a priority.
Research has shown that the effects of positive thinking goes way beyond stress management and positive effects include, but aren’t limited, to:
- Fewer feelings of anxiety and depression
- Better health
- Higher levels of productivity
- Healthier and stronger relationships
What Does Positive Thinking Have To Do With Stress Management?
In general, people who think more positively tend to take more risks in life as thinking positively helps the brain to consider opportunities and have a broader outlook.
When something goes wrong, positive people tend to often blame external factors for the failure, whereas people with negative outlooks blame themselves.
As a result, they then shut themselves down when it comes to new opportunities and only see very limited choices when such problems arise.
This can explain why negative events are better handled when people take on a positive attitude.
People who think positively tend to see failure as a series of unfortunate circumstances and their answer to any failure is to have an immediate reaction to think of the solution without limiting their own opportunities.
So, in other words, they have an instinctive problem-solving mechanism which starts working as soon as something negative happens.
But, can negative thinking somehow be turned into positive thinking?
Research has suggested that by repeating certain tips on a daily basis, these can help every person take on the method of positive thinking and change any negative spins for good.
Transforming Your Negative Thoughts Into Positive Ones
If you let negative thoughts take over for long periods, then this has been known to lead to depression and anxiety, which is why it is important to quickly respond to any negative thoughts that you have.
If you want to handle negative thoughts, then you can:
- Practice self-talk – instead of telling yourself that you made a mistake, you can instead view it as an opportunity to learn. This doesn’t mean you are neglecting the problem.
- Surround yourself with positive events or people – positive thinking has a greater impact when you surround yourself with other positive people and situations. They can have a direct influence on your mood, so a little extra positivity will boost your motivation.
- Positive Visualisation – when you visualise a situation, then we tend to find more opportunities for finding ways to solve any problems we are having. Next time you visualise an issue, use positive self-talk as well. This will help you to find solutions to make your thoughts a reality.
With practice, it is possible for you to change your way of thinking and your self-talk, which includes your inner dialogue, the way you speak to and about yourself and what you’re experiencing.
You must try to be positive, no matter how negative you think the situation is.
Once you understand the way that you currently see things, then you can make a more active effort to learn to look at things differently as and when you are presented with these situations.
Practice, Practice & Practice Some More
A lot of people often fail at adopting their positive thinking methods because they just want immediate results.
When this change doesn’t happen overnight, then they can turn their backs altogether on any form of positive thinking.
Positive thinking isn’t magic and will not transform you into a positive person overnight, it is a more continuous process of learning to practice the mentions above and not give up on them.
If you aren’t careful, then excessive negative thinking will have an effect on your personal and work life and you may end up being faced with finding a settlement agreement solicitors if your manager is unhappy with the way that this has been affecting your work.
In order for you to turn your brain from thinking negative thoughts to positive ones, then you need to practice over time.
Positive thinking is not a superpower, it is an attitude that helps you to manage any negative situations by taking on a positive approach.