Achieve Better Health with a Positive Mindset

What’s the usual advice you get when you’re feeling down and out?

“This too shall pass…”

“Look on the bright side…”

“Think positive…”

While the wording may be different for each of these sentences, one thing is clear.  Whoever told you these things is an absolute optimist.

Positive thinking has long been associate with better well-being.  People who carry this mindset tend to live a happier existence and a lasting peace of mind.

Recent studies have shown, however, that a positive mindset can do more than just improve our lives mentally.  Researchers say that a positive mindset may also impact our overall health, mind and body, that is.

What benefits can you get from being a positive individual?

The Benefits of a Positive Mindset

Less stress

There’s no question that life isn’t perfect.  Setbacks and disappointments are bound to happen but what sets optimists apart is their ability to cope with such challenges.

While pessimists will likely dwell on their frustrations and suffer from the victim mentality, optimists will likely focus on what they can do to resolve the matter.

Optimists know full well that they can’t control everything so rather than wallow in defeat, they’d look for ways to get out of a sticky situation.

 

Peace of mind

Pessimists tend to worry about things that may not even happen, causing them to get stressed and anxious in the process.  People tend to lose control when they’re anxious and this is how things start to spiral downwards.

An optimist always has a positive outlook and they take things as they come.  By carrying a positive mindset, they have better peace of mind because they live in the belief that they can deal with anything that life throws their way.

 

Increased immunity

Researchers have found that the mind can have a powerful influence over the body.  If you live with a positive outlook, you’ll likely enjoy good health.

One area that proves this is our immunity.  One study has shown that activation in areas of the brain associated with negative emotions led to a weaker immune response to a flu vaccine.

Another study also showed that optimistic people exhibited a better immune response compared to pessimists.

 

Better overall wellness

Though researchers couldn’t exactly pinpoint how positive thinking leads to better health, some of them suggest that it may have something to do with their ability to cope with stress.

Positive people tend to take setbacks better.  Instead of engaging in unhealthy behavior, optimists tend to cope with positive means.  Which means, no alcohol, no drugs, and no pills.

They don’t get easily depressed either which can lead to a multitude of health conditions if not given the proper attention.

 

Resilience

Resilience is the ability of an individual to cope with problems that, unfortunately, not everyone possesses.  While optimists are strong enough to move forward and eventually overcome adversity, the same can’t be said with pessimists.

Negative thinkers tend to get overwhelmed and depressed by such situations and this is where the damage begins. They don’t eat, don’t sleep, drink alcohol, take drugs, or worse, take their own lives.

The good news is positivity can be cultivated with the right people and motivation.

Final Thoughts

The great Zig Ziglar once said that “positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will” and he couldn’t have said it any better.

Life is unpredictable and it can throw you a curveball just when you least expect it.  With a positive attitude, no curveball can ever bring you down because you always see the glass half full.  

The happier you are, the healthier you become.