The problem with positive thinking as an approach is that it operates at the surface level of conscious thoughts. It does nothing to contend with the subconscious mind where negative self-talk and limiting beliefs really live. If you've tried thinking positively, you know that it can be a difficult habit to maintain.
The real obstacle to positivity is that our brains are hard-wired to look for and focus on threats. This survival mechanism served humankind well back when we were hunters and gatherers, living each day with the very real threat of being killed by someone or something in our immediate surroundings.
People who strive hard for happiness set themselves up for failure and often end up more miserable than their less happiness-obsessed counterparts. They also tend to be lonelier and are at greater risk for both manic episodes and depression. Better to stumble across positivity than to chase it down.
The health benefits of positive thinking
Lower rates of depression. Lower levels of distress and pain. Greater resistance to illnesses. Better psychological and physical well-being.
Positive thinking is important because it can have a beneficial impact on both physical and mental well-being. People who maintain a more positive outlook on life cope better with stress, have better immunity, and have a lower risk of premature death.
It's often overlooked, but positive thinking is actually an important key to success. Changing your outlook on life to one of positivity builds resilience, improves relationships, boosts work performance, makes you happier and healthier, and leads to increased satisfaction with life — and more success, as a result.
Research shows that our brains evolved to react much more strongly to negative experiences than positive ones. It kept us safe from danger. But in modern days, where physical danger is minimal, it often just gets in the way. It's called the negativity bias.
The human brain has a natural tendency to give weight to (and remember) negative experiences or interactions more than positive ones—they stand out more. Psychologists refer to this as negativity bias. “Our brains are wired to scout for the bad stuff” and fixate on the threat, says psychologist and author Rick Hanson.
Negative thoughts lead to stress, which can impact your heart rate, blood pressure, and more. It can disrupt your sleep and leave you more vulnerable to illness. That's why it's so important to stop being negative and focus on the positive.
Euphoria – intense and the all-encompassing sense of joy or happiness, often experienced when something extremely positive and exciting happens. Contentment – peaceful, comforting, and low-key sense of happiness and well-being.
Having a positive outlook naturally results in a more optimistic view of life. Rather than thinking “the grass is greener on the other side,” you'll feel that you're already on greener grass. You'll see the positive side to most situations, helping you deal with negative events.
While being positive is great, you should not be neglecting your negative emotions just to be happy. Mental health experts share how to avoid toxic positivity and handle your emotions better. Forcing Yourself to be Positive Can Actually Harm Your Mental Health!
Yes. Maintaining a positive mindset isn't always easy. It's about a choice and it requires effort, but it's absolutely possible.
Our brains have been hardwired through evolution to focus on the negative. Traced back to prehistoric days, primitive man had to be able to register threats to avoid danger and increase survival rates. Individuals who were more attuned to danger (negative stimuli) stayed alive longer and passed on their genes.
Intrusive thoughts are often triggered by stress or anxiety. They may also be a short-term problem brought on by biological factors, such as hormone shifts. For example, a woman might experience an uptick in intrusive thoughts after the birth of a child.
When it comes down to it, positive, optimistic people are happier and healthier, and enjoy more success than those who think negatively. The key difference between them is how they think about and interpret the events in their life.
As humans, we're programmed to experience negative emotions more intensely than positive ones. In psychology, this is known as a negativity bias; a tendency of our brains to register negative events or feelings more strongly than happy memories.
It's natural to feel more pessimistic when things aren't going so well in our lives. Regular or even constant negative thinking can also be a sign of anxiety, depression, stress or low self-esteem. This sounds a bit strange, but negativity can also be contagious.
Too much positivity is toxic because it can harm people who are going through difficult times. Rather than being able to share genuine human emotions and gain unconditional support, people who are faced with toxic positivity find their feelings dismissed, ignored, or outright invalidated.
A Happier, Healthier, and More Successful You
It's common to think we'll feel good when we achieve “success,” but the truth is that by focusing on feeling good, we're actually more likely to be successful.
A positive attitude helps to cope with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. Adopting positive thoughts for your way of living will bring constructive changes into your days and make you happier and more successful.