{"id":3350,"date":"2024-03-15T10:34:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T15:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chsofwi.org\/?p=3350"},"modified":"2024-03-15T10:36:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T15:36:52","slug":"postitive-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chsofwi.org\/postitive-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Positive Thinking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Power of Positive Thinking blog post was written by Therapist Jennifer Weidner, MSW, LCS<\/a>W<\/a> at Community Health Systems.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has heard the comment: are you a cup half empty or cup half full person? It may seem like a silly phrase but actually has significant meaning, as it refers to the way in which we see the world, either from a positive or negative point of view. As we learn more about the strong connection between mind and body, the ways in which we think and process information have a profound impact on stress levels, happiness, and physical and mental health. Understanding, learning, and using the power of positive thinking is an important step in good self-care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is positive thinking?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Positive thinking, or an optimistic attitude is a way of viewing the world, events, and experiences, and making it a practice of focusing on the good in any given situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well instead of focusing on the worst-case scenario.  It also means positive people are looking for good things in their lives, as these are often passed over when people feel overwhelmed or tend to focus on what isn\u2019t going right in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what does a person do if they don\u2019t come by a positive attitude naturally? Are they destined to unhappiness and a cup half empty lifestyle? The good news is no, learning the art of positivity is a skill that can be learned. Some people come by this trait naturally but for those that don\u2019t, there is hope. By learning the right skills and techniques, a person can move away from their natural tendency toward pessimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of positive thinking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous studies that identify the many benefits of positive thinking. Some of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Physical Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Increased pain tolerance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Better overall health<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Increased ability to manage stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Greater impunity to illnesses such as the common cold<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Decreased risk of heart attack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Decreased depression<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Increased self confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • More effective coping skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Greater ability to solve problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Identify the negative<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Before anyone can make changes, it is first important to identify what are some of the current behaviors, thoughts or assumptions that support pessimism or negativity. Some types of negative thinking include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Black or white\/all or nothing thinking<\/strong>: This is a tendency to think in extremes. If something doesn\u2019t go exactly as expected, it is horrible, unfair, or unacceptable. Be aware of words like \u201calways\u201d or \u201cnever\u201d which can signal this rigid thinking pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Catastrophizing<\/strong>: Some people refer to this thought process as \u201cmaking a mountain out of a mole hill.\u201d Meaning, building up an issue to be bigger and more problematic than it really is or has to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Internalizing<\/strong>: This refers to the process of blaming self, making assumptions that the reason something has happened is your fault, even if there are no facts to back up this assumption. For example, if a friend doesn\u2019t call or text right away, the assumption maybe you did something to make them mad or they don\u2019t like you anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Focus on the negative<\/strong>: Sometimes, we appear to have \u201cblinders\u201d on and can only see the negative in a situation instead of all the good. For example, you have a cookout with friends, and you try a new recipe that doesn\u2019t turn out the way you had hoped. Instead of focusing on a night of laughs and spending time with friends, you allow the thought of the ruined side dish to overshadow the whole evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n