Do you often find yourself worrying about small things? Has stress gotten the best of you, and you constantly feel burdened? How having a positive attitude reduces stress.
How Having A Positive Attitude Reduces Stress
The coronavirus pandemic has significantly derailed all our plans for 2020. It has made us a prisoner in our own homes, too scared to step outside to do anything fun. These are indeed scary times that we are living in. But you know what’s a bigger pandemic than covid19? Negative thinking!
Man is inherently a negative being. Pessimistic thoughts and emotions come much easier to us than positive ones. We are much likelier to see a glass as half full than half empty. However, this does not at all mean that we cannot train ourselves to see things otherwise.
But why should we even bother with that? Well, this is what we will largely be talking about today!
When we are constantly focusing on the negatives around us, we end up feeling worthless and purposeless. We begin to question ourselves on everything and start obsessing over things that are not worth the worry. On the other hand, a positive attitude can have the opposite effect and result in us being much happier.
What Does Having A Positive Attitude Mean?
Before we start exploring how a positive attitude can help us achieve that, we need to be clear what a positive attitude consists of. Having a cheerful outlook on life does not mean that you bury your head in the sand whenever you suspect bad news.
On the contrary, it is all about finding the best ways to deal with life’s problems instead of just accepting them as your fate. It is the mindset that allows you to overcome bad experiences and correct whatever that has been going wrong.
How Can You Reduce Stress By Maintaining A Positive Attitude?
Unlike many might assume, being a positive person does not mean being happy all the time. If you are human, that is simply not possible. Positive and negative emotions are both a part of life and are equally essential for you. There is a fragile balance that must be kept between both ends of the spectrum. However, it is when this balance tilts to the negative side that things start getting tricky.
One of the things that we can avoid by adopting a positive attitude is undue stress. How, you ask? Let’s discuss
You tend to not overthink about the unseen future
People who think positively tend to worry less about the unseen future than those who are always consumed by pessimistic thoughts. Instead of stressing over things that have not even happened yet, they focus on the here and now.
They do not let their minds wander aimlessly or conjure up problems that do not exist in real life. They do not over-analyze and overthink every little thing, thus saving themselves from a lot of needless worrying!
You are more likely to identify the causes of your failures outside of yourself
Failures are a part of life, and no amount of positive thinking can save you from them if they are destined to happen. However, looking at your failures from a positive light can transform them from hurdles to life lessons.
If you have a positive approach to life, the chances are that you will identify the real causes of failure that exist outside of yourself. On the other hand, negative people tend to find faults within themselves that have caused things to go wrong. Who do you think has a better chance of trying again and succeeding?
The positive thinkers, of course! When you identify the causes of failures as external to yourself, you understand that a formula can turn that failure into a success. All you need are the right external conditions. Simultaneously, a negative person will conclude that they can never succeed because they are not built that way.
Looking at life from a positive angle can help you battle depression
Studies have shown that a positive attitude can help you effectively battle depression. There is scientific evidence of how thinking happy thoughts can lower your blood’s cortisol amount, which is essentially the stress hormone. Being constructive and optimistic in your thinking can significantly enhance your mental health, driving away depression and anxiety.
Optimists are way better equipped to handle stress than pessimists
Though positive thinkers are less likely to suffer from undue stress, this is not to say that their lives will ultimately be worry-free. Like every other person, they too will have problems that will make them tense and nervous. The difference is that they are much better equipped to deal with these heavy thoughts.
This is because a pessimist will come across a problem and give up right then and there. In contrast, an optimist will believe there is a sure solution to it. This will make them strive hard for that answer and work their way around in a logical manner. Hence, they will be able to overcome the challenges that life throws at them and kick stress to the curb.
A positive attitude is great for your physical health!
One of the biggest worries of our lives is our physical health. If there was no sickness in the world, our minds would have been so much lighter! But if you have the right frame of mind, it can actually get you these benefits.
Remember how we talked about cortisol and stress? Well, mental health is not the only thing that this hormone affects. Cortisol is also one of the biggest perpetrators behind deteriorating heart health and cardiovascular diseases.
And so, by avoiding the natural stimulation of cortisol in your body, you can actually guarantee better physical health. Read More Blogs
Wrapping It Up
Training yourself to be a positive person can bring loads of benefits in your life. It does not only mean better emotional and mental health but also improves your physical health. It increases your lifespan, helps your growth, and allows you to maintain a problem-solving approach. So, if you have been struggling with any of these, it is time to self reflect and direct your thoughts in a different direction!