We’ve all heard people say it – ‘think positive’. Well now, it’s actually considered to be one of the most powerful assets you can have – a consistently positive outlook on life. People who exhibit optimism on a regular basis attract success, good health, a big social network, and oodles of happiness. This is not a matter of luck. And in actual fact, their happy persona is not just a result of them having all of those wonderful things. Research can now confirm that positive results and happy endings are actually a product of positive and optimistic thinking. As the law of attraction goes – positive thoughts foster positive results.
So, how does this happen? Let’s begin by looking at negative thought processes. Our brains are programmed to narrow our thinking when a negative thought goes through our minds. For instance, when we’re full of sorrow and despair at the loss of a loved one, we can think of nothing else except trying to grieve. Or, if an intruder were to break in to your house, your thoughts are automatically streamlined to focus on nothing other than keeping you and your families safe.
The above examples may be extreme examples of what happens when we have negative thoughts and emotions, but unfortunately our brains respond to all negative emotions the same way. We instinctively shut off all the other events and happenings in our outside world, and automatically limit all other possible options and choices that surround us. Our thinking becomes streamlined, and it therefore becomes hard to see a way out.
On the contrary, positive thoughts and emotions open up a world of exciting opportunities. When you experience joy, love, or celebration, the possibilities in your life appear almost endless, and the number of options and choices you have about how to continue seem to inflate ten-fold. Positive thoughts can help us to see that the world is our oyster.
But wait, there’s more. They types of thoughts and cognitions we have today stay with us for a long, long time, and help to shape the journey of our lives more than we’d imagine. The biggest benefit of positive emotions is they enable us to construct and cultivate skill sets and cognitive resources that we can use later in life.
Not quite clear yet? This may help you to understand a little better. Your six year old daughter is enjoying a play at the park with friends. The skills involved in this will last much longer than the positive emotions that initiated them. The social and communication skills that she uses to chat and joke with her friends will help her develop the positive skills necessary in leading managing staff in a future employment role. The enjoyment of participating in the physical aspect of play could lead to her confidence in her physical self being established to the point where she’s capable of trialling for a representative sports team. And the simple joy of playing at the park opens a child’s creative mind and will transpire into much more widespread creativity at a more mature age.
Happiness is essential to building the skills that promote success. Happiness is therefore both the precursor to success, as well as the result of it.
If you wish to increase the amount of happiness and positive thinking in your life, give these things a go:
- The moment you sense a negative thought going through your head, take a deep breath, and immediately think of a relevant and appropriate positive thought. Then keep repeating this to yourself until you feel yourself relax and let go.
- Replace all ‘I can’ts’ with ‘I cans’. After all, whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re always right!
- Expect good things to happen. See the positive in all circumstances. Make any challenge you face an opportunity. Never second guess an opportunity – pounce straight on them. What have you got to lose?
- Stop hanging out with negative people. Surround yourself with enthusiasm, bubbliness, laughter, and positivity. Negative people drain you and will make your world seem small. Positive people make you feel as light as a feather and will show your where opportunity lies.
- Do only what makes you happy. If it doesn’t make you happy, don’t do it.
- Walk tall, with a smile on your face, and exuberate confidence and happiness.
- When embarking on new goals, challenges, or adventures, always visualise a positive outcome. You need to mentally pave the path for the direction you wish to take. Your thoughts drive you, your actions direct you, and put together they’ll take you to the place you’d initially visualised.
It’s a no brainer. Everyone would love more positivity in their life, and more happiness. It’s been proven time and time again that happy people encounter less sickness and disease, but they also live longer too. It’s simple. Think positive, it’s really powerful.
Email corinne@fitfixnz.co.nz
