How do you see life? Does a tiny negativity grow like a mountain and cover the beautiful nature behind it? Or do you climb the mountain and enjoy the view if necessary? In short, what is the answer to this question we always hear; Are you looking at the glass from the full side or the empty side? Positive thinking; It can reflect your outlook on life, your attitude towards yourself and whether you are optimistic or pessimistic, and it can even affect your health. Human nature is subjective, we all are. Let's say a stressful event is happening to you with your friend. As your friend calmly accepts this distress and seeks a solution, are you worried, not knowing what to do? However, the problem is the same. 2 people experiencing the same stress do not interpret the event the same or the solutions they will find in it are not the same. This is about how we see the events that happen to us. We can look at life events from the negative side as well as from the positive side. So what does positive thinking mean?
Positive thinking, in its shortest definition, is a state of focusing on the good. Our brain constantly generates thoughts. In general, we tend to be more prone to negative thoughts as our brains want to protect us against bad events. Remember; How long did your negative thoughts last and how long did they prevent you from seeing other good things that happened?
Personality traits such as optimism and pessimism affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that often comes with optimism is an important part of effective stress management. Effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. On the contrary, pessimistic thinking causes a lot of stress, which brings many health problems with itself.
However, there is a situation that should not be misunderstood here; Positive thinking does not mean burying the head under the ground like an ostrich. Everyone has unpleasant situations in their life. However, with positive thinking, we accept them as they are and begin to be more productive towards these unpleasantness. Therefore, it is very important to be able to approach events with positive thinking.
What Are the Benefits of Positive Thinking?
Day by day, we are starting to realize that the positive effects of positive thinking are even greater. Looking at people who think positively, it seems that they tend to have a healthier lifestyle. The benefits of being optimistic are not only psychological, but physically it has many positive effects. Some benefits of this way of thinking, which has many benefits, seem to be as follows;
-It helps to cope better with difficulties and stressful life events. Because these people are more steadfast, have a more solution-oriented approach to events and can approach a crisis situation more flexibly.
-Positive thinking individuals take more responsibility. Therefore, they make their own choices and know that happiness is in their own hands.
-People who think positively have lower rates of depression and anxiety.
-Provides better psychological and physical well-being.
-Optimistic individuals are more successful. Because these people are more self-confident and more determined.
-Positive thinking increases life expectancy.
-Cardiovascular health is better and therefore the risk of death from cardiovascular disease is reduced.
-These individuals; They do more physical activity, eat a healthier diet, and have less smoking or alcohol consumption.
Positive Thinking Exercises
Life is a combination of positive and negative events, it is a whole. When we think positively, we don't ignore the negative events, we just direct our attention to the positive. Just as we don't feel sorry for it at night and we know that the sun will rise, that's how life is. There are negative life events and we have to admit it. Thus, we can look at them positively and produce solutions. Therefore, being able to think positively should have a place in our lives.
If you think you are a negative and pessimistic individual and think, "How about positive thinking?", Don't worry, here are a few techniques for you;
It is not the events that cause the person to have problems, but the person's thoughts on the events.
Philosopher Epictetus
There are schemes that we have created since we were little and we continue our lives through these schemes. For example, if you start thinking 'I am already an unsuccessful person', you will probably start to approach the next events that way before they even fail. In the end, it would really fail and you would think, "I already knew." However, you failed just because you thought so from the beginning. Therefore, you can start looking at your experiences in a new light and change these schemas. For example, instead of saying "I cannot succeed", you can say to yourself, "I have had such success before and I can do it again".
Approach yourself as you approach your friends.
Unfortunately, we tend to be more cruel to ourselves than to our environment. Imagine having a cup of coffee with your friend. He tells you that he broke up with his lover and blames himself for it. What would you say to your friend in such a situation? You would probably use phrases like "Would it be like that, of course not your fault!" However, if you experienced the same situation yourself, your approach would probably be different. Therefore, when you judge yourself, consider: "If a friend of mine had this situation, what would I say to him?" With your answer, you can start thinking more positively.
Sometimes these negative thoughts overwhelm us that we end up feeling like we are in a cave with no light, and we don't know what to do while in this cave. In such cases, it may be necessary to get the help of a psychologist / online psychologist. With face-to-face or online therapy, you can change your way of thinking and therefore your lifestyle.
Don't be afraid to get help. Practice positive thinking!