Rhonda Byrne argues in her much-publicized book, "The Secret," that the secret to health, wealth and happiness is predicated upon positive thinking -- the idea that if you surround yourself with positive people and positive thoughts, positive things can follow. While it might not be that easy to get the perfect life, positive thinking can have a positive effect on your life. You'll soon find that positive thinking can cause positive changes and events to occur in your personal and professional lives and even in your health.
Expert Insight
Positive thinking actually triggers the brain to respond more acutely, a study performed by the psychology department of Stanford University found. Older adults were shown pictures of both positive and negative stimuli, and their brains were measured via functional magnetic resonance imaging. Positive images made the brain more responsive than negative images. It proves that positive thinking is necessary for brain function and even causes you to respond more positively as well.
Health Benefits
Reap the health benefits that positive thinking has to offer. The Mayo Clinic notes that positive thinking can bring about a longer life span, a greater quality of life, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, lower stress and depression levels and even a better immune system. Positive thinking can alter your life outlook so that you feel a greater sense of health and vitality, and project that feeling into real results in your health.
Relationship Benefits
Whether you apply your positive thinking to love, family or professional relationships, all can benefit from a sunny, can-do attitude. No relationship is perfect, but with a positive attitude you'll find yourself more optimistic and willing to work on your relationships to make them better. Someone who thinks negatively may think he can't improve relationships, or that it isn't even worth trying. Keep a positive attitude and see your relationships strengthen and flourish.
Self-Esteem
Through positive thinking you can even improve your relationship with yourself. Self-esteem is often directly related to your outlook on life. A positive attitude can affect your self-efficacy, notes Marilyn Albert, PhD, a Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives member and a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University. This ultimately improves your self-esteem as you realize that you are a positive contributor to your family, workplace and society in general.
Improvement
If positive thinking is a challenge for you, you can improve your outlook by taking small steps to ensure that you maintain a positive attitude. Tal Ben-Shahar, author of "Happier" and "The Pursuit of Perfect," notes to CBSNews that you should try spending more time on valuable relationships, and pare down your responsibilities so that you can focus on a few at a time. Eliminating stress from your life can help you think more positively about what you can contribute and the relationships that you have.
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