5 Steps To Positive Thinking

Positive thinking can do more than lighten your mood--it can decrease your risk for heart attack and stroke. A study performed by Robert Gramling, MD, DSc, at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that pessimism can cause stress that puts you at risk for heart disease. Optimism and positive thinking can be your prescription to better health. To live a more positive lifestyle, try baby steps that allow you to reform the way you think and feel.

Be Rational

Realists may argue that rational thoughts are often negative. However, irrational thoughts can be negative as well. An irrational thought can be something such as "No one loves me" or "I'll never get a promotion." These thoughts use extremes to bring you down. According to MindTools.com, rational thoughts often correlate with positive thoughts, such as "I have people in my life who care about me" or "One day my hard work will be recognized."

Swap Thoughts

Conditioning your mind to think more positively can make positivity a reflex rather than something at which you have to work hard. When you have a negative thought, immediately swap it for three positive thoughts. For instance, grumbling that you hate the winter suddenly becomes the idea that you enjoy the snow, winter holidays, warm blankets and hot chocolate. It's nearly impossible to feel negative when you are constantly looking for the silver lining.

Sing a Song

Real Simple magazine has an easy way to banish negative thoughts. Pick a song that makes you feel instantly happy, whether it's a classical piece or a modern pop song. Smother your negative thoughts with this song by imagining it or humming it. Disrupting a negative thought with a mood-lifting song can make you effectively lose your train of thought and think of something more positive instead.

Self Talk

Negative self talk does nothing more than bring you down. The Mayo Clinic urges you to never say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to someone else. Instead of berating yourself for making a mistake, focus on what you can do to fix it. Affirm your worth by constantly recognizing your talents and the fact that you are a positive person, not a negative one. Soon you'll find that your positive self talk spreads to how you speak about others, effectively passing on your positive thoughts to those around you.

Exercise

Exercise has a positive effect on your mood and can banish depression, allowing you to think more positively. According to Harvard Medical School, exercise triggers the release of endorphins, the hormones that regulate your mood. Subsequently, you feel happier. Daniel M. Landers of Arizona State University notes that the positive outcome of exercise is usually achieved with vigorous fitness throughout the week.