While you may rely on positive thinking to lift your spirits and relieve stress, the Mayo Clinic indicates that positive thinking also can improve your health. According to University of Wisconsin-Madison Psychology Professor Carol Ryff, the brain's positive thinking can then affect the body and result in health benefits that can motivate a person to take a glass half-full approach to life.
Reduced Depression Rates
Depression is a condition where chemical changes in the brain or changes in a person's life lead to intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness. According to the Mayo Clinic, those who adopt a positive attitude about life are less likely to experience the symptoms of depression. Because depression can affect several aspects of a person's life, including interpersonal relationships, this reduced risk is beneficial to a person's well-being as well as health.
Improved Immune Function
A study led by Suzanne C. Segerstorm, a psychology professor at the University of Kentucky, found that a person's immune system functions better when a person has an optimistic attitude, according to MedlinePlus. Instead of comparing pessimistic and optimistic people, the study compared a person against themselves. This meant comparing a person's immune function when she felt optimistic to immune function when she felt pessimistic. While more research is to be conducted, this could suggest a link between improved ability to fight off illnesses by maintaining a positive attitude.
Lesser Risk of Heart Disease Death
According to the Mayo Clinic, those who think optimistically are less likely to pass away from heart disease or a cardiac event. This could result from a person with a positive attitude having lower stress hormone levels and reduced inflammation, which could result in lower cardiovascular disease risk, according to "USA Today."
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