Cultivating and sustaining a positive outlook on life can actually help you to develop and maintain functional relationships, an improved quality of life and enhanced physical health. Harvard University conducted a study, in which they discovered a direct link between optimism and the reduction of instances of stress and heart disease.
Repeat Affirmations
Improving self-talk can enhance your self-confidence and can redirect your thoughts to view the positive aspects of your life. Replace negative words with positive words and practice only using affirmative statements. Use phrases that suggest success, happiness and strength. Stand in front of the mirror and repeat encouraging statements of self-affirmation like "I deserve that job, I've really improved, I am worthy of finding love and happiness, and I've learned from my mistakes." Encouraging speech promotes self-affirmation and the desire to pursue and attain success in challenges. Psychology professor, Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D., says that a positive attitude allows you to recognize the difficulties you may face in pursuing your goals while you affirm your strength with the motivation to welcome the challenge.
Catalog Your Progress
Write a list of the improvements you've already made in your behavior, your thoughts, your image, and your goals in your personal and professional life. Maintain a journal to track the progress you've made. Make a list of the positive emotions you experience as you evaluate your achievements and reflect on those feelings before you analyze the areas of your life you may need to cultivate. Considering the mistakes you've made in the past has its place in positive thought, as well; optimism entails recalling mistakes, learning from them and using them as a guide through your prospects and aspirations for your future. Focus on the positive effects of your mistakes by replacing negativity with positive thoughts and actions. According to author and psychologist, Daniel Tomasulo, positivism "shifts our mindset toward finding and savoring the good things in our life which, in turn, allows for a genuine resilience in our spirit, mind, and body. Take a moment now to be peaceful and quiet, and allow yourself to think of a recent experience, large or small, that made you happy."
Visualize
Imagining a promising opportunity can help you to recognize the benefits of investing your time and effort. Picture your life after you get that promotion, buy the house or finish your degree. Take note of how your outlook on life changes from the satisfaction of your accomplishments, and use those images of success for the times you find self-doubt creeping in again. By taking an optimistic view of what the future holds, you're visualizing what you would like to achieve and envisioning the path you must follow in order to accomplish your goals. Resilience coach and clinical research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, Angie LeVan says that visualization is beneficial in positive thought because it can inspire motivation and stimulate the brain to promote self-affirmation.
References
- Harvard Science: Benefits of Optimism on Health
- MayoClinic.com: Positive thinking: Reduce stress, enjoy life more
- Psychology Today: If You Think You Can't... Think Again: The Sway of Self-Efficacy
- Psych Central: The Proof's in the Positive Thinking
- Wellness.com: Mental Exercises to live 125 years and beyond
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