Positive people have a way of making others feel jubilant, too. And as a result, everyone's lives are a whole lot more, well, positive. A previous version of this article appeared in September Are you as happy as you could be? Sign up for our newsletter and join our day happiness challenge to become a happier, healthier version of yourself.
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Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes. Follow Us. Terms Privacy Policy. Part of HuffPost Wellness. All rights reserved. Thomas Jackson via Getty Images. Positive thinking does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most of the potentially bad situations, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.
Some researchers, including positive psychologist Martin Seligman , frame positive thinking in terms of explanatory style. People with an optimistic explanatory style tend to give themselves credit when good things happen, but typically blame outside forces for bad outcomes.
They also tend to see negative events as temporary and atypical. On the other hand, individuals with a pessimistic explanatory style often blame themselves when bad things happen, but fail to give themselves adequate credit for successful outcomes.
As you can imagine, blaming yourself for events outside of your control or viewing these unfortunate events as a persistent part of your life can have a detrimental impact on your state of mind. Positive thinkers are more apt to use an optimistic explanatory style, but the way in which people attribute events can also vary depending upon the exact situation. For example, a person who is generally a positive thinker might use a more pessimistic explanatory style in particularly challenging situations, such as at work or at school.
In recent years, the so-called "power of positive thinking" has gained a great deal of attention thanks to self-help books such as "The Secret. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine , positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits including:. One study of 1, older adults found that positive thinking could also reduce frailty during old age. Clearly, there are many benefits of positive thinking , but why exactly does positive thinking have such a strong impact on physical and mental health.
One theory is that people who think positively tend to be less affected by stress. Another possibility is that people who think positively tend to live healthier lives in general; they may exercise more, follow a more nutritious diet, and avoid unhealthy behaviors.
While the terms "positive thinking" and "positive psychology" are sometimes used interchangeably, it is important to understand that they are not the same thing. First, positive thinking is about looking at things from a positive point of view.
Positive psychology certainly tends to focus on optimism, but it also notes that while there are many benefits to thinking positively, there are actually times when more realistic thinking is more advantageous. For example, in some situations, negative thinking can actually lead to more accurate decisions and outcomes.
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Healthy Lifestyle Stress management. Products and services. Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Carver CS, et al. Clinical Psychology Review. Hernandez R, et al. Health Behavior and Policy Review. Applebaum AJ, et al. Optimism, social support, and mental health outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. Seaward BL. Experts recommend these key ways to build yours:.
Cardiovascular car-dee-oh-vas-cue-ler disease : Problems of the heart or blood vessels, often caused by atherosclerosis—the build-up of fat deposits in artery walls—and by high blood pressure, which can weaken blood vessels, encourage atherosclerosis and make arteries stiff. Heart valve disorders, heart failure and off-beat heart rhythms called arrhythmias are also types of cardiovascular disease. Immune response : How your immune system recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, toxins and other harmful substances.
A response can include anything from coughing and sneezing to an increase in white blood cells, which attack foreign substances. Health Home Wellness and Prevention.
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