◔ 5 minutes read
How positive thinking can improve all aspects of your life.
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." ―Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
2000 years ago, one of the wisest men that ever lived, wrote it in his private journal. Today, science says the same.
What Marcus Aurelius said
The ancient philosopher and emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, had a profound insight into the human condition - he believed that the quality of our thoughts directly impacts our level of happiness in life. This means that by controlling and improving the thoughts we have, we can create a more positive and fulfilling existence for ourselves.
What Science says
Science supports the idea that positive thinking can have a profound impact on our lives. Numerous studies have shown that positive thinking can lead to improved mental and physical health, increased resilience, and higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
For example, research has found that people with a positive outlook have lower levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, and higher levels of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine. This can lead to better immune function, reduced inflammation, and a lower risk of various health problems.
Additionally, positive thinking has been shown to boost self-esteem, increase motivation and goal attainment, and improve relationships with others. People who have a positive outlook are more likely to take action towards their goals and have a greater sense of control over their lives, which can lead to higher levels of success and satisfaction
What I say
According to my experience, both Marcus and Science are right. Thinking positively has had a profound impact on my life.
I always like to provide you with solutions based on my experiences and learnings. So here goes my personal trifecta for thinking positively:
Gratitude: I try to focus on the things I'm thankful for in my life and express gratitude for them regularly. This shifts my focus from what is going wrong to what is going right.
One good exercise I like to do for this is saying 3 things I am grateful for everyday when I wake up, trying not to repeat any of them the following day.
Self-Talk: I talk to myself as kindly as possible, as if I were my best friend. Every time something's gone wrong I say to myself "Don't worry, you got this", leaving negative thoughts aside.
One way you can achieve positive self-talking is, instead of dwelling on problems, focus on finding solutions. Look for ways to improve the situation and take positive actions. Focus always on solutions, not problems.
Mindfulness: The most important aspect of your life if you are trying to make meaningful changes. Why? Mindfulness means to be aware of our thoughts at all times, to pay close attention to our consciousness as much as we possibly can. If we are not mindful we just act and think in auto-pilot like we are used to, and we never change.
Mindfulness is harder to achieve than gratitude and self-talk, it requires more practice. But a very good way of getting instant mindfulness is through deep breathing.
If I feel negative thoughts are coming, I close my eyes and take deep breaths focusing on how my lungs gets filled with air. I relax and let those negative thoughts go through rational thinking, saying to myself that I'm having negative thoughts because whatever is troubling me is stressing me out, and that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of it.
Conclusion
Positivity can be a challenge, especially if you're used to negative thoughts. But with effort and persistence, you can turn things around. Start by following my recommendations, and gradually build up your positive thinking skills.