4 Proven Ways To Train Your Brain To Think Positively

On some level, you know the importance of positivity: it affects nearly every facet of your life, if you're a generally down-in-the-dumps kind of person, you'll like suffered consequences from it in many areas of your life, too. But beyond just generally making you feel better, there are some concrete reasons why a positive outlook can really, truly improve your life — many of which are backed by research. From your physical health to your ability to cope with setbacks, being positive can truly change your life for the better. Below are just a few of the most important reasons why it pays to be positive.

1. You'll be happier overall.

Of course, the most obvious benefit of a positive outlook is that you'll simply be happier. Positivity is not the same thing as being happy, but it can lead to it. Negativity correlates with unhappiness, but believing in best-case scenarios, viewing the glass as half-full and overall maintaining positivity can mean a much happier existence overall. 

Many people believe external factors make them happy. While it's true that some things can bring you joy, you won't achieve it long-term without a positive mentality to begin with.

2. You'll be physically healthier.

According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking has a number of benefits for your physical health, including improved cardiovascular health, higher resistance to the common cold and even increased life span — not to mention the psychological benefits, such as lower rates of depression. 

Other research supports this as well. For example, Johns Hopkins expert Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., and her colleagues found that people who had a family history of heart disease but also had a positive outlook were a third less likely to suffer from a cardiovascular-related event, such as a heart attack, with a 5-25 year window than those with the family history and a negative outlook, according to their study.

Numerous studies have found other links between positivity and overall health, and all come to the same conclusion: when it comes to physical well-being, a positive outlook can play a crucial role.

3. You'll be able to cope with setbacks.

Positivity doesn't mean believing that nothing bad with ever happen to you. Bad things will happen to you, as they do to everyone. But if you have a positive mindset, then you'll be better equipped to cope with negative circumstances. In other words, you'll achieve resiliency — the capacity to deal with problems include crises and loss.

You can't fix every problem, but you can see it through a more positive lens. Of course, you will encounter tragedy and will likely experience grief and pain. But while a pessimist will probably fall apart at the first sign of distress, an optimist or positive thinker will know how to pick up the pieces and move on or ask for help when she knows she needs support. 

Looking for ways to become a more positive person? Here are some strategies.

Instructions: How have you felt in the past day? Look back over the past day (i.e., from this time yesterday up to right now). Using the 0-4 scale below, indicate the greatest degree that you've experienced each of the following feelings.

0 = Not at all
1 = A little bit
2 = Moderately
3 = Quite a bit
4 = Extremely

Retraining your brain to think positively is similar to working out to build and strengthen muscle. It may not come naturally at first, but with time and practice the skill of positive thinking will become stronger and stronger — and you'll become a happier, more fulfilled person in the process.

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