Why Is Having a Positive Mental Attitude So Important?

First of All, What Is a Positive Mental Attitude? 

A positive mental attitude, or positive mindset, is practicing a positive outlook in your everyday life. Here on the Spread Love team, we know that not everyday is easy. Practicing the mindset of positivity, however, will help you make the most of the bad days and capitalize on the good ones. Start reaping the benefits of positivity today with our tips: 

What Are The Benefits of Having a Positive Outlook On Life? 

Starting your day off with positive self-talk offers several benefits that can impact you for years to come. Want to live longer, get sick less and navigate the tough days more gracefully? Adopt a positive outlook now!

Positivity Can Help You Live Longer

Over the years, several researchers have studied whether having a positive attitude makes a difference for your health. In 2019, research organization PNAS found that practicing positive thinking can increase your lifespan by 11 to 15%! The great news is that practicing positivity is a free and useful tool that anyone can implement immediately.

In fact, PNAS predicts that by just practicing positive thoughts, we are more likely to “achieve “exceptional longevity” – that is, living to 85 or beyond!” Think about it – just adding a few more positive thoughts into your day can add years to your life!

Next time you feel a negative emotion creeping in, just remember that viewing the situation in a positive light can help you live longer. 

You’re Less Likely to Get Sick

Did you know? Just having a positive mental attitude can prevent you from getting sick? According to WebMD, “When people in one study were exposed to the flu and common cold, those with a positive outlook were less likely to get sick and reported fewer symptoms.” 

As the saying goes “your mentality is your reality”, meaning the fear of being sick may actually make it happen.

In another study reported by WebMD, “women who were more optimistic were less likely to die from cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and infection.” In other words, having a positive outlook can not only help prevent common illnesses, but more serious ones as well. 

For the very sake of your health now and down the road, it’s beneficial to stop negative self-talk and be a positive thinker. 

Positivity Can Be Easier to Get Through Hardship

Ron Siegel, PsyD, an assistant professor of psychology at Harvard put it best:

“Positive psychology is not about denying difficult emotions. It’s about opening to what is happening here and now, and cultivating and savoring the good in your life.”

Creating a foundation of positivity allows you to more easily get through difficult times. In other words, it’s easier to navigate through negative situations when you’re used to looking on the bright side. Take mindfulness for an example:

By focusing on the present instead of worrying about the future, you can reduce the impact of physical or psychological symptoms you may be experiencing. Start implementing mindfulness today with Siegel’s free meditation resources. 

Having Too Many Negative Thoughts? 

To make a change, you first need to take a look inward and diagnose where you’re struggling with negative thoughts. In other words, are there certain parts of the day or certain events that usually trigger negative thinking? To help with your self-reflection, we recommend taking Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s Positivity Self Test.

After completing the diagnosis, focus on improving one area at a time to slowly add more positivity in your day. Remember, it’s ok to ask for help during this time. Lean on friends, family members and even a counselor to ask how they practice positivity in situations where you struggle with negativity. Keep a journal or a private blog so you can look back and reflect on your progress in your positivity journey. 

Change The Narrative To a Positive One 

As easy as it is to forget, practicing the art of gratitude allows you to reflect on all the blessings in your life. So often it’s easy to get caught up in the things that went wrong during the day. Flipping the script and thinking of the things that went well, or that you’re thankful for, can fuel your brain with positivity throughout the day. Some examples of things you could be mindfully thankful for include:

• Your friends and family
• Your job and home
• The food you ate
• The coworker you talked to
• The event you recently went to with your friends
• The last vacation or trip you went on
  

Final Thoughts on Positivity

Living longer, keeping stronger health and navigating hardships more easily are only a few of the benefits that practicing a positive mental attitude can bring to your everyday life. Think about the ways that positivity can help make your life even better and start reaping the benefits today!

Want to spread some positivity into your loved one’s life? At Spreadlove.org, we help spread positivity in those around you with our free anonymous email service. Spread Love is helping you send hope and inspiration to a loved one daily.