Positive Thinking Does a Body Good
The COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation from mandated social distancing. Social injustice challenges. Political and economic upheaval. Environmental threats. And then there’s just the everyday human, family living drama which begins upon waking. Taken separately or compounded, these issues are enough to believe a growth of patients on psychiatrists’ couches inevitable. And then there’s the likely corresponding increase in prescriptions to curb mental stress) …
Feeling sad or stressed for an extended period can lead to depression if not resolved, but how does negative thinking impact one’s general health and wellbeing? Research has shown: positive thinking people tend to have fewer colds, live longer, and enjoy an overall state of good health. Okay then, ‘Research.’
Young Again
The correlation isn’t all that hard to understand, really. A direct connection exists between our emotions and our physical body. We’ve seen examples of this with anger raising blood pressure (not good), fear or sadness stimulating nausea (still not good), or happiness creating a sensation of euphoria in the brain and calming of the blood vessels (not drug induced, so, yay). For those who practice positive thinking daily, the immune system is heightened by increased levels of hormones. These hormones are designed to build resistance to common infections such as colds and the influenza virus (plain old ‘flu’).
When it comes to positive thinking, the adage ‘young at heart’ comes to mind. The physical characteristics of growing older can be noticeable as relatively healthy folk age, but for those who faithfully practice destressing and maintain a positive outlook on life, inwardly these ‘seniors’ remain ‘young’ and confident and their energy levels remain high. Even those faced with life-ending challenges still possess a powerfully sage and positive attitude.
Balancing the Flipside
Feeling in control of one’s life, handling circumstances with optimism in general, aids making good choices in other areas of life. Those who feel relaxed, confident, and in control, tend to eat better foods, exercise more, pursue constructive endeavors, and spend more time with family and friends. These activities, in and of themselves, contribute to good health and wellbeing both mentally and physically. And then, there’s the flipside …
People who primarily think negatively about their circumstances, don’t look after their nutritional needs and don’t exercise regularly; they’re more focused on finding ways to escape feelings of sadness, stress, and depression. ‘Escape’ takes forms of habits such as overeating or less-healthy eating (maybe both), vices like cigarettes, drugs and alcohol—all of which tend to feed a vicious cycle of (more) negative thoughts.
Experiencing emotional wellbeing and balance through positive thinking doesn’t mean never feeling sad or upset about things. Nor does it mean thinking positive to the exclusion of addressing problems. What it means is, using mental tactics to reduce stress, remaining positive despite life’s challenges. At the root of ‘finding a silver lining,’ is realizing that, while you are unique (in all your ‘no two fingerprints’ glory), many of your struggles in life aren’t unique. It’s been lived before, resolved before. People with life-threatening health problems have gone into remission or seen immediate improvement in their symptoms when they focus on the good in life outside their health problems.
A Learning Experience
There are plenty books, videos, and apps with guidance and suggestions on applying the powers of positive thinking in everyday living. Research to find those methods most appealing and effective for you, your lifestyle.
Positive thinking isn’t a cure-all, isn’t a magic solution, but the practice does have its mental and physical benefits. It’s worth looking into: nothing beats a failure but a try. Emotional wellbeing is one of the most important gifts we can give ourselves. Performing regular emotional checkups, ensuring we do something to foster emotional wellbeing, is essential to maintaining a healthy life.
Until the next blog, stay serif and stay safe/well.
