Developing a Positive Mindset
Shandra Martinez
| 2 min read
There are many benefits to having a positive mindset. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2017 followed 70,000 women from 2004 to 2012 and found those who were optimistic had a significantly lower risk of dying from several major ailments, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, infection and respiratory diseases.
The next time life hands you a lemon, keep this in mind from the Mayo Clinic: “Positive thinking can increase your lifespan, reduce rates of depression and levels of distress, give you greater resistance to the common cold, improve your overall psychological and physical well-being, improve your cardiovascular health and protect you from cardiovascular disease, and help you build coping skills to keep you afloat during challenging times.”
PositivePsychology.com defines a positive mindset as “making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining and making the best out of any situation you find yourself in.”
Positive attitudes can include:
- Finding humor in difficult situations.
- Accepting the unexpected without complaint.
- Making someone else smile.
- Starting the day with a positive affirmation.
- Motivating others around you with positive words and actions.
- Being friendly to strangers.
- Lifting others up.
- Giving a genuine compliment to someone.
- Having a good sense of humor.
- Being happy with what you have.
- Transforming negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
Get started on developing a more positive lifestyle by:
- Starting a gratitude journal.
- Writing down three positive things that happened during the day.
- Talking with family and friends about the positive things that happened during the day.
- Being kind to yourself and others.
- Exercising regularly.
- Connecting with others.
- Balancing sleep.
- Eating healthy foods.
- Finding time to practice self-care.
- Seeing the bigger picture.
Learn more about developing a positive mindset in this Blue Cross Virtual Well-BeingSM webinar, Hunt for the Positive Things in Your Life. You can also sign up for future employer-or individual-focused webinars and guided meditations here.
Photo credit: Getty Images
