“I can’t do it.”
“I’m not good enough.”
Do you often find yourself thinking any of these thoughts? If so, you may be struggling with negative thoughts, which can hamper productivity, lower your self-esteem and even affect your physical and mental health if allowed to persist too long. Studies have found that stress and pessimism can activate a hormone known as cortisol, which suppresses our immune system and makes us more susceptible to illness.1
Instead of letting yourself wallow in negative and unhelpful thoughts, it’s time to put your health first and embrace positive thinking.
What is positive thinking?
Positive thinking is all about a can-do attitude. The next time you catch yourself wrestling with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety or depression, try focusing on one of the following positive statements.
- I can do this.
- I have what it takes to achieve my goals.
- There are people who love me for being myself.
- Every mistake and failure builds me up as a person and provides a learning opportunity.
The chances are, you’ll start feeling better almost immediately.
Tips for thinking positively
Of course, when times are tough, or failures and setbacks seem almost part of your daily routine, thinking positive thoughts can seem nearly impossible. However, when there’s a will there’s a way. Here are some tips for thinking positively even in the face of adversity.
- Make a list of things you’re good at. Instead of focusing on all the things you can’t do, make a list of the things you can. You’ll realize you have plenty of talents and skills. So what if you’re not good at one particular activity? No one can succeed at every single thing they do, so treat every setback as an opportunity for learning and character-building.
- Walk confidently. If you walk around with a hunched posture, shoulders slouched and eyes down, you give off the impression of lacking confidence. Try standing straight, pulling your shoulders back and making eye contact with the people you meet. Literally holding your head up high can make you more confident even in a challenging situation.
- Spend time with loved ones. We all draw support and comfort from the presence of friends and family. If the worries of life seem overwhelming, take some time off to relax and unwind in the presence of your loved ones. You’ll find your mood lifts, thoughts become more confident and joyous and best of all, you’ll be re-energized when you get back to work
- Encourage someone else. When we compliment and encourage others, we are cultivating friendly and mutually supportive relationships, and actually stimulating our feelings of well-being and happiness.1,2 Nobody wants to spend time with grumpy and negative individuals — but if you’re always ready with a kind word or compliment, your colleagues, friends and family will be more inclined to lend you a listening ear or helping hand in your time of need. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around!
Sources
- Stress.Mental Health Foundation. Visited 9 March 2016.
- Optimism: a report from the Social Issues Research Centre. The Social Issues Research Centre. February 2009.
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