Positive Thinking

Recent studies have shown that having a positive self-image plays an important role in your well-being. Researchers studied the death rates of a group of people who had taken a personality test 30 years ago. Not surprisingly, they found that pessimists tended to die younger than optimists.

Although the researchers didn’t know why pessimism led to early death, they suggested pessimists might be less likely to care for themselves, have regular checkups, keep doctor appointments and follow their doctors’ advice. Pessimists are also more likely to be depressed and think that every downturn is a hopeless catastrophe.

If you think you are pessimistic, try the following:

• Surround yourself with people who think positively
• When you think everything is going wrong, remind yourself that bad times don’t last.
• For every negative thought, make a list of everything that is going right in your life.
• Whenever you think of Worst Case Scenario, imagine the Best Case Scenario.
• Focus on things you can control; try to change them for the better.

Two things you can control in this world are your appearance and your state of mind. To be content with what you are and how you look is a great accomplishment-which means a great degree of cultivation and practice. What you are is directly related to what you think.

Positive thinking will make you energetic, enthusiastic, and healthy. While negative thinking will make you depressed and unhealthy, possibly bringing about a devastating effect on your life. Your positive and negative thoughts can affect the outcome of your expectations in everyday matters.

If you start thinking you can not do anything right, you will probably lose heart and give up before you even give the matter a try. On the other hand, a positive thought such as “there has to be a solution to this problem” will motivate you to look for the solution. And if you persist you quite possibly could succeed. Often success comes from repeatedly trying to find a solution and refusing to give up.

Your thoughts greatly influence your personal problems. Negative thoughts and self image are common in bad moods and depression, whereas positive self image and thoughts are associated with feeling good and being happy.

The first step in changing our attitudes is to change our inner conversations.

What Should We Be Saying?

One approach is called the three C's: Commitment, Control and Challenge.

Commitment

Make a positive commitment to yourself, to learning, work, family, friends, nature, and other worthwhile causes. Praise yourself and others. Dream of success. Be enthusiastic.

Control

Keep your mind focused on important things. Set goals and priorities for what you think and do. Visualize to practice your actions. Develop a strategy for dealing with problems. Learn to relax. Enjoy successes. Be honest with yourself.

Challenge

Be courageous. Change and improve each day. Do your best and don't look back. See learning and change as opportunities. Try new things. Consider several options. Meet new people. Ask lots of questions. Keep track of your mental and physical health. Be optimistic.

Studies show that people with these characteristics are winners in good times and survivors in hard times. Research shows that,"... people who begin consciously to modify their inner conversations and assumptions report an almost immediate improvement in their performance. Their energy increases and things seem to go better ..." Commitment, control and challenge help build self-esteem and promote positive thinking.

Like other bad habits, negative thinking can be very difficult to change. You can only change it by practice, practice, and more practice. The more you flood your mind with positive thought alternatives by reading and practicing them, the more your thoughts and feelings will change for the better. Many people witness the power of positive thinking when they practice and repeat affirmations for spiritual growth such as, "I will face each new day with peace and love in my heart." It may take months of daily effort changing your habits of negative thinking before you notice much change in your feelings, however. But sticking with it and changing your attitude to a positive one will only lead to a higher level of success and satisfaction in the long run. Why not start today?