Cultivate a Positive Mindset for Better Health and Success

Create a happier and more positive life with these tips.

Are you a glass-half-empty or half-full kind of person? 

Both types of mindset can impact your physical and mental health. A positive mind is powerful, and with the right attitude, you can achieve a lot in your life.

Live life from the inside out, not the other way around. That means you can control what happens to you by maintaining the right mind. Of course, it doesn't mean everything will always go how you want it, but you can confront it more easily by being positive.

Now that you know what developing a positive mindset can do, let's look at some daily steps to help you pursue a happy mind.

Surround Yourself With Positive People

Being positive or negative is very contagious.

A positive person can light up a whole room and fill it with energy and good vibes. Surrounding yourself with positive people can improve your self-esteem and increase your chances of reaching your goals.

Being around positivity will lift you and help you see the bright side of the most challenging things.  

Exercise

Exercising increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline, and endocannabinoid.

These are all brain chemicals associated with feeling confident, happy, capable, and less anxious and stressed. So, try to fit in a little daily exercise to help lift your mood!

Eat Fresh Food

Ultra-processed food can sabotage your happiness and mood. Specifically, overeating sugar long-term can affect your health, including the risk of depression and anxiety.

On the other hand, you can feel energized and focused by eating a meal of fresh ingredient foods, such as legumes with vegetables.

So, think about what you eat to impact your mood in the best possible way.

Focus On The Bright Side of Things

Challenging situations are a part of life, so when faced with one, focus on the good thing. No matter how small it might seem at first. If you look hard enough, you can always find the silver lining in every cloud.

For example, if your friend cancels that trip to the movies, focus on how it frees up time for you to catch up on other things or activities you enjoy.

Practice Gratitude

Think of loved ones, moments, or things that bring you comfort or happiness, and try to express gratitude to others at least once a day.

Practicing gratitude can help reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and foster resilience even during difficult times. 

For example, say "thank you" to a coworker for their help, a family member for being there for you, or your pet for the unconditional love — everything counts.

Open Yourself Up To Humor And Laugh

Embrace laughter and humor, especially in difficult situations, as a powerful tool for coping with stress. Humor can provide relief, shift perspectives, and foster camaraderie, reminding us we are not alone. It acts as a psychological buffer, reducing anxiety and fear, and can enhance problem-solving by promoting creativity. Laughter releases endorphins, alleviating stress and boosting well-being, contributing to resilience. Cultivating humor helps navigate life's challenges, offering joy and balance amidst chaos.

Start Your Day With A Small Happy Ritual

Create an uplifting and positive ritual you can easily do every day, preferably just after waking up.  

For example:

• Listen to a happy song or playlist

• Give yourself a compliment

• Do something nice for someone else

Make this the first thing you do before you pick up your phone, turn on the news or doomscroll to positively impact your mood.

Meditate

Try boosting positive feelings by meditating. Take actionable steps toward changing your thoughts. Even a minute or two at a time makes a difference.

When a negative thought begins to arise, you'll be able to let go, and with time you can train your brain to engage in ideas that feel good instead.

If you find yourself stuck with a negative thought, try the following:

Write down negative thoughts and start asking yourself questions about them.

• Is the thought fact or more of an opinion?

• How will you feel about it tomorrow or in a week?

• What would you tell a close friend if they had that feeling?

Then come up with an alternative statement that shifts your thoughts more positively. For example, instead of thinking, "I'm a failure because I made a mistake," believe that you learned a good lesson that will help you grow and  improve.

Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.

Positive thinking is not a magic silver bullet; it won't make all your problems disappear. But it can push issues to appear more manageable and easier to approach.  

Studies have shown that people who are optimistic and with a general positivity have a significantly lower risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, cancer, infection, and respiratory diseases.

Apart from this, positive thinking is proven to benefit you in the following ways:

• Better quality of life

• Higher energy levels

• Better psychological and physical health

• Faster recovery from injury and illness

• Fewer colds

• Lower rates of depression

• Better stress management and coping skills

• And a longer life span

Begin by implementing a few of these things this week to see how your mindset improves. Taking steps toward intentionally improving your mindset is an integral part to improving your health and wellbeing holistically!

References

The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Barbara L Fredrickson https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15347528/

Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Julieta Galante, Ignacio Galante, Marie-Jet Bekkers, John Gallacher https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24979314/

Go for it! Exercising makes you happy and strong. M Illario, V De Luca, A Cano, D Tramontano https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34447722/

Crum, Alia J., and Ellen J. Langer. 2007. Mindset matters: Exercise and the placebo effect. Psychological Science 18, no. 2: 165-171. https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/3196007

Sugar intake and expectation effects on cognition and mood. Grace E Giles, Benjamin F Avanzato, Belén Mora, Nicole A Jurdak, Robin B Kanarek https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29863386/

All content of this blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this blog.

Kelly Sherman, MS, NC, CGP, CPT, is a licensed nutritionist specializing in empowering women to reclaim their health by cutting through misinformation and ditching the diet culture. She has a master’s degree in nutrition and is degreed in exercise science as well as a certified personal trainer. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she combines the best of both nutrition and exercise sciences to best help her clients reach their potential. To nourish is to flourish!