Think Positive make life better

This kind of thinking typically starts with self-talk — the inner narrative of unspoken thoughts that run through our heads. Over the course a day, these semi-automatic thoughts vary in terms of their positive and negative intensity depending on any number of factors. Some of this self-talk arises from logic and reason, while others are instigated by misconceptions, stress, biases, the influence of others, and even hormonal triggers. Proponents of positive thinking say it's important for us to be aware of our negative thoughts so that we can replace it with a more positive frame.

Studies do indeed show that there are many positive social and health benefits to be had by adopting such thinking, but there's a danger in taking this idea too far, or in overstating its potential to meaningfully change our lives. As we're learning, many of the claims made by positive thinking gurus are exaggerated. Some attempts to apply positive thinking can even backfire. And worse, they can even be construed as a form of victim blaming at the expense of recognizing larger structural problems.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Intuitively, it shouldn't really come as a surprise that positive thinking leads to positive health outcomes — and there's plenty of research to back this assumption up.