We affect, and are affected by the people we meet, in one way or another. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through words, thoughts and feelings, and through body language.
Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people, and prefer to avoid negative ones?
Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information.
If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you’re likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.
What Negative Thoughts Do to Your Brain
Play along with me for a moment.
Let’s say that you’re walking through the forest and suddenly a tiger steps onto the path ahead of you. When this happens, your brain registers a negative emotion — in this case, fear.
Researchers have long known that negative emotions program your brain to do a specific action. When that tiger crosses your path, for example, you run. The rest of the world doesn’t matter. You are focused entirely on the tiger, the fear it creates, and how you can get away from it.
In other words, negative emotions narrow your mind and focus your thoughts. At that same moment, you might have the option to climb a tree, pick up a leaf, or grab a stick — but your brain ignores all of those options because they seem irrelevant when a tiger is standing in front of you.
This is a useful instinct if you’re trying to save life and limb, but in our modern society we don’t have to worry about stumbling across tigers in the wilderness. The problem is that your brain is still programmed to respond to negative emotions in the same way — by shutting off the outside world and limiting the options you see around you.
The health benefits of positive thinking
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
Putting positive thinking into practice
Negative self-talk | Positive thinking |
---|---|
I’ve never done it before. | It’s an opportunity to learn something new. |
It’s too complicated. | I’ll tackle it from a different angle. |
I don’t have the resources. | Necessity is the mother of invention. |
I’m too lazy to get this done. | I wasn’t able to fit it into my schedule, but I can re-examine some priorities. |
There’s no way it will work. | I can try to make it work. |
It’s too radical a change. | Let’s take a chance. |
No one bothers to communicate with me. | I’ll see if I can open the channels of communication. |
Great post! I especially loved the little negative vs positive thoughts table, it’s great to have a reference point for positive thoughts when being faced with a shitty situation which brings up negative thoughts.
I’d love it if you’d check out my new post at https://wp.me/p7thtM-sJ
Khanak x
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Thank you so much . Yes definately i will go through it .
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Wow..! the last comparisons.. That is good.. ! I am using some of them.. !
Learnt something.. 😊
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Thank you so much .
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Thank you for sharing it with us, inside of keeping it inside
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Loved it so much .
I think this one of the best article I’ve read about Positivity💯❤❤
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Thank you so much 😊
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Nice one
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Thank you for reading my post !!😊😊
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You are most welcome
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Good one!
Think positive and positive things will happen 🎁🎈
Way to go girl 😅
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Yup true , thanks a lot for your feedback on my post !!!!!😊😊
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Welcome 😊
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Excellent post!
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Thank you 😊
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Thanks for accepting and following my blog.
I’m available to read your post at my convenient time.
You have such an interesting topic I will love to read in
your blog.
I still remain the simple blogger…..
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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Yeah thanks to you too for taking out your time to come over on my blog , I will definitely enjoy blogging here as I got amazing blogger in my list !!!!!😊😊
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You are welcome
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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Hi
Thank you. I am happy to see your writing. It gives me a thoughtful thinking and am happy for that. That is always my intention to see a post that gives me happiness.
Am happy to share at least a part of that happiness and love here as am writing now.
What you said in your post is true, sometimes just a drop of that magical post in your blog is enough to get a person to be happy.
Good one
Well, If I wish to be happy is inevitable to keep the vibes flowing.
Cheers,
PATRICK
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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Hey Patrick , I am so glad to read your message . Thank you for your warm message and reading my blog post . It’s feel great ☺️☺️
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Thank you! I appreciate your thoughtful response.
Your beautiful reply is well noted. this post on your blog just made my Sunday morning.
I found delight love in what you just replied me.
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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I feel glad too if I can make anyone ‘s day , it’s a big thing for me and I am so glad 😊
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Thank you! I appreciate your thoughtful response.
Such an awesome way of replying someone. Thanks. Again
As always your posts are incredible and I enjoying reading every word down till the last line. I must say that you are probably one of the excellent bloggers on WordPress that write inspired
Writing/post
Also, I just posted: A VIEW OF WOMAN IN THE SOCIETY-
FATE OF A MANGO FRUIT
Would love to know your views. Love to see your contributions on it. I’m always excited for your comment. 🙂
You are welcome
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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Ok I will definitely read it and give my response . Thank you so much for your kind words . I am just a beginner in the world of blogging ☺️☺️☺️
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I will be please to see your comment on that my post. I appreciated that very much. OK.
OK. That is cool. Love to know more about you. So we talk and interact.
Love to get your contact so we talk more.
For any information email me:@patrickreallstories@gmail.com
like my Facebook Page (patrickstories)
follow me on instagram@ patrickstories
Chat me up on whatsapp@ +2349038156756
Editor: PATRICK @patrickrealstories.wordpress.com
You are welcome
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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I will definitely keep connected with you !! Yeah I read your post and I was having sort of words to describe it . You are amazing . I am so glad to get to read your post !!!!
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Thanks for that. Am happy you replied.
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Yeah definitely will reply now as it’s worth reading !!!!
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Now the journey begins as a blogger. You have to convince your reader enough about what you post. Ok. I was like you 3 years ago. This is about showing passion.
Am patrick by name . This is the advice i have for you. Keep the good work.
You welcome dear friend.
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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Yeah am keeping my steps ahead slowly in this ladder . 😊😊😊
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Ohhhh that is a welcome step ahead. Good one
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You are welcome
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤
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I am an optimist and I assume good in people. Recently I made a Christian holiday – Christmas Eve at home in a small apartment for people of different religions. There were Buddhists, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox and Catholics. It was fun, we got to know each other’s beliefs and cultures. To this day, I have contact with Maged from Cairo. Together we sang carols and ate Polish dishes. It is easier to live by assuming the good of people and smiling nicely to the world.
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It’s amazing to hear all that from you . Yes world is better if we assume less and love more ! We all are same creatures developed by the lord indeed !!!!!!!
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We will be settled only for love. To how much we loved our neighbor.
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When I see my friends and family happy, it lifts my spirit, but when they are down, I can’t help but take it to heart. It’s so true people do affect and shape our lives. 🌼
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Hey I am so thankful for your time to visit out my post . Yes people do affect and shape our life to live more better than before . Meeting new ppl is a great advantage too as we learn many new things which help us to grow 😊
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Great post! Thank you.
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Thank you so much dear !!!
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