Positive Thinking Boosts Your Health and Career

If you want to be healthier, better at your job and enjoy life more, the first step may be upgrading your thoughts. Numerous studies point to the health benefits of positive thinking. Research shows a strong connection between positivity and health, also indicating that negative feelings may weaken the immune system. When it comes to your work life, the benefits are similar. Entrepreneurs with positive mindsets are more resilient problem-solvers. Positivity also lifts others up, fuels motivation and boosts morale—a win all-around!

A positive mindset doesn’t mean keeping an unrealistically cheerful demeanor 24/7 or pretending that life isn’t difficult sometimes. Developing a more positive mindset is a skill that anyone can learn. Follow these 7 tips for a brighter outlook and soak up the benefits in your health, job and well-being.

Positive Thinking Boosts Your Health and Career

Practice Gratitude

Being grateful is the simple act of pausing to notice the many good things in life, from a beloved pet to a smooth cup of coffee to a roof over your head. A gratitude practice can be as straightforward as writing down three things you’re thankful for each day. It can be making it a regular habit to say thank you to the people in your life, letting them know how they have made an impact on you. Making gratitude a way of life profoundly affects how you see the world.

Look For Ways To Help

One of the fastest, surest ways to feel more positive is to look for ways to help someone else. Humans are wired to be of service and make contributions. Whether by supporting your staff at work, taking a meal to a neighbor or volunteering for your favorite cause, lifting others up is a sure way to raise your spirits and elevate your outlook.

Go for the Win-Win

Too often, we define winning as getting our way, regardless of what anyone else wants. But in any relationship, both personal and professional, when one person wins and one loses, it’s usually not a win for either party. So instead of focusing strictly on getting your way, look for solutions that benefit everyone involved. Be open to the idea that there might be a better way than the solution you initially came up with—one that makes everyone feel like they won.

Talk to Yourself Nicely

Pay attention to your thoughts. People tend to judge themselves too harshly, and too often, the voice in your head tells you things that are unhelpful and untrue. The next time you start thinking you messed up or did something wrong, think of what you would say to a friend who did the same thing. Chances are, you’d respond with kindness and compassion, even reminding them of all the things they do well and areas they excel. Talk to yourself like you’d talk to your best friend.

Find Your Focus

When facing a challenging moment, remember that you get to decide what to think about it. Decide what thought feels the best and then focus. For example, if you are running late, it’s easy to work yourself into a lather, cursing every red light, other drivers, and of course, yourself. Alternatively, you can take a deep breath, think about what you could do differently next time and also remember that the world is probably not going to end because you are five minutes behind schedule. Notice how each reaction feels, and remember that you get to choose how you respond.

Don’t Take It Personally

When someone cuts you off in traffic or a coworker is rude, remember that it actually has nothing to do with you. They are dealing with their own issues; don’t internalize their actions and make it about you. Instead, dispassionately observe their behavior and consider why they might act like that instead of gearing up for battle.

Prioritize

Approach the tasks of daily life with a sense of joy and wonder. Take every opportunity to incorporate a smile, a laugh or a delightful experience into your day.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ―Rumi

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go to” social and professional (manners) skills authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

Interested in more positive thinking content? You may also like 10 Daily Habits That Lead to a Happier Life. See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook. Find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account and keep up with her latest tweets. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.