POWER OF POSITIVITY

By Carmen Greger

The power of positivity is impactful and undeniable. A positive mindset and can-do attitude can change our lives in profound ways, helping us to achieve our goals, overcome challenges, and find happiness and fulfillment. When we approach life with optimism and determination, we are more likely to succeed, both personally and professionally.

It’s often said that positivity is contagious, and it’s true. A positive mindset can not only transform your own life but can also impact those around you in a positive way. The way we think about things can have a profound effect on our lives.

A positive mindset can give us the power to overcome obstacles, achieve our goals, and find happiness and fulfillment in life. The many benefits of a positive mindset can have a significant impact on all aspects of your life instantaneously and transform your life over time.

Positivity can improve our mental and physical health, boost our relationships, and help us to enhance our lives in countless ways. Here are some of the benefits of a positive mindset:

Improved Physical Health: Studies have shown that positive thinking can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and improve the immune system’s function.

Increased Success: Want to get your goals? stay positive and proactive. When we approach challenges with a positive mindset, we are more likely to find creative solutions and persist until we succeed.

Improved Mental Health: A positive mindset naturally reduces anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that positive thinking can increase the production of feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, in the brain which helps to improve our mood and overall mental health.

Increased Resilience: When cultivate and commit to a positive mindset, we become significantly more resilient in the face of challenges. We are better able to cope with setbacks and bounce back from difficult situations. This resilience can help us achieve our goals and live a more fulfilling life.

Better Relationships: Positive people tend to attract positive people. When we actively live with more positivity, we become magnetic and are more likely to have positive relationships with others which leads to more fulfilling friendships, romantic relationships, and professional connections.

Motivated & Focused: When we believe in ourselves and our abilities, we are more likely to pursue our goals with enthusiasm and persistence. We are less likely to give up in the face of challenges, and more likely to find creative solutions to problems.

Determination: The willingness to keep going, even when things get tough is a quality that cannot be undermined. Positively determined individuals are not deterred by setbacks or obstacles; they often look at the bright side and see them as opportunities to learn and grow. They are fully committed to their goals and are willing to put in the time and effort necessary to achieve them.

Courage: Having a positive mindset invites courage out of the back seat to grab the steering wheel of our lives, which drives decisions based on alignment with our deepest intentions according to our essential and very personal true north. When we are clear about what we want to achieve, and why we want to achieve it, we are better able to make choices that support our goals. We are less likely to get sidetracked by distractions or to make decisions based on what others want or expect from us.

Faith: A critical pillar of a positive mindset, Faith dilutes worry which creates fear and stunts growth. Faith is the belief that things will work out for the best, even if we can’t see how in the moment. It gives us the courage to take calculated leaps into the unknown, to step outside of our comfort zones and take risks that can catalyze our circumstances and expedite our evolution. When we have faith, we are more likely to see opportunities where others may see only obstacles.

Grounding in Gratitude is another important aspect of living a positive life on purpose. When we take the time to appreciate the good things in our lives, we are less likely to take them for granted. We are more likely to see the world as a place of abundance, rather than scarcity. Gratitude helps us to stay focused on the positive, even during uncertain times, and to maintain a sense of perspective and balance.

Struggling to stay positive when stressful circumstances arise? A simple but powerful way to redirect our thoughts and emotions when things get challenging or don’t go as planned is to Take a deep breath. By taking a moment to pause and breathe, we can become more mindful of our reactions and better able to choose how to respond. We can course correct our actions and optimally honor and channel our emotions, so that we stay focused on our goals and maintain a positive attitude.

Positive perspective check: Is your glass half empty or half full?

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It’s important to remember that life usually happens for us, not to us. When we encounter obstacles or challenges, we can choose to see them (or, respectfully, at least a portion of them and in their own time if the situation is of critical nature) as opportunities for generating growth, insight, wisdom, resourcefulness, resilience, and determination.

By being able to respond by zooming out to see the big picture and reframing our perspective in this way, instead of staying stuck in a reactive mode which breeds negativity, we are more likely to find meaning and purpose in difficult situations, and to emerge from them stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Research supports the power of a positive mindset. Studies conducted by Harvard, Penn (and countless others) have shown that people who cultivate positive emotions, attitudes and behaviors are happier and more successful in both their personal and professional lives. “We should make efforts to boost optimism, which has been shown to be associated with healthier behaviors and healthier ways of coping with life challenges” says Eric Kim, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard.

Individuals who proactively cultivate their positivity are more productive, more resilient, and better able to cope with stress and adversity.

University of Pennsylvania is a leader in positive psychology and mindset matters; Penn’s MAPP (Master of Applied Positive Psychology) program welcome post shares that Positive Psychology is the ‘scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play’.

The power of positivity is truly transformative. By cultivating a positive mindset and can-do attitude, we can achieve our goals, overcome challenges, and find happiness, and fulfillment in our lives. Whether we are pursuing personal or professional goals, we can benefit from the determination, motivation, and faith that come with a positive mindset.

By staying grounded in gratitude and taking a deep breath when things get tough, we can maintain our focus and stay on track. And by positively embracing each day with enthusiasm, kindness, mindfulness and the simple yet profound essence of joy, we can truly show up to epitomize the wise words of J.W. Stephens in Chess with Carrizo, and truly ‘be the person our dog thinks we are’.

Keep Calm and Stay Positive.