Positive thinking refers to the emotional and mental attitude that inclines on the bright part of life as well as expects positive results. A positive individual foresees health, success, and happiness. Not all people who accept positive thinking as others may consider it as scoff and nonsense for people who follow it. According to Martin Seligman, positive thinking is the ability to reason in a way that brings happiness and define a pleasant life. As positive thinking may indicate, numerous positive things come with a line of thought. Positive thoughts develop proper cognitive development and soberness that exposes one to creativity. As a result, advancement occurs in the lives for the positive thinkers. How a person thinks about his or her life is proper determinant of their health status.
Positive thinking reduces stress and depression leading to improved health. According to Bono et al., “naturally occurring positive events and positive reflections of employees lead to reduced stress and better health” (Bono et al 1603). An individual who focuses on positive thoughts does not dwell on regrets. He or she does not aim on the unfortunate events and their effects on the flow of their lives. Whenever, negative issues attack their lives they have a positive attitude that makes them approach the problem with a suitable solution. Stress mainly comes when an individual dwells in regrets over an issue that cannot change or would take massive time to change. Once an individual has fed his or her mind with positive thoughts, he avoids the stress line, which matures to depression. It is clear that the depression is a common health problem among people who do not believe in positive thinking (Dvorsky 02).
Positive thoughts help in relieving stress. The thoughts trigger the mind to think in the line of possibilities and not difficulties. Such minds do not recognize failure as a portion for their lives, and they believe in giving their efforts to every issue on their way. There is the willingness to push away any negative thought that may discourage their exclusive growth or concern for life. Positive thinkers carry out their activities in a logical and organized manner to ensure no confusion that may cause stress comes their way (Blum 249). Positive thinking sheds off extensive thoughts over an issue and focuses on the elements that would bring development. Positive thoughts kick away stress enabling development in an individual. Negative thoughts yield extensive stress which is the main cause of depression.
Positive thoughts are proper ingredients to quick recovery from medical issues. Aspinwall and Richard who are researchers in the field of psychology teaching the subject in various universities in the United States such as the University of North Carolina state, “Optimism also associated with positive behaviors, better recovery from certain medical procedures, positive changes in the immune system functioning and improved survival rates.” (Aspinwall & Richard, 05). In their argument, they add that optimist patients have approximately 10% survival chances from trauma compared to pessimists. Other times, it is difficult for the patients to recover from their poor health status if they cannot encourage themselves. There is proper need for them to develop positive thoughts. Since it may be hard for them to develop positive thoughts on their own, psychologists would play a critical role in influencing the patients’ positive thoughts (Lightsey 325). The hope that the patients obtain from psychologists would influence the health status of the patients. Patients who get moral support from psychologists are likely to recover faster (Blum 251). Positive thinking attracts proper health behaviors that assures one of good health.
The mind controls all the activities in the body of an individual. They determine how all body processes flow and the extent to which each process can go. Therefore, there is exclusive need to ensure the patients retain positive mind. The psychologists must portray their exclusive support for the patients to rejuvenate the wellbeing (Slegman 01). The support acts as therapy to the patients, and it becomes extremely easy for them to respond positively to medication. Therefore, positive mind would influence the health status of an individual (Aspinwall & Richard, 08). In this case, positive thinking would be highly effective for students. Positive thinking among children maintains soberness thus success for the students in their classrooms. Also, the psychological support may not have equal influence among patients. Some patients may not have a direct benefit from the psychological support. At some point, the psychotherapy may worsen their health status. The medical condition must be fulfilled if the psychological work is to influence the success of the recovery of the patient (Blum 252).
However, there are various opposing views on that one’s outlook on life does not influence their health. Moreover, the argument is not significant in defining the relevance of marinating positive thoughts. Some people may argue on positive thinking as a way of life. They do not consider it as a factor that would influence their health status. Hope will always create a positive mind for people. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to conclude that the positive mind would influence the health status of an individual. Since every individual has hope for a successful life, it would be impossible to have sick people in the society. Therefore, positive mind cannot guarantee proper health (Dvorsky 02).
Hope shows the positivity of an individual to life. The main concern is on the sensitivity of how people would view hope as a healing element. The element just activates the willingness of an individual to respond to positively to medication. People must learn to differentiate between hope and positive thinking. There must be proper connection between medication and hope if positive thinking is to appear as a relevant element of a healthy life (Burkeman O1). However, it may not be guaranteed that the individual will heal depending on the level of his or her hope.
However, positive thinking alone cannot assure an individual proper health. Once a person is unwell, he or she must follow the right medical path to achieving wellness. There must be proper consideration for the necessary prescription to ensure good health. A patient must be ready to uphold certain medical rules so that he may recover from a health problem. At no point does the line of thinking for the individual come to rescue in case of a health problem (Oettingen 02).
Combination of positive thinking with proper medical and health standards can assure an individual proper health. The brain is recognizable as the controller of all the functions of the body. Therefore, the status of the mind would influence how the body functions. In this case, both positive and negative thoughts dictate the response of the body to certain health issues. It is proper to argue that both positive and negative thoughts would influence the health status of an individual (Sasson 01).
The mind of an individual is central to the activities that take place in the body. Numerous processes in the body have to rely on the mind. Therefore, the status of the mind would influence the status of the body. When an individual switches to a positive mode of thinking, proper health is guaranteed. Excessive exposure to negative thoughts attracts diseases and complication of the ones in existence. Therefore, the thoughts of an individual over his or her health determine the health status.
Works Cited
Aspinwall, Lisa $& Richard, Tedeschi. The value of positive psychology for health psychology: progress and pitfalls in examining the relation of positive phenomena to health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 39.1(2010):4-15
Blum, Alan F. "Positive Thinking." Theory and Society (2013): 245-69. Print.
Bono, Joyce et al. Building positive resources: Effects of positive events and positive reflection on work stress and health. Academy of Management Journal. 56.6. (2013):1601-1607.Web
Burkeman, Oliver. "The Power of Negative Thinking." The New York Times. The New York Times, 4 Aug. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/the-positive-power-of-negative-thinking.html>.
Dvorsky, George. "Does "Positive Thinking" Really Make Our Lives Better?"Io9. Daily Explainer, 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://io9.com/does-positive-thinking-really-make-our-lives-better-1661658148>.Top of Form
Lightsey, Owen Richard. ""Thinking Positive" as a Stress Buffer: The Role of Positive Automatic Cognitions in Depression and Happiness." Journal of Counseling Psychology 6 (2010): 325-34. Print.
Oettingen, Gabriele. "The Problem With Positive Thinking." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/opinion/sunday/the-problem-with-positive-thinking.html?_r=0>.
Sasson, Remmez. "The Power of Positive Thinking." And Attitude. SuccessConsciousness.com. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm>.
Slegman, Martin. "Transcript of "The New Era of Positive Psychology"" Martin Seligman: The New Era of Positive Psychology. 8 July 2008. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology/transcript?language=en>.
The Mayo Clinic Staff, "Stress Management." Positive Thinking: Reduce Stress by Eliminating Negative Self-talk. Mayo Clinic. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950>.
