Did you know that your mood can have physical effects on your body? It’s true–through positive thinking, you can lower your blood pressure, improve your immune system, and even live longer.
A positive state of mind can offer many benefits, but it can be hard to look on the bright side. Some days, it feels impossible to achieve that positive outlook, no matter how hard you try.
Thinking positive doesn’t have to be a chore, though. There are several simple things you can do to help yourself get into a relaxed, peaceful state of mind. Read on to learn five ways you can improve your mood.
Table of Contents
1. Use a Gratitude Journal
When bad things happen, focusing on the good will help your mental health. Take a few minutes every day to identify things you’re grateful for. Write them down in a gratitude journal.
The objects of your gratitude can be anything. Maybe you’re grateful for a supportive friend helping you through a tough time, or maybe you’re just grateful that the sandwich you had for lunch was really tasty.
2. Practice Positive Self-Talk
One of the biggest blocks to positive thinking is negative self-talk. People are often hard on themselves; that reinforces a poor self-image and damages your mental wellness.
When you make a mistake, don’t criticize yourself with words like “clumsy” or “stupid.” Instead, encourage yourself. Tell yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes and that you’ll do better next time.
3. Get a Therapeutic Massage
You already know that your mood can affect your body; unfortunately, that’s true of bad moods, too. Stress can cause headaches, shoulder tension, and other uncomfortable side effects.
Address these physical discomforts with a relaxing therapeutic massage. This calming practice can relieve pain and stress, helping you relax and slip into a positive state of mind.
4. Spend Time With Positive People
Your environment and the people in it have a huge impact on the way you feel. If you surround yourself with pessimists, they’ll bring you down to their emotional level. Spending time with optimists keeps your spirits high.
Find people who are positive and supportive. That way, if you feel negativity creeping in, you’ll have people you can rely on to help you deal with things. Having a support structure is key to leading a healthy lifestyle.
5. Look For Silver Linings
Bad things happen–it’s inevitable. When they do, it’s easy to focus on the negative, putting your mental health in a downward spiral. Try to find positive spins on upsetting events.
Let’s say you were making dinner and something went wrong–now your meal is ruined. It’s okay to feel upset, but don’t dwell on the disappointment; think of it as an opportunity to try a new restaurant!
Enjoy a Positive State of Mind
A positive state of mind doesn’t just help you cheer up in the moment–it also has long-term benefits for your physical and emotional health. Reaching that place of positivity is easy if you follow the suggestions above.
Positivity is only part of a healthy lifestyle; there are also physical concerns like diet and exercise. Visit our health blog for more articles on how to stay fit–you’ll find meal plans, workouts, and more!
