You’re only human, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you probably feel down. You may be stressed about work, worried about bills, and concerned about your kids’ behaviour. Or maybe a loved one is ill. Or a friend is having a tough time. There are always moments in life that are dark and challenging. The key is to face the sunshine and try to smile. Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts can have a profound impact on your life and the people around you.
Health is not only the absence of illness or disease. According to the World Health Organisation, health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” Good health is important for a good leader, and focusing on all aspects of health are necessary.
A study in Korea examined the effects of positive thinking on life satisfaction. Positive thinking means looking at obstacles as challenges that can be defeated. Positive thinking also requires people to be more engaged with their environments.
The authors found that positive thinking is a good predictor of life satisfaction and that positive thinking could potentially be used for psychological interventions to improve the quality of life (Jung, 2007).
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.
Helen Keller
Negative thoughts can be difficult to dispel, but it’s important to keep in mind that each day is a new beginning. When you wake up, take a few minutes for yourself to breathe deeply and focus on something positive. Let the sun shine on your face. Smile, even if it’s only for yourself. It’s important for everyone to sync their mind and body, and positive thoughts can be a powerful force.
A small change can have significant results. Start simply if you need to, and look for something positive on the way to work, or while taking the kids to school. Say something positive to a family member or coworker. Hopefully, you’ll experience the ‘snowball effect,' and all these little bits of positivity will add up and make you feel less stressed and just happier in general.
Performance fuels your self-development and allows you to expand your brain’s ability to create and find purpose. You can improve your performance by ensuring that your mind and body are on the same path and balanced. Retrain your brain to look for the positive, instead of always focusing on what’s wrong.
Balancing your work and home and social life can be challenging, but it can be done with the right tools. Consider adding the techniques and ideas from the
Citation
Jung, J. Y., Oh, Y. H., Oh, K. S., Suh, D. W., Shin, Y. C., & Kim, H. J. (2007). Positive-Thinking and Life Satisfaction amongst Koreans. Yonsei Medical Journal, 48(3), 371–378. http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2007.48.3.371