How to Stop Negative Self-Talk to Reduce Stress

How you think has profound effects on your health. One popular method to change your self-talk is to replace negative thinking with positive thinking.

Positive thinking was advocated by minister and author Norman Vincent Peale (May 31, 1898 – December 24, 1993). His book, The Power of Positive Thinking, become a best seller with lasting influence.

Despite the popularity of Peale and his book, Peale’s methods and his claims were widely criticized by mental health experts and positive thinking was labeled as a deceptive form of self-hypnosis.

As a method, the concept of positive thinking is still controversial and still popular.

Keep reading to find out what the renowned Mayo Clinic has to say about positive thinking and stress.

Positive Thinking Helps with Stress Management and Can Even Improve Your Health.

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health.

Indeed, some studies show that personality traits like optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that typically comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don’t despair — you can learn positive thinking skills.

Understanding Positive Thinking and Self-Talk

Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you’re likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.

The Health Benefits of Positive Thinking

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.

Find out if your thinking is positive or negative and how to focus on positive thinking at the Mayo Clinic.

[Original Post October 21, 2015]