Live Well: Beyond Positive Thinking—How to Manage Your Mindset

Positive thinking has been endorsed by personal growth gurus for decades, but how exactly does your mindset play a role in your physical wellbeing?

According to Martin Seligman, the director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the father of the positive psychology movement, positive psychology is “the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive.” In other words, positive thinking involves a focus on what is good, or what is going well.

From a wellbeing standpoint, there are many benefits that come with positivity. Researchers1 have found that positive thinking is protective against cardiovascular disease. For example, the more optimistic you are, the less likely you are to have a heart attack. It has also been linked2 to reduced rates of depression and improved immune function.

To manage your mindset, remember these two simple tips: Observe and choose again.

Observe

Pay attention to how you respond to the things that happen around you. In his book A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, author Will Bowen suggests using visual cues to acknowledge your thoughts. For example, move a bracelet from one wrist to the other whenever you notice yourself complaining. You can also create a journaling practice or use a habit tracker to identify patterns in your thinking.

Choose again

Whenever you do happen to catch yourself in a negative thinking pattern, think of it as an opportunity to choose differently. Thoughts and words are powerful. In the moment, reframe your thoughts, or rephrase your words, to make the correction. Managing a healthy mindset3 is not only about positive thinking. It goes much deeper than that. Since your thoughts ultimately drive your actions, do your best to focus on the positive results you want. That is where your energy will go.