You Can Harness the Power of Positive Thinking at Any Age

When you were a child or a young adult, your parents may have told you that you could accomplish something you wanted to do “if you just put your mind to it.” Maybe they urged you to focus on your goal and figure out what you needed to do to achieve it.

If you took their advice, you were practicing a form of positive thinking. Drawing on the power of positivity can do more than help you achieve goals. It can also benefit your physical and mental health, improve your relationships and quite possibly add years to your life.

While some people seem to be more naturally inclined to have a positive attitude toward life in general, you don’t have to be a born optimist to reap the benefits of positive thinking. You can retrain your brain and increase your capacity for seeing potential bright sides in a wide variety of situations — and it doesn’t have to cost a penny!

Why Is Positivity Important?

Persistent negative thoughts can have a toxic, harmful effect on nearly every aspect of your life. Fortunately, the effects of positive thinking can be equally pervasive. According to Mayo Clinic and other sources, these are some of the ways in which swapping out negative thoughts for positive ones may change your health and your life for the better:

• Enhanced skills for coping with stress and difficult circumstances
• Greater weight control
• Healthier blood sugar levels
• Increased serotonin levels, resulting in feelings of calmness and well-being
• Improved heart health (for example, by reducing blood pressure and levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of stress-related inflammation)
• Lower likelihood of depression and other chronic illnesses
• Longer life span
• Lower pain levels
• More self-esteem
• Reduced risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, infections, respiratory conditions and stroke
• Strengthened immune system

Check Your Internal Dialogue

When having a mental conversation with yourself, is the overall tone positive or negative? Are you quick to blame yourself if something goes wrong? Do you take things personally and reflexively assume that other people’s behaviors toward you are based on something you’ve said or done (or didn’t say or do)? Do you give yourself credit when your efforts are successful?

The way we talk to ourselves can affect, and reflect, our sense of self. If you have a tendency to be hard on yourself or sell yourself short, adopting habits associated with positive thinking can help your internal conversations become more supportive.

One such habit is to practice positive affirmations, according to an article published by Penn LPS Online. This involves selecting and repeating positive statements about yourself to “overwrite” negative thought loops.

How To Think Positive Thoughts

If you’re accustomed to seeing the glass as half empty rather than half full, you can work on developing a sunnier outlook. It’ll take time and effort, but considering all the benefits you could derive, it seems worth it, doesn’t it?

Countless books have been written about how to think more positively. There are workshops and webinars, TED talks and study courses devoted to the topic. Counselors and life coaches often work with people who want to be more positive.

But you don’t have to sign up, log in or even go out of your way to begin practicing positive thinking — and the more you do it, the more natural it will seem.

The following seven suggestions can help you get started.  

1. Seek the company of people who lift your spirits.
   Positivity is contagious, and so is negativity. Spending time with people who have a sunny disposition and who make you feel good can put you in a more positive frame of mind.
2. Practice feeling gratitude.
   You may want to keep a gratitude journal and jot down several things each day for which you’re grateful. These can be as simple as a gesture of kindness someone showed you, waking up to the sound of birds singing, or the enjoyment of a good meal. By keeping a journal, you’ll focus on people, experiences and facets of your life that bring you comfort and contentment.
3. Do something good for another person.
   Do a favor without being asked, or leave a little surprise for someone to brighten their day. Or, find somewhere to volunteer. Others could benefit from your time, experience and knowledge. Plus, you could learn new skills and meet interesting people.
4. Watch uplifting shows and movies (or read upbeat books and articles).
   There are myriad stories of people overcoming obstacles or taking on seemingly insurmountable challenges, for instance, that can inspire. Another quick way to halt a negative train of thought is to spend a few minutes on YouTube, where you can find all sorts of videos to elevate your mood and mindset.
5. Be in the present.
   Dwelling on issues from the past or fretting about the future is not a productive use of your mental energy. (Note that this is different from reminiscing about happy times or preparing for what may lie ahead.) Learn to be present with your thoughts and emotions without reacting to them. Deep breathing, meditation and other mindfulness techniques can be helpful.
6. Take care of your physical health.
   Get enough sleep. If you smoke, quit. If you know you should make changes in your diet, lose weight, exercise more or drink less alcohol, enlist the help of a friend and start making steps toward those goals. The healthier you feel physically, the easier it will be to feel good mentally.
7. Disengage from sources of negativity.
   Thanks to a never-ending stream of electronic and digital communications, it’s not unusual to be bombarded with negative news and commentary throughout the day. Unplug every so often and give yourself a break from social media, TV, talk radio and the internet. While you’re at it, set your cellphone to “do not disturb.”

Bonnie B.’s Secrets for Keeping a Positive Perspective

Being part of a senior living community such as Heritage Community of Kalamazoo can give you the upper hand when it comes to retraining your brain to think positively. One reason is that you’re likely to be surrounded by friendly, outgoing people who bring a smile to your face every time you see them.

Bonnie Banghart is one of those people. Bonnie and her husband, Denny, moved into our community about two years ago — though to be around her, you’d think she’s lived here a lot longer because she seems to know everyone!

When asked how she stays so chipper, Bonnie gives partial credit to the 25 years of work she did in the field of mental health.

“I saw so many people and families struggling day to day. It made me decide to try every day to look at the positive and be grateful, and try not to dwell on something that upset me. It kept me humble.”

Like many, Bonnie has had her share of adversity, like having a stroke nearly 20 years ago. Fortunately, Denny was with her and was able to get help right away. She’s thankful that she made a full recovery.

“I’m grateful because I have a wonderful husband. I have good kids. We were able to move to this nice apartment, here with these wonderful, incredible neighbors. I would have loved to have had them as friends 10 years ago because they’re just so nice, so helpful,” she says.

“There’s just such a calmness about knowing that you have people around you, close by you, who would do anything to help.”

After seeing her mother spend 13 years in a nursing home, apart from Bonnie’s dad, Bonnie made maintaining her mobility a primary goal. For many years, she took a water aerobics class several times a week at a gym near the house where she and Denny raised their family. She still takes the class, though not as often now because it’s across town. Instead, she substitutes exercise classes here at Heritage.

“The wellness program at The Artisan is top drawer!” she says. “Megan, the wellness director at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, brings in all kinds of wonderful new things. We do drumming, chair yoga, and bocce ball — which I never played before in my life, but I love!”

Bonnie also makes her friendships a priority.

“You have to reach out. You have to call and say, ‘Let’s meet for coffee.’ It’s really important to stay connected.”

Bonnie and Denny both volunteer, delivering Meals on Wheels in their old neighborhood every Friday for 22 years now. She says it was something they decided to do together when they retired.

Bonnie also relies on her faith to help her stay positive.

Her advice to other older adults: “Look around you at something you never thought you’d like and try it! Find something close to home that you might just sit in on at first. Most people are very accepting.”

“And every day, think of one thing to be grateful for. Every day, have a grateful thought.”

To learn more about Heritage Community of Kalamazoo and how we can help you think more positive thoughts, call (269) 364-6560 or connect with us, and we’ll reach out to you promptly.

Featured Image: Timepopo / Shutterstock