What Are the Benefits of Positive Thinking?

The benefits of positive thinking have been incorporated by sports performance experts, executive management consultants, psychologists and life coaches. The power of the mind to shape a person's quality of life and experience has become a guiding theme for individuals and professionals alike. Studies carried out over the last few decades have confirmed that these benefits are real.

Background

• In the 1960s, a book entitled "The Power of Positive Thinking" opened up a whole new field of self-help inquiry. Its author, Norman Vincent Peale discussed the relationship between positive thoughts and quality of life. Since then, the benefits of positive thinking have undergone much consideration in terms of effectiveness. Even before Peale's book, the benefits of a positive outlook can be found in numerous philosophical and religious accounts, not to mention the overall effects this state of mind can have on the body.

Positive Psychology

• A fairly new area of study called positive psychology focuses on the qualities that enable health and well-being within individuals and communities. It deals with three primary areas of behavior--positive individual traits, positive emotions and positive institutions--and how they affect quality of life and community strength. Positive psychology was founded in 1998 by Martin Seligman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Ray Fowler, all of whom are notable psychologists in the field. This branch of study is based on the role emotions play in human adaptation and survival.

Research Approaches in Positive Psychology

• The field of positive psychology conducts ongoing research studies into the effects of positive experiences on individuals and communities. It focuses on three primary areas of study--the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life. Studies in the pleasant life examine how people experience positive feelings and experiences within their everyday lives. Studies in the good life examine the effects when individuals are totally absorbed in a project, or task that they enjoy doing. Studies in the meaningful life investigate the positive effects of community involvement on the life of the individual.

Effects on Mental Health

• There are numerous studies outlining the effects of stress on mental health. One common form of stress that we have all experienced at one time or another is worry. In essence, worry is the opposite of positive thinking, and excessive worry will no doubt lead to symptoms of anxiety. The act of replaying negative thoughts over and over again ultimately affects a person's emotional state. When this happens, psychological disorders can develop. And while positive thoughts may not be the most realistic course of action when circumstances are dire, the psychological benefits allow for clear, calm thinking and emotional well-being.

Effects on the Body's Health

• The effects of positive thinking on the body's overall health are most apparent when one considers the negative effects of stress and depression on the body. A study done by the University of Wisconsin in 2003 involved an experiment where brain activity was observed in subjects who were exposed to negative images. The purpose for the negative images was to cause the subjects to experience negative emotions. Six months later, the subjects underwent a screening process to determine what effects were had on their immune systems as a result of the experiment. To do this, researchers administered flu shots to gauge the bodies antibody response during the experiment, and again, six months later. Results showed a weaker immune system response in the subjects who were exposed to the negative images.