Life is both difficult and beautiful – which will you focus on?
We all contain the potential to have power over our thoughts. Whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, your outlook and attitude can actually impact your brain chemistry and biology. Choosing positivity is about more than just being happy – it can protect you from disease and change your brain activity for the better.
Conquering Oppressive Thoughts
Do you feel like your thoughts control you? It’s entirely possible to flip this around and conquer oppressive thoughts, but it does require work. If you use the right methods (hint: like the SOS Method!), you’ll notice personal growth and loosen the grip negative thoughts have on your life.
Negativity is all around us. When you turn on the TV, unlock your phone, or listen to the news, difficult events and emotions seem constant. It can easily become overwhelming if you don’t know how to fight against negativity, so if you’re ready to take control and choose positivity, keep reading.
The Brain Science of Negativity
So many of us think of our brain as an organ we have no control over, but our thoughts, feelings, and actions can all impact it. The way that you view the world can actually influence the way that your brain responds to certain circumstances.
Choosing positivity is about more than just your outlook – it can change how your brain functions.
Before we discuss the benefits of thinking positively, let’s go over the harm that can come from negative thought patterns.
Did you know that negativity can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease? Yes, you read that right. Negative thinking can impact your memory and decrease your brain’s abilities. Similar studies found that cynical thinking can have the same effects, increasing dementia risk and impacting overall health.
Consistent negative thinking over long periods consumes a large amount of the “power” your brain has – leaving less energy and resources for critical functions. By implementing a higher level of positive thinking, you can give your brain some relief and allow it to focus on what matters.
We’ve gone over the impacts of negative thinking, so now let’s discuss the benefits of positive thinking. Some of these might surprise you…
The Power of Positivity
The feelings that you have can usually be tied to a specific hormone. For example, feelings of stress are typically correlated with high cortisol levels. The secret to decreasing cortisol? Thinking positively.
How we think can impact the hormones our body produces, but it can also directly change your brain. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for many different things, including personality and decision making, as well as thought generation. While there are many different parts of the brain responsible for important functions, our prefrontal cortex can significantly impact the way we view life.
The prefrontal cortex also works as a messenger, translating functions and directions to the rest of the body. Ever heard of the mind-body connection? This is the part of the brain responsible for that.
At this point, you’re probably wondering how the prefrontal cortex and positivity are connected.
The way you think can directly correlate with the functioning of your prefrontal cortex. If you’re thinking positively, you’ll most likely experience a greater ability to pay attention and analyze situations, as well as increased cognition.
Practical Steps Toward Positivity
Thinking positively is great for brain and body health, but it can be a challenging habit to begin. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, consider the following ideas…
Consider Self-Talk
Self-talk is one of the most powerful ways to change your outlook. If you’re kindly speaking to yourself, it’ll most likely be easier to view the world in a positive light. Take note of your self-talk habits and how they might be impacting your outlook.
Beyond having this awareness. One way to change negative self-talk in just seconds: Talk to yourself like you’d talk to someone you love. That seems too simple, right? But it rapidly changes the conversations in our head from negative chatter, to uplifting and positive communication.
As we know, the cells of our body are listening and communicating what we speak into greater wellbeing or the opposite: stress, future illness, and dissatisfaction with our lives. So, anytime you hear self – defeating thoughts – STOP in that moment and remember: Talk to yourself like you’d talk to someone you love.
Focus on Gratitude
When was the last time you took a moment to be thankful? Keeping a gratitude journal is a tangible and practical way to prioritize positive thinking. If you don’t like journaling, consider keeping a note on your phone or a list on your bathroom mirror.
When you think about what you’re grateful for, notice how these ‘happy thoughts’ make you feel. Brain science shows us how effective it is when neuro-transmitters are stimulated. Dopamine, the natural pleasure chemical, floods the brain and this leads to move improvement.
Meditate
When it comes to controlling your thoughts, meditation is a great start. Taking time to meditate will allow you to reflect and start fresh if you’ve been experiencing negative feelings.
We understand that meditating may not be easy, which is why Marlise Karlin created the SOS Method Meditations. Specifically engineered music, tones, words, and white space that unlock your Genetic Promise – whether your mind was quiet or not!
With SOS Meditations, you can eliminate the symptoms of generational trauma and dramatically change your mindset and your life. It’s never too late to think positively, start meditating, and take care of your brain.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Thinking positively isn’t something that often happens overnight. In fact, it’s a skill that can be practiced and strengthened.
NEXTjourney is here to help. As part of every program you get access to LIVE twice monthly mentor sessions with Marlise Karlin. So you can ask your questions and get real time feedback from someone with experience with overcoming negative self-talk along with decades of research with masters of meditation and holistic experts from the East and leading Western scientists.