What is your immediate perception of the world? Do you think in terms of the glass half full or half empty? You may already be sick of hearing the phrase “stay positive,” or maybe you do not believe that positive thinking can change anything in your life. On the other hand, you may be interested in how to think positively and the benefits of doing so. Wherever you are in your life, positive thinking can help you reduce stress in your recovery.
In difficult times, it can be hard to have a positive outlook. Positive thinking can uplift your mind and body even in the most trying moments. You do not need to buy expensive equipment or gadgets to do this. All you need is a little bit of motivation to reduce your stress through positive thinking strategies.
What Is Positive Thinking?
Positive thinking does not mean that you disregard life’s situations. It means that you explore all situations positively and productively. You expect the best to be in your life. Changing your attitude about the world around you to focus on the good instead of the bad will benefit you in more ways than you can ever imagine.
Positive thinking often starts with your self-talk. What kind of dialogue is running within your mind? Are you the type of human that thinks of all scenarios that could go wrong? Or do you think of how you can make the world a better place?
When things are out of sorts, it is easy to run with negative thoughts. Next time this happens, try finding something positive out of a negative situation. Ask yourself if there is an opportunity to learn and grow. If you look hard enough, you will be able to find a positive in every situation.
Understanding the Benefits of Positive Thinking
You may be thinking about how changing your thoughts can change your life. Take a moment and explore an area within your life that causes you stress. If you change your thought patterns towards that area, your stress will decrease. In addition, you will feel better and begin to make positive behavior changes.
For example, you dread going to the gym. However, you know that if you do not go, you may be upset with yourself. Think about why you do not like going to the gym and all the benefits that the gym provides you. Maybe your stress decreases or you feel more energized after your workout. Moreover, finding the positive things within events that you do not like will decrease negative feelings and generate a positive outlook.
The goal is to reframe your thoughts to cultivate positive thinking. Are you still not convinced that this one thing can reduce stress? The following are several benefits of positive thinking to reduce stress in recovery:
- Reduces the risk of relapse
- Helps you maintain your joy in recovery
- Reduces stress within your daily life
- Helps you to see the root of your emotions
- Builds a supportive network
- Decreases depression and anxiety
- Promotes overall wellness
Positive thinking has been shown in research to have a significant effect when it comes to physical and mental health.
Reducing Your Stress in Recovery
No matter where you are in your recovery, stress will occur. Sometimes you have control. Other times, events may be out of your total control. However, you do have control over how to process and think about your stress. Additionally, you have the power to eliminate your negative thinking patterns, which will decrease your stress.
Most times, situations in your life are not as bad as your mind tells you. You overanalyze situations that cause more stress. The key is to eliminate your “stinking thinking.” Give yourself a few minutes to process the situation and ask yourself what you are learning or how you can grow. Set several minutes aside to slow down before jumping to conclusions, and then you will experience a decrease in stress.
The following are some additional things that you can do to calm your mind:
Check Yourself
First, take a breather before making decisions when in a moment of stress. Most people want to hurry up in everything that they do. Your recovery is not a race, and neither is your life. Second, slow down and enjoy your surroundings. Third, check your emotions and stop to practice mindfulness.
Practice Positive Thinking
It can be difficult to remember; however, when you start thinking negatively, turn it around into a positive. All it takes is a little bit of self-awareness, and you are on your way to changing your thought processes. Remember to give yourself grace in your new adventure.
Give Back
One of the easier ways of gaining value and positivity is to be that person in someone else’s life. To be positive, you have to generate positivity. How you treat others is often what you will receive from others. Positively reduce your stress by giving back to others. This will aid in cultivating positive thinking. Plus, you will feel much better after giving back.
You have spent the majority of your life thinking that the glass was half empty. Now is the time to recognize that you can change that thinking space to cultivate stress reduction and healing. Being aware of your thinking patterns is the first step to changing your thoughts. Developing a sense of positivity to reduce your stress can be done in just a few simple steps. At The Guest House, we understand how stress plays a part in your recovery. This is why we provide alumni options to those navigating stress in recovery. Call The Guest House today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about how we can support you in your recovery journey.