Build your financial security with OBT Financial Group – Lockyer Valley Business of the Year recipients and specialist financial advisers to individuals, business owners and farming families on accounting, tax, business advice and wealth planning for over 40 years.Have you ever had a day, or even a moment, where it felt like everything had fallen into place and you were completely content?
Or have you managed to talk yourself up to get through something challenging or difficult?
“A negative thinker sees a difficulty in every opportunity. A positive thinker sees an opportunity in every difficulty.” – Anon
Positive thoughts are closely linked with emotions such as joy, love and contentment. They allow us to deal with unpleasant or negative situations in a more productive manner because we are better able to focus on the bigger picture. Positive thinking is also known as optimism and expands our awareness to better accommodate inspired resourceful ideas and thoughts. This has a big impact on our self-esteem (the regard we hold ourselves in) and self-confidence (our belief in our own ability to navigate a situation).
As well as the effects on self-esteem, positive thinking has been linked to significant improvements in physical health when compared to constant negative thinking.
“By working on positive thinking, we can build more productive, positive relationships with our friends and family.”
These health benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Decreased rate of depression and stress
- Better cardiovascular health, and a decreased risk of heart disease
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved psychological health
- Increased life span
Positive thinking allows us to widen our view of things and see the bigger picture. In contrast, negative thoughts keep us focussed inwards on ourselves, and the immediate problem. By thinking positively, we are more inclined to be considerate towards others because our viewpoint isn’t narrowed. This is likely to improve our relationships with those around us, as we can invest more of ourselves into others, rather than using up energy on a negative thought.
By working on positive thinking, we can build more productive, positive relationships with our friends and family.
On the opposite side to positive thinking is negative or pessimistic thinking. This includes thoughts based on the emotions of anger, fear, jealousy, or stress. The brain’s automatic response when faced with these emotions is to narrow our field of view and focus all our thoughts on one thing, making it difficult to stop thinking about the negative and see the bigger picture. This can lead to increased stress or anxiety, and in prolonged, severe cases can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. Making an effort to promote positive thinking can really help with identifying and decreasing negative thoughts.
These methods can really help to boost positive thinking and make it a lasting habit
1. Surround yourself with positive people
It makes it much easier to think positively when you are surrounded by people who reinforce those emotions!
2. Practice positive self-talk
If your inner monologue is mainly positive, it creates an environment within yourself for positive emotion and thought.
3. Identify the areas that need work
Have a think about where the negative thoughts creep in the most, and make more effort with positive self-talk in these situations.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle
If you feel good, you are more likely to have good thoughts and a better outlook.
5. Make time for things you enjoy
Your passions give you good feelings, so making time for them means more time spent harbouring positive thoughts.
Our financial advisers Bruno Tjelder and Damon Zischke and OBT Financial Planning Pty Ltd are Authorised Representatives of Lonsdale Financial Group Ltd ABN 76 006 637 225 | AFSL 246934.
This is general advice only and does not take into account your financial circumstances, needs and objectives. Before making any decision based on this document, you should assess your own circumstances or seek advice from a financial planner and seek tax advice from a registered tax agent. Information is current at the date of issue and may change. This information and certain references, where indicated, are taken from sources believed to be accurate and correct. To the extent permitted by the Law, Lonsdale, its representatives, officers and employees accept no liability for any person that relies upon the information contained herein. Information is current at the date of issue and may change.
