Is Positivity Actually Powerful?

The power of positivity is a well-worn phrase, but is positivity powerful? Is it something that you should teach your children, or just the latest fad, traded on by self-help gurus and personal improvement books?

Some think that by merely believing hard enough in something good, you can make it happen. Or some don’t think bad things will happen to them. The former are unlikely to take action, as they see their faith as enough. The latter is unlikely to take precautions.

In opposition, there are those who think that things are what they will be, and there is very little that you can do to change them.

A lot of the differences in perspective can be attributed to personality and upbringing. Is it just different opinions, though? Are there any proven facts about positivity? What does science have to say?

Is positivity powerful?

If positivity is truly as powerful as people say, there should be evidence to show its effects. Indeed, numerous studies have been conducted on the power of positivity in various aspects of people’s lives. So let’s see what they found.

How positivity impacts health

There was a study done in 2013 examining the connection between positive well-being and the risk of a heart attack in patients with a family history of heart disease. The researchers found that patients with a positive outlook had a significant reduction in coronary artery disease.

The impact of positivity on health is not limited to just heart disease. There is also research linking positivity with lower blood pressure, a healthier BMI, lower blood sugar and increased longevity. There have also been links shown between positivity and increased immunity.

The strong link between positivity and health is in a large part due to the fact that those with a positive outlook may be more resilient to stress.

Stress can cause your body to release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. An excess of these hormones can disrupt the body’s normal processes, and cause issues like insomnia, digestive problems, muscle soreness, weight gain and a lack of focus.

Positivity and success

According to the Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship positive thinking, when taken to an extreme, can have a negative impact on success. This is because extreme optimism, without consideration of the facts, may lead to people making unwise choices.

However, a healthy amount of positivity can increase success. Positive people have been proven to be more successful and also more likely to set goals. When they encounter setbacks, positive people have been shown to be more resilient and better at solving problems. As with the correlation between positivity and health, this could be partly due to a reduction in the stress hormones. A reduction in stress can help you to think more clearly and creatively.

Positivity and relationships

You may feel that your positivity will be a hindrance in relationships. They say that misery loves company, and in way that is true. There are people who you will meet who will love to moan and complain. They will love to gossip and drag other peoples names through the dirt. These are people who will not like your positivity.

A positive attitude, however, can attract people who share a similar upbeat outlook. When you see the best in people and show kindness to them, you can make their world a better place.

As with everything else, this should be balanced. Be sure to avoid toxic positivity. Toxic positivity is when you take your sunny attitude to the extreme, and reject any acknowledgement of negative feelings or experiences. Life is hard, and some of the feelings you and the people around you will feel will be difficult. You can make time for negative feelings and still be an overall positive person. Denying these feelings, on the other hand, can cause more pain long-term.

Positivity and Parenting

Does positivity have an impact on parenting? Apparently so. Children who are raised in a positve enviroment have better mental health, fewer behavioural issues and are academically more succesful.

A child’s self-esteem is largely defined by their parents. If a child is responded to with warmth, they will be able to understand their value. If they are encouraged, and their successes and progress highlighted, they will see themselves in the same positive way that they are spoken about.

Children will often act in line with how they are taught to view themselves. If they are taught they are kind, they will show kindness, if they are taught they are clever they will be eager to use their brains.

How to be more positive?

So, after looking at the impact of positivity on health, success, relationships and our children. It is hard now to deny that positivity is powerful in more than one way.

However, we are tired, parenting is hard, and we live in a world that sometimes drags us down. How can we become more positive when things don’t feel great?

Gratitude journal

With all that you are battling throughout the day, sometimes the blessings can go unnoticed. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great habit to begin. Treat yourself to a pretty notebook, and keep it by the bed. Before you sleep write down just one thing from the day that you thought was good.

Keep positive company

The people who you spend your time with will influence you greatly. If you spend time with people who are negative, it will be hard to maintain a positive attitude.

Seek out people who see the wonder in the world, the potential in people and who believe in themselves.

Try visualisation

There are mixed opinions about visualisation. The Neuroscience School suggests that visualisation can trick the brain into believing that you have already succeeded, therefore your motivation will dip.

However, other studies looking at visualisation disagree. Visualisation, although working in the imaginary, makes a neurological reality. This can actually reshape the brain as new neurological pathways are formed which can help set you up for success.

One study in particular followed participants over 12 weeks of positive visualisations. At the end of the study the participants were shown to have increased cognitive function, emotional perception and non verbal reasoning.

Visualisation is worth a try, but remember to pair it with actions towards your goals.

Affirm yourself with words

Affirmations can sometimes be seen as rather cringey. If used consististently, however, they can help combat negative thinking and rewire the brain to accept positive truths.

As well as adjusting how you see reality, affrimations can change how you see yourself. This is important. If you see yourself as smart and competent, you will have the confidence to acheive what you set out to acheive.

Again, this should be balanced. Confidence can help you to function at a higher level, but overconfidence can cause you to not assess situations accurately.

Choose affirmations that focus on the type of life that you want to build, and the goals that you want to achieve.

Talk nicely about your children

Parenting is hard, and there is no shame in admitting that you are struggling. Be careful though, not to focus too much conversation on your child’s shortcomings. Even when your children don’t seem to be listening they are often more tuned in than you think.

Also, if you base your friendships on complaining about your children, the negative conversations will impact your perceptions of your little ones.

Yes, our children will drive us crazy sometimes. Speak about them with grace, patience and respect.

A final note

Positivity has the power to support our health, relationships, success and parenting outcomes. It is also not just a personality trait. Positivity can be chosen, and worked on.

I wish you all the peace

Hannah Louise