Life can be draining and difficult. Being in recovery is no exception. No matter what you do to try to create more peace and well-being in your life, you may still be struggling to feel good. Perhaps you have found yourself in a stressful place in your life and are losing hope. Maybe you’re getting caught up in daily hassles and are having trouble focusing on the big picture. One thing that might help you overcome these challenges is positive thinking.

You’ve certainly noticed positive thinking is popular these days. You’ve probably seen the words “grateful” and “blessed” on T-shirts, mugs, and even bumper stickers. Have you ever wondered why this trend is so popular? Perhaps it is because this world needs some positive thinking to reduce stress. No matter who you are and where your life has taken you, you can always use help dealing with stress. This article will discuss how positive thinking can change your mindset and your life.

How Can Positive Thinking Benefit Me?

Positive thinking sounds so wonderful, but is it just wishful thinking? Positive thinking means seeing life’s circumstances through a lens of positivity. After all, so much of our experience of life boils down to how we see it. However, this does not mean you will never acknowledge negative situations. You just choose to look at life from a more hopeful and accepting perspective.

Positive thinking has an array of health benefits. For example, research published in Behavior Research and Therapy suggests that positive thinking reduces generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Most people have experienced anxiety at some point in their lives, hence the reason stress may occur. What if it is that simple? Change your thoughts and your life changes. Several benefits of positive thinking include:

• Reduced stress
• Resistance to sickness
• Reduced blood pressure
• Enhanced skills
• Fewer cravings
• Greater longevity
• More mental clarity
• Improved mood
• Better coping skills

What Is the Relationship Between Positive Thinking and Self-Talk?

Positive thinking does not mean difficult life events will not happen around you anymore. It simply means you will look at them from a different perspective. You will hope for the best and approach events with a more balanced mindset.

Most of the time, positive thinking starts with a positive mindset. This is related to how you are talking to yourself. Self-talk is the endless stream of thoughts that occur within your mind every day. The first step is to identify the thoughts you are having daily. For example, if you wake up late and think, “It’s going to be a bad day,” then your brain will automatically see all the bad things.

Your self-talk is shaped by a variety of factors. It can come from your perception of the world around you or logic and/or reason. If your thoughts are mostly negative, then you lean towards being on the pessimistic side. However, if you have more positive thoughts, you are already practicing optimism. Research funded by the National Institute on Aging suggests that optimistic people have a longer life span.

What Are the Signs of Stress?

Each day presents new stressors. Perhaps you are exhausted from learning new ways to deal with all of life’s challenges. Maybe you are tired from always giving to everyone. It is important to note that you cannot pour from an empty cup.

You may be thinking that stress is not a big deal. You may mentally minimize the amount of stress in your life. However, sweeping it under the rug isn’t always helpful. Understanding how to spot signs of stress before they overtake you is key to a successful recovery. After all, one of the reasons why relapse occurs is because of a lack of stress management skills.

Some of the signs of stress include but are not limited to:

• Lack of motivation
• Anger, irritability, or restlessness
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Feeling overwhelmed and unfocused
• Racing thoughts
• Increased anxiety/depression

How Does Stress Impact My Recovery?

Times of stress can be significant obstacles in recovery. This can create a barrier to thinking in a positive manner. Research published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences suggests chronic stress leads to vulnerability to addiction. As you know, stress can lead your thoughts down a negative path which can be a trigger for potential relapse. This is why it is important to change your negative thinking.

Although no one can create a stress-free environment all of the time, there are things that you can utilize to make your life a little easier when stress occurs. Small changes in your lifestyle will lead to decreasing stress and improving your overall positivity level.

You Can Defeat Stress

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, stress has reared its ugly face a time or two. You have the power to tell that stress to leave. This is your life and you do not have to be overwhelmed by negative self-talk. You have the right to decide how you speak to yourself. All you need is a little motivation and patience.

Stress can impede your life and break you down mentally. It can lead you into a space of feeling hopeless and unwanted. The good news is that you have the power to change your thinking through positive self-talk. Changing how you speak to yourself mentally will change how you see the world. Understanding that your thoughts are the key to having a happy and fulfilled life is half the battle. You are in control of your life and recovery. At The Guest House, we understand the relationship between what the mind thinks and the heart feels. Give us a call at (855) 483-7800 today. We will answer any questions and assist you with becoming your best self.