How and why we should think positively

When it comes to your health and well-being, you should know that your thoughts are just as powerful as the food you eat and the exercise you do. Your mind is a powerful force with a profound influence on the way you live.

It was once believed that eating healthy and having a proper diet was enough to protect against disease and maintain good health. However, research consistently proves that your positive thoughts play a huge role in your well-being. We've all been advised to 'think positive' and 'look on the bright side', and for good reason. When we practice positive thinking regularly, we become more resilient to stress and the negative thought patterns that can develop.

Negative thoughts are emotionally and physically draining and often lead to judgment of others or ourselves. These thoughts close us off to the people and opportunities around us and limit our experiences.

Positive thoughts, on the other hand, can leave you much more open. When positive thinking is part of your daily routine and becomes a habit, you begin to build a set of skills and emotional resources that you can use later in life. For example, you may develop the ability to communicate more effectively, experience and explore the world around you differently, empathize with others, or express yourself more effectively. These skills will expand your sense of possibility and coping in any situation, allowing you to experience the world in a more positive way.

See also: 20 Signs You're Succeeding In Life Even If You Don't Feel It

Here are 5 things you can do right now to shift to a positive mindset you'll be proud of.

1) There are lessons everywhere.

When you are in the middle of a negative experience it is easy to look at the harmful way it is affecting your life.

Reframe your thinking around the situation by looking at the lessons and opportunities it can offer. There is something good in every situation - sometimes we just look for it. While in the midst of the situation, ask yourself “what do I need to learn from this situation? and “how can I grow personally as a result?” Some of the greatest lessons come from the most difficult situations.

2) Let go of the need for perfection.

When we set the standards for ourselves or others in our lives very high, it's easy to miss the mark. Judgment is the natural result of not being able to meet the standard you set, and judgment is almost always negative.

By releasing the need for perfection in yourself and others, you allow yourself additional opportunity for joy and fulfillment, as well as thoughts that evoke positive feelings about yourself, your environment, and the people in it.

3) Be present.

In our multi-sensory, information-driven world, it's very easy to get distracted. In reality, the brain is designed to do one thing at a time, do that one thing efficiently, and then move on to the next task. When you can train your brain and nervous system to shut out all distractions and focus on the task at hand, you begin to experience life differently.

Read more: The best things in life

Being present in whatever situation you find yourself in is truly a gift not only to you, but to everyone else participating in that moment with you. If you find it hard to do at first, remind yourself of what you need to do and gently pull yourself back into the moment. Over time, this way of being will become very natural to you, and as your nervous system relaxes, you will make more room for a deeper presence in your life.

4) Be grateful.

When people think about the many blessings in their lives, their thoughts automatically change to positive ones. End each day by expressing your gratitude for the things, people, circumstances or situations of the day that you were grateful for. They don't have to be grand – often the simplest things mean the most. Recently, I was grateful that a young man held a door open for me while I struggled to carry grocery bags.

5) Focus on what you want more of.

What you focus on grows. By focusing on the positive things in your life, you will get more positive things in your life. When you focus on negative things, well, more negative things are likely to occur. Ask yourself what you would like more of. Create opportunities to have more of those things and the things you want less of will naturally and over time fall by the wayside.

Positive thinking becomes a way of being when practiced daily. It also becomes a way to open your heart and mind to the amazing possibilities of life, that will build your happiness, resilience and joy.

Bonus tip: Start meditating

Meditation is one of the best practices it encourages positive thinking and happy living.

Start with Milena Goleva's collection of meditations

See also: 5 keys to a healthy and long life