By Selinah Wanyoike,
“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can effectively alter his life by simply altering his attitude.” – William James, American philosopher and psychologist
It is said that when life gives you lemons, as it sometimes will, make lemonade. There exists a myriad of benefits from having a good attitude towards life. Sustaining a positive attitude has been cited as a major contributor to one’s mental and physical wellness.
Upholding positivity is key in achieving an active mind-set and also enables one to remain optimistic in life.
The Bible also talks about attitude in relation to living for God. In the book of 1 Peter 4: 1-2 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God”.
Lower risk of depression
Maintaining a positive attitude is instrumental in eliminating risks of developing depression. Indeed, maintaining a positive attitude is associated with many health benefits including lower rates of depression, better psychological and physical well-being and better coping skills during hardships or stressful situations.
We are living in a generation which has witnessed many cases of depression and mental health challenges have become of major concern.
Even though one can seek medical attention, say visit a psychologist when they have depression, it better to find ways to stay afloat and help ourselves from falling into depression. And what better way can we do this if we do not maintain a positive attitude in life?
It is better to choose optimism than pessimism since it is key in effective stress management.
And do not get me wrong, pessimism or having a positive attitude does not mean that you ignore life’s tough situations. It means that you approach this situation in a more positive or productive way. This way, you believe that the best is going to happen and not the worst.
Adopting Positivity
Positive thinking lowers stress and improves your overall wellbeing that even when you fall sick, your body recuperates faster.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 data, it is estimated that 5 percent of adults suffer from depression globally.
The Study shows that approximately 280 million people in the world have depression.
Although there are known, effective treatments for mental disorders, the study reveals that more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment due to lack of resources, lack of trained health-care providers or social stigma associated with mental disorders.
Happiness and self-confidence
It is no doubt that happiness is a state of mind. Often we say that the ultimate goal in life is to happy and to live a fulfilling life.
A positive attitude is linked with the feeling of happiness because when you think positively you will be in harmony and feel happy. It is safe to say that a positive mind leads to a happy life because happiness is said to come from within and is not dependent on external factors.
A positive attitude also boosts one’s self confidence. It makes you feel better about yourself. Positive thinking gives you an inner strength that will see you take on new challenges without limiting yourself.
We should train our minds to develop positive attitudes by repeating positive affirmations, reading inspirational and motivational quotes and books often as this will help instil a sense of optimism in you.
Romans 15:5 NIV; “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”
Hang out with positive people
The significance of surrounding yourself with individuals who have a positive outlook on life and encourage you to see life through a positive lens is that they help you change your perspective and improve your overall quality of life.
More often than not, we have heard people say that we become who we hang out with.
“If you hang out with chickens, you are going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly,” – Dr Steve Maraboli says in his book Unapologetically You.
It is not easy to maintain a positive attitude if you surround yourself with negative energy. “People with a positive attitude have more friends, which is a significant component of happiness and longevity,” – American Political Scientist, Robert D. Putnam.
Having positive people around you is important as it helps bring you positive vibes. Positive people will influence you for the better. They help you make better choices and follow your dreams and goals.
Let us learn to embrace optimistic thinking and clear our minds of any negative thoughts. Feed your mind with positive thoughts and you will see amazing changes around you.
The writer is a real-life testimony of a spirited and strong-willed individual who has overcome emerging and challenging experiences in her personal life.
Credit: Diaspora Mashinani News (www.dmashinani.com)
