Positive thinking can have both short term and long term benefits, as well as influence multiple body systems. According to Anita Saleem, author of “Positive thinking and positive words: Why it’s so important,” positive thinking can have a short term benefit by reducing daily stress, as well as increase success rates in sports. It can have a long term benefit by strengthening the positive thinker’s immune system (Saleem, 2014). Having a positive attitude towards aging has also been shown to ward off dementia (Yager, 2018).
I am the kind of person that stresses out easily, no matter how big or small the issue is. I am also an athlete, a figure skater specifically, and have trouble landing my jumps and controlling my spins. I tend to get sick easily, even though I eat healthy, so it’s probably my immune system being impacted by my negative thinking. I am currently caring for my grandmother, while we wait on her approval into assisted living. She has terrible memory loss, which makes daily activities very difficult. Seeing her struggles really motivate me to ward off dementia.
I don’t expect my stress to go away over night. However, I do hope that my stress levels will go down gradually throughout the week, maybe even be eliminated by the end of the week. Fingers crossed.
Saleem, A. (2014). Positive thinking and positive words: Why it’s so important. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), 86-89.
Yager, J. (2018). Can positive thinking ward off dementia? NEJM Journal Watch. Psychiatry.
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