We all know people who are optimists and people who are pessimists. As defined by the Webster Dictionary, a pessimist is a person who is inclined to expect poor outcomes while an optimist is a person who is inclined to be hopeful and expect good outcomes. What does having an optimistic or pessimistic mindset have to do with our bodies? How does it affect our body and our health? Is there a connection between what the mind thinks and how the body feels or performs? There are a lot of theories about the relationship between these two things and there is a growing body of research to support that there is in fact a connection between your mind/mindset and body, especially regarding your health.
Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. This is one way we connect our minds and bodies, and these automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some self-talk comes from reason and logic while some of it may come from misconceptions you create due to lack of information (more on this concept in a future article).
The optimist generally has positive self-talk while the pessimist more often harbors negative self-talk. Whether you are pumping yourself up or tearing yourself down with your words and thoughts, your body responds to this, either positively or negatively. Your body holds the energy and the belief that you feed it and will perform accordingly. This goes for your health as well.
There is a growing body of evidence to support the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health and the negative effects that a pessimistic approach has on your health and well-being. The positive self-talk and positive thinking of an optimistic person are key components of effective stress management, which in turn is associated with many health benefits. Stress produces a cascade of events in our bodies that can weaken our immune systems and leave us vulnerable to injury, illness, or disease. Having a positive coping mechanism to deal with stress, which includes positive self-talk and optimistic thinking, such as “This is a temporary situation, I am strong, and I can get through this,” decreases the immune-response that weakens our bodies.
Research has also shown that optimistic people generally take better care of their bodies, with regular physical activity and a healthier diet. It is a circle that feeds on itself: positive mindset leads to feeling good about yourself which leads you to continue to do the things that make you feel good mentally and physically, such as exercise, proper diet, stress management, and sufficient sleep. Evidence presented by the Mayo Clinic also suggests that positive thinking and optimism may increase life span, lower rates of depression, increase resistance to the common cold, and reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular events.
So, how do you do this self-talk and how do you turn those negative thoughts into positive self-talk? First, you should identify whether your self-talk is generally positive or negative. If you focus on the negative and ignore the positive, blame yourself when something bad happens, automatically assume the worst, or see things only as good or bad (no middle ground), then you primarily have negative self-talk. If you’ve identified yourself to fall in this category, the next step is to try to change that.
First, identify things you focus on that are negative and try to change those, be it your work, your relationship, or something as little as how you deal with traffic. Next, check in with yourself. When you feel yourself going down that negative path, re-focus your energy and put a positive spin on it. For example, you are stuck in traffic and rather than yell at the other drivers and say to yourself how this always happens to you, think how you can listen to your favorite radio show for longer or listen to your favorite playlist!
Another way to help you change that negativity into something more positive is to be open to joking about the “bad” situation. Laughter really is the best medicine! In my opinion and as a huge believer in promoting a healthy lifestyle, I think three of the best ways to maintain and encourage optimism are to follow a regular exercise routine, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and to surround yourself with positive people!
Finally, whether you are a pessimist or optimist, practicing positive self-talk will always make you feel better-mentally and physically! Instead of thinking “I can’t do that,” think “I will give that a try.” “I will try my best” is always better than “I can’t.” My clients know that I don’t like the word ‘can’t’ and part of what I do is to retrain their brains so when I ask them to do something challenging or something they don’t like, they respond with “I’ll try” or “I’ll do my best.” My response to them is “that is all I ask.” Another example is rather than saying “I’ve never done that” say “This is my opportunity to learning something new.” It’s amazing how much better you will feel and how much better your body will respond to a challenge when you tackle it with a positive approach.
For more on this topic, check out these references I used:
You are a badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life, by Jen Sincero.
Mayo Clinic’s website on Healthy Lifestyle & Stress Management. www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle
Jenni Pottebaum is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Ironman Certified Triathlon Coach, US Masters Swim Coach, ACE CErtified Health Coach, and former Professional Triathlete. Jenni’s personal motto is the body achieves what the mind believes. She uses positive thinking combined with hard work and smart recovery to get the most out of her clients. If you have questions regarding this article or are looking for someone to help you achieve your health and wellness goals, contact Jenni at here.
