by Dr Branko Bojanic
Have you ever had those days where you just woke up and were feeling good. Our day seemed brighter, our tasks more manageable and achievable and we felt like nothing could get in our way. We felt confident and had faith in ourselves.
This is the power of Positive Thinking – and this matters more to your brain then you might think. Every thought releases some type of chemical. When positive thoughts are generated, CORTISOL DECREASES and the brain PRODUCES SEROTONIN. When serotonin levels are normal, one feels happy, calmer, less anxious, more focused and more emotionally stable (Scaccia, 2017)
Positive emotions/thinking impacts the brain’s Prefrontal Cortex – located in the front of the brain. Positive thoughts heighten prefrontal activity which results in brain growth through the reinforcement and generation of new synapses (Goleman, 2013).
I know what you’re thinking…. Did you say that positive thoughts literally grow your brain?….. YES, that’s right.
So how do we think positively?
Positive thinking doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand and ignoring life’s unpleasant situations. Positive thinking means approaching unpleasant situations in a more positive and productive way. That is, in any situation, thinking that the best is going to happen, not the worst.
Positive thinking all starts with Self-Talk. Self-talk is that continuous and repetitive voice in your head.These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. These thoughts accumulate and build momentum over time. Consistent positive self-talk over time builds positive thoughts that eventually build optimism.
Here are my top tips for building on positive thoughts:
- Practice Positive Self-Talk
Don’t say anything to yourself you wouldn’t say to other people. Speak to yourself as if you’re talking to a best friend. When a negative thought does enter your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with objections of what is good about you
- Surround Yourself with Positive People
“We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with”. Positive thoughts are contagious. Spend time with people who lift you up and support you.
- Remember that all feelings are valid and all thoughts are optional
Emotions SHOULD pass through the body in 30-60 seconds, but sometimes they get stuck because of our thoughts. Negative emotions are valid and are there for a reason. Making space for these negative emotions and critically evaluating these allows them to pass and make room for more positive emotions.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle
Complete 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day minimum. Exercise can positively affect mood through the release of endorphins and reduces stress levels. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. Learn techniques to manage stress.
- GET ADJUSTED!
There is now solid evidence that adjusting the spine creates brain function changes. This change occurs occur in the PREFRONTAL CORTEX (Lelic, 2016) and share this link with positive thoughts.
References:
Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The hidden driver of excellence. New York, NY: Harper CollinsPublishers.
Lelic, D, Niazi, IK, Holt, K, Jochumsen, M, Dremstrup, K, Yielder, P, Murphy, B, Drewes, A and Haavik, H (2016), “Manipulation of dysfunctional spinal joints affects sensorimotor integration in the pre-frontal cortex: A brain source localization study,” Neural Plasticity, Volume 2016 (2016). Online.
Scaccia, A. (2017, May 18). Serotonin: What you need to know. Retrieved September 15, 2017, from healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin#overview1
