Those of us who look to improve our health, happiness, and productivity often hear about the benefits of a positive mindset. In fact, with the advent of social media, you’d be hard-pressed not to see posts from people and organizations that offer tips to master a philosophy of life that maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and strives to develop the merits of your character.
Taken as advice, these tips can provide practical guidance for being happy. The problem with this outsized amount of advice on positivity, is that it’s only good when you act upon it and make it a habit. What’s worse, our brains are wired to focus on the negative. For example, let’s say the team leader on a key project at work gives you several comments at different times about your work product. They give you a combination of compliments on a job well done, and also comments about ways you can improve.
This all sounds fine, only the question is, how will you react?
Based on the feedback, you shouldn’t doubt you did a fine job. However, it’s more common to focus on the comments about ways to improve–you know, the bad news. This trait is called negativity bias, and it’s a common human reaction we got from our ancestors that keeps us safe in a danger-filled world.
That’s because…The people who expected the worst were more likely to survive—and therefore passed on a very important trait––pessimism. In today’s world, where most of the same perceived threats our ancestors faced don’t exist, our natural bias towards negativity holds us back in our quest to make positive thinking a habit that can lead us to personal growth and success.
In this article, you’ll learn how to rewire your brain so that it prioritizes positive thinking, not negativity, while also staying grounded and realistic in your view of your life. By following the six simple steps below, you’ll gain access to the main difference between high achievers and those who fall short of their potential to forge a positive and powerful mindset.
6 Ways to Develop A Happier Mind
- Practice gratitude: Take time each day to think about the things you’re thankful for, no matter how small. This can help shift your focus from negative thinking to positive thinking. Keep in mind, seeing your good fortune, is best used to fuel you past disappointments and is never a substitute for hard doing the work to make the changes
- Reframe negative thoughts: When you catch yourself thinking negatively, try to reframe the thought in a more positive light. For example, instead of thinking “I can’t do this,” try thinking “I’m still learning and improving.”
- Set attainable goals: Having something to work towards can give you a sense of purpose and help you stay motivated. A key to making goal’s work for you is to make them simple and attainable. For example, instead of having the goal of working out for an hour every day, start with a simple goal of getting to the gym 3 days per week and staying for at least 5 minutes. This tactic will go far to build the habits that are essential for achieving more lofty goals.
- Practice mindfulness: Try to be present in the moment and focus on your surroundings and thoughts, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Research has shown that mild depression lingers and can even worsen because the brain is constantly mired in regrets of the past and worries about the future.
- Surround yourself with positive people: The people you spend time with can have a big impact on your mindset. Try to surround yourself with people who are supportive and uplifting. You can test yourself on how positive your closest circle of friends are by asking, would I be happy living any of the lives of my closest 5 friends?
- Nourish your mind: a positive mindset is a crucial element for living a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, we need to include nutrition as the final and primary key to a positive mindset. That’s because research confirms a diet with ample protein, low in sugar, and rich in fruits, vegetables plus omega-3 fatty acids are critical for optimal brain health.
Omega-3s Affect On the Brain
In fact, Omega-3 fatty acids are proving to be the nutritional superstar for brain function, as it continually has been shown to support the brain during pregnancy and childhood development, and reduce the risk of age-related decline in brain performance.
The near universal acceptance of the need for omega-3 fats is largely because they are an essential nutrient, so if we don’t get them through our diet, vital functions will stop working and may cause serious illness or disease if left unchecked. For healthy adults, many health practitioners recommend consuming at least 250–500 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day. You can reach that amount by eating two servings of fatty fish (whitefish, salmon, cod) or walnuts per week, or by taking one easy to swallow soft gel of MaxLiving’s Max-Omega-3.
The science-based Max-Omega-3 formulation contains concentrated levels of marine fish oil to provide superior levels of omega-3s. The fatty acids include EPA and DHA which are critical for normal brain function and development throughout all stages of life. EPA and DHA seem to be key nutrients that support important roles in the developing baby’s brain. In fact, several studies have correlated pregnant women’s fish intake or fish oil use with higher scores for their children on tests of intelligence and brain function in early childhood.
These fatty acids are also vital for the maintenance of normal brain function throughout life. They are abundant in the cell membranes of brain cells, preserving cell membrane health and facilitating communication between brain cells. These findings support taking ample amounts of EPA and DHA regularly.
So there you have it, the six simple steps to build a positive and powerful mindset.
About the Author
Zach Zovath graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Education from the University of Central Florida. He continued on to receive his Master’s degree from the College of Education and Human Performance at the University of Central Florida. He is a master-level personal trainer, coach, and health consultant. In addition, his specializations include corrective exercise, performance enhancement, prenatal/postpartum core stability, and exercise therapy. As a result of his education and experience in the health and fitness industry, he has developed fast and effective exercise programs for health care facilities.
