If you’ve been wondering how to think happy thoughts, you’re not alone.
It’s no mystery that our thoughts have an impact on our mood. After all, it’s difficult to be unhappy when you’re thinking about good times or happy memories.
Have you tried actively implementing positive thinking into your daily routine? Maybe you’ve tried but haven’t had much success. You might also be looking for some good tips on how to think happy thoughts.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. Training your brain to think positively isn’t something that happens overnight. You need consistency!
Let’s discuss why you should think happy thoughts and take a look at some practical tips you can use to get started.
Why Should You Try To Think Happy Thoughts?
A more positive outlook is great for you and your mental well-being! Here are some of the benefits of positive thinking:
Reduced Stress Levels
When you’re focused on negative thoughts, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by stress. This can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
On the other hand, thinking happy thoughts can help reduce your stress levels. If you can find ways to think positively even during tough times, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever challenges come your way.
Improved Physical Health
It’s not just your mental health that benefits from positive thinking. A study done at Harvard University found that optimists are less likely to die from heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and infection than pessimists.
Other research has shown that people who think positively are more likely to enjoy better overall physical health, including having stronger immune systems, faster recovery from surgery, and less pain from chronic illness.
Longer Life Expectancy
A recent study found that people who had a more positive outlook on life tended to live 11-15% longer than those who didn’t.
The study followed a group of individuals over the course of their lifetimes and found that the optimists in the group were also more likely to reach the age of 85 than the pessimists.
So, not only can positive thoughts improve the quality of your life, but it can also help you live longer!
Improved Resilience
When you’re faced with challenges, it’s easy to dwell on negative thoughts and give up. If you want to be more resilient in the face of adversity, thinking happy thoughts can help.
Positive thinking allows you to see the good in every situation and find ways to overcome challenges. You’re more likely to think of creative solutions and persevere when things get tough.
11 Tips On How To Think Happy Thoughts
Now that we’ve discussed some of the benefits of positive thinking, let’s take a look at how you can start thinking happy thoughts.
1. Practice Positive Self-Talk
The things that we say to ourselves have a big impact on our thoughts and emotions. The words we choose to use in everyday life play a huge role in our happiness.
If you constantly tell yourself that you’re not good enough or that you can’t do something, then it will be harder for you to think positive thoughts.
So, replace negative words with positive words. Instead of “No,” say “Yes.” Instead of “I can’t,” say “I can.”
Stop negative self-talk and say a positive affirmation instead. Substitute “I’m not good enough” with “I am capable and can learn and succeed in any situation.”
It may feel strange at first, but eventually, it will become second nature. And when you start talking to yourself in a positive way, you will notice that your thoughts and emotions change for the better.
2. Find Humor In Everyday Life
One of the best ways to think happy thoughts is to find humor in everyday life. Life can be tough, but it’s also important to laugh. Laughter is one of the best coping skills to have as it can boost your mood and self-esteem.
So, take the time to watch a funny movie, read a hilarious book, or spend time with people who make you laugh. And, try to find the funny side of things. When you can laugh at yourself and the situations you find yourself in, it will be easier to let go of negative thoughts.
3. Hang Out With Happy People
The people you spend the most time with have a big influence on your happiness. If you want to think happy thoughts, surround yourself with positive people.
If you’re around people who are always complaining, you’re likely to start feeling negative yourself.
But if you spend time with positive, upbeat people, you’re more likely to feel happy and optimistic. This is true for partners as well! You need to be with someone who makes you happy.
Positivity is contagious, so choose your company wisely and make an effort to spend more time with people who make you feel good. These relationships will add value to your life and help boost your positive thinking.
4. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can be done through meditation, yoga, or simply by paying more attention to your breathing.
When you are mindful, you are better able to control your thoughts. You will also be more aware when a negative thought pops up so that you can deal with it in a constructive way.
5. Be Grateful For What You Have
It’s easy to take the things that we have for granted. We often only focus on what we don’t have and what we want. But when you take the time to be grateful for what you do have, it can make a world of difference.
You might want to learn how to be happy where you are, with what you have.
Positive people understand this well. They make it a point to regularly reflect on the things they are grateful for. This could be anything from having a roof over their head to being surrounded by loving family and friends.
When you focus on the things that you are grateful for, it will be easier to see the good in your life and to think happy thoughts.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
When you’re working towards a goal, it’s easy to get caught up in the end result. But it’s important to celebrate your small wins along the way.
This will help you to stay motivated and focused on your goal. It will also remind you that you are making progress, even if it’s slow.
Whenever you achieve something, take a moment to celebrate. This could be as simple as giving yourself a pat on the back or treating yourself to a small reward. By doing this, you will train your brain to focus on the positive.
By keeping a positive attitude, you will increase your chances of achieving your goal.
7. Focus On The Bigger Picture And Be Kind
It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now. But when you take a step back and focus on the bigger picture, it will be easier to see things in perspective.
Remember that everyone is fighting their own battles. And even though someone may seem to have it all together, they may be struggling on the inside. So, be kind to others.
Focus on helping someone else, or on an issue bigger than yourself. You’ll realize that your problems are not as big as you thought they were. By helping others, you will also feel better about yourself.
Kindness is contagious. When you perform an act of kindness, it will often inspire others to do the same. You can start a chain reaction of positivity and happiness just by being kind.
8. Listen To Uplifting Music
Music has the ability to change our mood. Whenever you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, put on your favorite tunes and let the music lift your spirits.
Choose songs that make you feel good or that make you want to dance or sing along. Soon, you’ll find yourself feeling happier and more positive.
9. Forgive People
Carrying around resentment and anger is only going to hurt you in the long run. If someone has wronged you, forgive them. This doesn’t mean that you need to forget what happened or be friends with the person who hurt you.
It just means that you are releasing yourself from the negativity and anger that you are holding onto. This will allow you to move on with your life and be happier.
Being forgiving can benefit your relationships as well. Holding grudges isn’t great for strong relationships! If you want to know how to strengthen relationships, consider reading up on these topics:
10. Limit Your Time On Social Media
Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family. But it can also be a source of negative thoughts.
If you compare your life to the lives you see on social media, it’s easy to think that you’re not good enough. You may start to feel like you’re not doing enough or that you don’t have enough.
To think happy thoughts, it’s important to limit your time on social media. Take a break from comparing yourself to others and focus on your own life.
11. Do Something You Love Every Day
When you do something you love each day, you’ll reap the benefits of being happy. So, make it a point to do something that you love every day.
This could be anything from reading a book to going for a walk in nature. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. Just make sure that it’s something that makes you happy.
By making time for things that you love, you’ll start to feel more positive and content with your life. You’ll create more happy memories to look back on, and you’ll have something to look forward to every day.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal to have negative thoughts from time to time. But if you want to be happier, it’s important to learn how to become a positive thinker.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to start thinking more positively.
In general, be proactive about your state of mind. Live in the present, be mindful, and practice gratitude. Fill your life with people and things that make you happy and avoid anything that stresses you out or makes you feel down.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. It takes time to change the way you think. But if you’re persistent, eventually, you will start to think more happy thoughts. And, the more you exercise positive thinking, the easier it will be to do it automatically. So keep at it and enjoy the process!
For more happy thoughts, visit the a little dose of happy blog!
