A Few Benefits of a Positive Mindset

Merry Christmas to everyone. A few thoughts for Christmas and a Happy New Year... While the last couple years If we are honest, we also have people and things to be grateful for. I hope and pray that more people can let go of the negative and toxic emotions that drive hateful thoughts.?

Or, better yet, overcome the negative and toxic emotions with gratitude, grace, and the truth that science shows us a more positive mindset increases our desire to help others, increases our performance, and increases our intelligence, as we are more likely to think about important things and less likely to give up on our desires, problems, or other people. It seems the ‘positive mindset’ is very similar to the ‘growth mindset.’

For anyone who might wonder where I got those ideas...?The book Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman points out that studies show people who are more positive believe problems are more temporary and connected to a situation and are more likely to persevere. The book also gives a practical and simple formula for learning how to be more optimistic or positive.

The book The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor revealed that our brains are literally hardwired to perform better when in a positive state, and when we allow challenges to overwhelm us our logic gets hijacked by our emotions.?

The book Psychology (9th Edition) by David Myers points out that one of psychology’s most consistent findings is when we feel more positive we are more likely to help others.?

The book 10% Happier by Dan Harris tells us how everything we experience in this world goes through one filter, our mind, and the vast majority of us spend very little time learning how it works.?

I’ve found increasing my sense of purpose can help increase my positivity. The book Man’s Search For Meaning by Dr. Viktor Frankl tells us there is a space between our emotional reaction to a stimulus in the environment and our logical response to it, and we can grow that space and avoid emotional hijacking. It also points out how we don’t accidentally find purpose in life, but life asks each of us, ‘What purpose do you give life?’ It also explains that we can build our purpose in life through creating things or our perception of our jobs, and by how we choose to experience other people, and by our approach to suffering, or what I would call faith (natural or supernatural).?

Each of those book references are based on respectable studies, not just the authors personal experience. I understand what I’m promoting can seem difficult, or even impossible, to many people. I admit that I occasionally struggle with this also. This reminds me of a couple more books, The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Collection, that points out courage is not simply just another virtue, but it takes the form of every virtue at their testing point. The book Grit by Angela Duckworth not only explains how we can cultivate our passion and perseverance, but it also says that when people are more positive they often perform better.

Our family, friends, and communities deserve our gratitude, grace, and truth, but it will require our courage and grit. There are guarantees in life including challenges, opportunities, and choices. New knowledge helps us overcome challenges, increase opportunities, and make better choices.

Time is not our most valuable resource, truth is, because truth helps us make the best use of our time. May 2023 bring you, and more of our families and communities, courage and grit, to give and receive more grace and truth, and more love and peace.