Do you ever think that positive thinking is basically wishful thinking? Maybe you’ve been trying to have that kind of positive thinking, but it doesn’t appear to make much of a difference in your life.
You may not be aware of the impact of positive thinking and how small changes in your thinking habits can help. Also, you may not know how difficult it is to maintain positive thinking. The apparent lack of success may lead you to question your positive thinking, or whether there are downsides to positive thinking.
In this post, we will talk about whether positive thinking is basically Wishful Thinking or not and some facts about Positive thinking and also cover positive vs. wishful thinking and tell you 12 ways positive thinking how is different.
Facts About Positive Thinking
Positive thinking is essentially wishful thinking. Also, wishful thinking is often based on hopes and dreams that are not based on reality. Wishful thinking may leave you feeling unable to deal with setbacks or face the reality of the situation. Positive thinkers see reality clearly and are aware of their ability to meet challenges. You choose to focus on opportunities based on confidence and tenacity.
Unfortunately, most of us live in pessimistic situations far more often than the happy-thinking moments mentioned above. If you think about it, if you have a negative thought, then you are wishing something bad would happen. You are wishing that you don’t get what you want, or that someone doesn’t treat you right. Moreover, you may find yourself stuck in a negative thought loop as your head spins through rabbit holes of anger, jealousy, fear, self-pity, and despair. You are not the only one with these negative thinking benders and everyone is trapped in them.
But if you think positively, you are wishing good things will happen. You are wishing you do get what you want, and that people treat you well. So, positive thinking is basically wishful thinking.
Positive vs. Wishful Thinking: 12 Ways Positive Thinking is Different
1. Longer Life Span
It’s true! We have been told that positive thinking (positive thought) is good for our mental health. But did you know that it may actually help us live longer? A study conducted at the University of California, San Diego, showed that people who were optimistic had lower mortality rates than those who were pessimistic.
2. Lower Rates of Depression
Depression is a condition where someone feels sad or hopeless about their situation. Many people think that being depressed means feeling negative emotions, but it doesn’t always mean that. People who feel depressed often feel anxious, guilty, angry, frustrated, lonely, and worthless. These feelings can make them feel worse over time. However, if they try to look at things positively, they can find ways to cope with these feelings.
3. Lower Levels of Distress
Distress is a term that refers to how we feel emotionally. When we’re distressed, we feel upset, stressed out, worried, and nervous. Sometimes, we get overwhelmed by our thoughts and feelings. If we can learn to control our thoughts and feelings, then we can reduce our distress.
4. Provides Greater Resistance to Common Cold
A study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine showed that people who were more optimistic were less likely to catch a cold. Researchers believe that optimism helps us fight off viruses because it makes us feel healthier.
5. It promotes general psychological & physical well-being
The first difference between positive thinking and wishful thinking is that positive thinking promotes general psychological and physical well-being. When we think positively about our lives, we feel good about ourselves and have a sense of optimism. We tend to make decisions based on facts rather than emotions and we take action towards achieving goals. In contrast, wishful thinking tends to focus on what we want instead of what we need. If we only think about what we want, then we may not get what we really need.
6. Reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine showed that people who were optimistic had lower levels of blood pressure and cholesterol. A second study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that those who were optimistic had a significantly lower risk of a heart attack. Other studies have shown that optimistic individuals have higher levels of self-esteem and less depression.
7. Promotes better coping skills during stressful events
Optimistic people tend to cope better with stressful situations. A study published in the Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology found that optimistic people experienced fewer negative feelings after being exposed to a stressful event. Another study published in the Journal of Psychological Science found that optimists tended to experience less anxiety and depression following a traumatic event.
8. It Leads To A Healthier Lifestyle
People who are optimistic tend to eat healthier foods and exercise more often. One study published in the Journal Applied Research On Obesity found that people who were optimistic ate more fruits and vegetables and exercised more frequently. Another study published in Preventive Medicine found that optimistic women were more likely to engage in regular physical activity.
9. It enhances your ability
To have positive thinking means to think positively about yourself and your situation. When you start thinking positively, you begin to believe in yourself and your abilities. Then you become more confident in your own abilities and skills. You begin to develop self-esteem and confidence. You learn how to take control of your thoughts and feelings and learn how to change negative thoughts into positive ones.
10. It improves your relationships
When you think positively, you are able to communicate effectively with others. You are able to express yourself clearly and concisely and able to listen to others without interrupting them. Also, you are able to understand what they are saying. You are able to give constructive feedback and able to encourage others. In addition, you are able not to get upset easily and able to resolve conflicts. You are able to forgive others. You are able to accept criticism gracefully.
11. It helps you make decision
It is easier to make good decisions when you have a positive attitude. Your brain works faster when you are happy and can focus on the task at hand. You are able to concentrate on your work. Also, you are able to complete projects efficiently. You are able to handle stressful situations better. You can solve problems more effectively.
12. It leads to a “growth mindset”
A growth mindset is a way of thinking where you believe that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. A person who has a growth mindset believes that he/she can improve their skills and abilities. He/she does not believe that they are born with certain talents and abilities. Instead, they believe that they can work hard enough to improve themselves. They believe that they can always learn something new. They believe that they should never stop learning.
Final Thoughts
Positive thinking is basically wishful thinking. You may not be aware of the impact of positive thinking and small changes in your thinking habits can help.
We hope this article has helped you to understand whether positive thinking is basically wishful thinking or not. If you have any queries about positive thinking please comment below.
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