The benefits of positive thinking and its effect on loneliness 

Abraham Lincoln stated that most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. Studies show that your outlook on life, whether negative or positive, can create or offset some of the stress of loneliness. 

Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?  Positive thinking means approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook.  It does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring damaging things; instead, it involves making the most of potentially harmful situations, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light. 

On the other hand, individuals with a pessimistic outlook often blame themselves when negative things happen but fail to give themselves adequate credit for successful outcomes.  They have a tendency to view negative events as expected and lasting.  Blaming yourself for events outside of your control or viewing these unfortunate events as a persistent part of your life can have a detrimental impact on your state of mind and social wellbeing leading to stress and loneliness. 

It is assumed that being lonely would make people warmer, more eager for connection and more accepting of differences in others.   It turns out that being lonely has just the opposite effect:  

• Loneliness can set you apart by making you more fragile, negative and self-critical   
• When individuals feel lonely they are actually far less accepting of potential new friends 
• When individual feel rejected or excluded they tend to become more aggressive, more self-defeating or self-destructive, 
• Less cooperative and helpful, less prone simple to do the hard work of thinking clearly 
• Individuals with insecure, anxious attachments styles are more likely to lean towards forming perceived social bonds with television characters 
• Loneliness makes us so anxious and worried about rejection that it distorts our thinking and our behavior 

Individuals with an optimistic outlook however, tend to have positive results in relieving loneliness with the use of social cognitive therapy.  When using this therapy to identify some automatic negative thoughts it helps to empower an individual’s sense of personal control.  

Why exactly does positive thinking have such a strong impact on physical and mental health? Individuals who think positively tend to be less affected by stress.  Another possibility is that individuals who think positively tend to live healthier lives in general; they may exercise more, follow nutritious diet more and avoid unhealthy behaviors.  According to the American Psychological Association, positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits including:  

• Better stress management and coping skills 
• Less stress 
• Lower rates of depression 
• Longer life span 
• Lower risk of cardiovascular disease related death 
• Increased physical well being 
• Increased resistance to the common cold 

There are many benefits of positive thinking, doing an activity wholeheartedly means you are not stuck in your head, saying, I’m a loser, these plants will never grow, and it won’t make a difference anyway. Being in your head, judging yourself or others often adds to loneliness. If that happens, which is normal, redirect your attention to the activity you are doing. Be mindful of what is outside of you.