Are you a glass half-empty or half-full sort of person? Studies have demonstrated that both can impact your physical and mental health and that being a positive thinker is the better of the two.
A recent study followed 70,000 women from 2004 to 2012 and found that those who were optimistic had a significantly lower risk of dying from several major causes of death, including:
heart disease
stroke
cancer, including breast, ovarian, lung, and colorectal cancers
infection
respiratory diseases
Other proven benefits of thinking positively include:
better quality of life
higher energy levels
better psychological and physical health
faster recovery from injury or illness
fewer colds
lower rates of depression
better stress management and coping skills
longer life span
Positive thinking isn’t magic and it won’t make all of your problems disappear. What it will do is make problems seem more manageable and help you approach hardships in a more positive and productive way.