By now, you may know that your mindset and your thoughts can affect your mental health, but did you know that they can also affect your physical health?

Studies have shown that there is a strong connection between health and positivity, or positive thinking. A study from Johns Hopkins University found that people with heart disease who have a positive outlook were less likely to have a major cardiovascular event (like a heart attack) than those with a negative outlook.

The exact cause of this is still a bit unclear, but studies suggest that people with positive mindsets are more protected from the damaging effects of stress. Furthermore, positivity can lead to lower rates of chronic pain and depression, better overall well-being, and even a longer lifespan. The impact of positivity does not stop there though- those with positive mindsets have improved health outcomes across the spectrum of health conditions.

On the flipside, negativity can have a negative impact on your health. Not only can negative thinking worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression, but it can also have a negative impact on your physical health by increasing your blood pressure and even making it more difficult to fight off infections/making you more prone to getting infections. Negativity can cause you to feel stressed, anxious, or upset, and your body responds physically to those emotions. Negative thinking can affect your sleep quality, your physical fitness, and your overall quality of life.

As humans, we have somewhere between 12,000-60,000 (maybe more) thoughts per day, and for the average person, most of those thoughts are negative in nature. But the good news is that with dedication and patience, over time, we can start to shift our mindset from negative to more positive. Some tactics to help with making this shift include: smiling more often, gratitude, deep breathing practices, journaling, and reframing your thoughts. Use this insight into the power of your thoughts as a motivator to start making this shift right away.