The Importance of Positive Thinking

Mindfulness: a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment. Everyone talks about it- it’s in every self help book and alluded to in plenty of motivational speeches. But what does it really mean, and how can it translate into the everyday life of a college student? Psychology Today describes mindfulness as an active attentiveness to incorporating a positive mindset into our lives. It is important to take moments everyday and evaluate our thoughts and our outlook on life.

It may sound unnecessary, especially with the millions of things that we already have to do everyday; however, taking time out for mindful reflection has many benefits. Some of them include “lowering stress levels, reducing harmful ruminating, improving our overall health, and protecting against depression and anxiety. There is even research suggesting that mindfulness can help people cope better with rejection and social isolation” (Psychology Today).

In many ways, mindfulness and meditation go hand and hand. Many professionals say that taking ten minutes everyday to relax your body, focus on your breath, and think about your intentions can be very beneficial to your physical and emotional health. There are also many apps such as Aura, Breethe, and Calm that provide short meditations, calming sounds, and general guidance throughout your daily life.

Having an actively positive mindset is especially important for college students. At a school like Dartmouth where the terms move quickly, the weather is cold, and the best is expected of you at all times, it can be tempting to fall into a negative mindset. I noticed it happening to me at times during my first term. However, one of my goals for next term is to begin incorporating this mindful thinking into my daily life. Something that I have come to realize is that it is so much easier to be productive, organized and efficient if a healthy outlook on life is bolstering those practices.

References:

Psychology Today, Mindfulness

DevelopGoodHabits.com, How to Practice Mindfulness