Is Your Mindset Perpetuating Your Poor Health?

Are you someone that sees the glass as half empty rather than half full? Do you often fixate on what could go wrong, even if it’s only a very small possibility? If this sounds familiar, then keep reading because we've got some tips for you!

The good news is that you're not the only one, and the even better news is that there's things you can do to change it! We see clients daily that come into the clinic complaining that their pain is really getting them down- but this is the start of a vicious cycle. A negative mindset, or at least a negative attitude towards your pain, can trigger a downward spiral that leads to your condition getting worse.

Studies have shown that simply creating a positive mindset can increase your heart rate variability. Heart rate variability is a measure of balance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. What that means is- how quickly can your heart react to input from your fight and flight, and rest and digest systems...the higher your heart rate variability, the quicker your heart is able to adapt and respond to changes in either system. Now you might be wondering why this is important- and the answer is simple. High heart rate variability is linked to better health, more positive emotional traits, and a better functioning and more adaptive nervous system!

If these effects sound like something you want to achieve, then good news! We've got three top tips to help to break that cycle and get you looking towards the brighter side of life.

1. Focus on the good things.

Don't let the little things get you down- find a way to put a positive spin on a negative situation. Stuck in traffic? More time to listen to your favourite playlist! Store out of your usual brand? Perfect time to experiment and try something new! If you think hard enough, you'll always find a way to turn a negative into a positive, and the more often you do it, the easier it becomes!

2. Learn from your failures.

We all make mistakes- nobody is perfect. But if you're able to recognise what went wrong, and what you can do to avoid it in the future, you're well on your way to becoming a better version of yourself. Messed up a task at work and your boss isn't happy with you? It's not the end of the world! You're now in the perfect position to show how adaptable you are, and how you can learn from your mistakes. Don't look at it as a failure, see it as an opportunity for growth.

3. Reward yourself.

We're all guilty of getting bogged down with the boring tasks we do day in day out, we sometimes forget to enjoy life. Take some time for yourself every day- read your favourite book, go for a walk, treat yourself to a pamper session at home- or even a full spa day if that's what you enjoy! We deal with so many things on a daily basis, and our negative mindsets can be triggered by external factors. Take some time to step back and relax, life doesn't always need to be as fast paced as some people make it seem. Reward yourself even when you don't think you deserve it! Had a really tough day at work and nothing seems to have gone your way? The good news is you got through it, so refresh yourself so youre ready to tackle the next challenge head on.