I Think I Can

The power of positive thinking. Trite catch-phrase, or is there really something here? Let's get into some science on the matter.

A recent study out of my husband's alma-mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, was done on this subject as it relates to certain aspects of fitness. The study focused on a group of women embarking on a challenging stationary-cycling session. They were evaluated on their perceptions of whether they felt up to the task or not. The researchers found that the women who believed that they could tolerate the tough class reported feeling less muscle pain than those who doubted their ability to "push through".

This study addresses the social-cognitive theory. In part, this theory suggests that learning (and subsequently, change in thought pattern) will most likely occur if there is a close identification between an observer and a model for behavior, and if the observer also has a healthy dose of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is essentially the belief in yourself; the belief that YOU CAN DO IT.

According to Robert Motl and colleagues, the authors of the above mentioned study,

"Our results are consistent with social-cognitive theory and indicate that self-efficacy for tolerating pain is inversely associated with ratings of muscle pain during maximal and submaximal exercise in healthy and regularly active young adult females. Such findings support a possible examination of strategies for manipulating self-efficacy for tolerating pain and thereby reducing muscle pain during exercise."

Conclusion: Whether you think you can do it or you think you can't, either way, you are right.

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that encourages growth and success. It is an optimistic outlook and one that anticipates and expects favorable results. A positive thinker looks forward to the following: happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. They go through life feeling empowered, secure in the notion that things will work out.

I have expressed my support of this view for quite some time. Interestingly, I have found that not everyone accepts or believes in the value of positive thinking. When I talk about it with someone new I can expect any of the following reactions: interest, understanding, support, disbelief, amusement, and sometimes even hostility. And even among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get the results they seek.

So, how to think positive? What does this really mean and how do we do it most effectively? In order to accomplish the feat of turning our thoughts toward the positive, work is required and patience is a virtue. Here are my 3 rules of engagement:

1. Get educated.

I would encourage you to read about the power of positive thinking, think about its benefits and how it can improve your life. The power of our thoughts is immeasurable. Believe in yourself and give it a try.