Positive Thinking

Today we're digging into the science behind positive thinking! Our conversation covers: bad improv shows, Sex and The City, The Secret, Octomom's kids, and, as always, yoga. We also talk about the difference between positive thinking and toxic positivity—and whether any study on the subject is truly unbiased. So say something nice to yourself and strap in! Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G.J. et al. Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health 13, 119 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-119 White, C. A., Uttl, B., & Holder, M. D. (2019). Meta-analyses of positive psychology interventions: The effects are much smaller than previously reported. PloS one, 14(5), e0216588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216588 Bergsma, A., Buijt, I., & Veenhoven, R. (2020). Will Happiness-Trainings Make Us Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings-Archive. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1953. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01953 Andrade G. (2019). The ethics of positive thinking in healthcare. Journal of medical ethics and history of medicine, 12, 18. https://doi.org/10.18502/jmehm.v12i18.2148 Park, N., Peterson, C., Szvarca, D., Vander Molen, R. J., Kim, E. S., & Collon, K. (2014). Positive Psychology and Physical Health: Research and Applications. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 10(3), 200–206. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827614550277 Boehm, J. K., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2012). The heart's content: the association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health. Psychological bulletin, 138(4), 655–691. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027448 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950