By: Sahra Mohamed
Positive thinking can be seen as a motivational cliché, but research in neuroscience and psychology shows it plays a major role in mental health. It’s not about pretending everything is fine or ignoring pain. Instead, positive thinking involves intentionally shifting our inner thoughts in ways that support emotional balance, resilience, and healing. Neuroscience shows that the brain can change throughout life, a process known as neuroplasticity. Our repeated thoughts and behaviors can strengthen or weaken connections in the brain. Studies suggest that positive thinking, including optimism and supportive self-talk, can help build healthier brain pathways and support mood, learning, and memory.
Research also shows that non-medication treatments for depression, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exercise, and certain therapies that work with brain activity, can change how the brain functions. These changes are linked to improvements in mood and depressive symptoms. Positive thinking affects the brain and mood by triggering the release of “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, while lowering stress hormones. These changes can improve mood, boost emotional strength, and help people cope better with challenges. According to Verywell Mind, the broaden-and-build theory says positive emotions help us think more openly, build long-term emotional strength, and improve social and mental skills.
These effects are real. A review of studies on positive psychology practices, like gratitude exercises, goal setting, and optimism training found that they can increase happiness, improve life satisfaction, and reduce symptoms of depression. The conversation around positive thinking is also reflected in lived experience. In her empowering TED-Ed talk “A 3-Step Guide to Believing in Yourself,” Sheryl Lee Ralph emphasizes that believing in oneself is not naïve optimism but a disciplined mindset built through persistence, self-awareness, and intentional thought. In the talk, Ralph shares how choosing to believe in her own worth, even in the face of rejection and setbacks, strengthened her emotional well-being.
Positive thinking can help, but it is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment, especially for moderate to severe depression. Depression is caused by a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors. For many people, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) help by balancing brain chemicals and reducing symptoms. Therapy, including approaches like CBT and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), is also proven to reduce depression and improve coping skills. Research shows that these therapies can create changes in the brain that support mental health.
Alongside standard medical and psychological treatments, Bioenergetic Intolerance Elimination (BIE) is used by experienced naturopathic doctors and can help support mental health by calming the nervous system and reducing stress. It is a non-invasive, bio-energy-based method that helps the body respond better to substances or stressors it reacts negatively to. BIE has also helped patients with moderate to severe allergies, using gentle impulses at specific points on the body to ease the body’s reaction. Practitioners describe BIE using terms like bioenergetic pathways, frequencies, and energetic signals that flow through the body. When these signals are blocked or misread, the body can respond with stress reactions or intolerances, symptoms that may improve once the energetic imbalance is addressed. Many patients report noticeable relief, especially in areas where other approaches have been slower to help. Sessions are gentle and supportive, and for some people the effects appear quickly, while for others they develop over time with repeated visits. BIE is considered a complementary approach, and many patients experience significant benefits to their mental health. However, it is not recognized as a medical treatment by mainstream science.
For those looking to bring positive thinking into everyday life, practical strategies include gratitude exercises, mindfulness meditation, and changing negative thought patterns. Practicing these regularly can improve mood, reduce stress, and build emotional strength over time. Positive thinking works best as part of a complete approach to mental health. When combined with therapy, medication if needed, social support, and healthy coping strategies, it can help people rebuild trust in themselves and support healing. For anyone dealing with sadness or depression, understanding that the mind is capable of change can bring something powerful: hope.
