Prescription for Positivity
Prescription for positivity
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness- Chinese proverb
Have you ever noticed how thinking of someone you love can bring a smile to your face? Or how a kind word can lift your spirits, even on a tough day? That’s not just emotion—it’s biology.
Chemicals for positivity
Our body is beautifully designed to help us heal. When we experience positive thoughts or emotions, such as love, gratitude, or hope, it triggers the release of hormones like oxytocin. These are the body’s natural antidotes to stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. This internal pharmacy of “feel-good” chemicals can be our first line of defence when it comes to mental health and well-being.
Building a positive frame
Psychology plays a decisive role here. Consider the placebo effect—many studies have shown that even when people take a sugar pill believing it’s medication, they experience real improvement. It’s not magic. It’s the mind making a decisive shift. That moment of thinking, “I’m getting better now”, can trigger healing responses in the brain. The switch in mindset alone can be enough.
Now, imagine if we could harness that power intentionally, without the need for medication. We don’t always need to rely on drugs to shift our brain chemistry. Most medications work by altering neurotransmitters, but the brain can do this independently with the right inputs. Positive thinking, kindness, connection, and purpose can stimulate the same healing chemistry.
This is not to say that medications and medical management are unnecessary; however, they should be used in conjunction with other approaches. However, it encourages us to harness the body’s internal power regularly. By tapping into positive energy and chemicals, we can shift our brain to produce an abundance of beneficial substances and energy, thereby reducing the risk of slipping into a negative mindset. Consequently, this may lessen the adversities associated with negative thoughts.
The Negative frame of mind
Negativity, persistent fear, or hopelessness can flood the body with harmful chemicals. Research has shown that it’s not stress that harms us most, but our beliefs about stress. If we believe that stress will damage us, it does. The body hears “damage” and then releases chemicals to validate it. If we think we can handle it, our body responds with resilience.
Daily, we have so much to be grateful for, and there are several things that we may have done well. All those tend to drown in one adverse event. I find this a recurring theme in my professional life. After caring for several patients to the best of my ability, if I missed one cannula in a child, I would feel bad and start to doubt my abilities. Nothing is lost; the child would have the cannula done by one of my colleagues, and all is well. However, I forgot to be grateful for the day’s fruitfulness, which was marked by numerous positive things I accomplished, but that one instance has taken all that away from me. This is one of the reasons for focusing on gratitude rather than dwelling on what went wrong. I am sure there are examples that everyone can relate to daily.
If I, as an experienced professional, must endure this, imagine what a child whose brain is still developing has to go through with the trivial setbacks they face. Wouldn’t that affect their self–esteem? It only reminds us that counting our blessings and focusing on the good things will allow us to flourish, and the body will react positively.
It all comes back to attitude. How we think influences how we feel and, ultimately, how we heal. By choosing to focus on positivity, we empower ourselves. We activate the body’s natural systems for restoration and rejuvenation. We take ownership of our emotional and physical well-being.
So, next time you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to breathe, smile, and remember—your thoughts have power. Lean into positivity, not as a form of denial, but as a conscious choice to support your body’s natural healing process.
The prescription
I would love to see the day when parents seek advice on wellness as part of their child’s treatment. The burgeoning field of wellness and mindfulness would be a valuable addition to our healthcare system, benefiting parents and children. Physicians need to develop strategies to maintain a positive outlook and mitigate the risk of burnout, which has been shown to impact patient care negatively.
In all my patients with behavioural conditions and mental health issues, the focus has been on getting psychology as the first line of treatment. This is one possible way to harness the body’s healing capacity and release chemicals that counteract the substances released in response to negative thoughts.
Practical Tips to Activate Positive Thinking:
Gratitude Journaling
Each night, write down three things you’re grateful for. This simple habit shifts focus from what’s wrong to what’s going well. If the family can discuss what they are thankful for during dinner, the outcome is even better. This could shift the focus to more positive aspects than negative ones.
Mindful Breathing
Even 2–3 minutes of deep, conscious breathing can reduce cortisol and restore calm. I do this consciously a lot between my busy workloads. When there are those few minutes before my next patient in the outpatient clinic, I either do quick deep breaths or exercises. Avoiding the tendency to think about work and prioritising a few brief breaks makes you feel good towards the end of the day. On the days when I don’t do this, I feel tired, weary, and irritable.
Positive Affirmations
Say or write affirmations daily (e.g., “I am capable,” “I am healing,” “I am enough.”) to rewire your thinking patterns. This is also a matter of rephrasing the words that we use, such as “I cannot do this” to “I can accept the challenge, but I may need some help.”
Acts of Kindness
Small, thoughtful gestures—such as checking on a friend—trigger the release of oxytocin in both the giver and the receiver.
Limit Negative Inputs
Limit your exposure to toxic news and social media. It’s essential to be self-aware of what happens around us, but indulging and taking on emotions from others may not be beneficial. The things that happen around us are not entirely within our control, but we certainly have a choice to focus on what we wish to. Focus on uplifting content and supportive people.
Visualise Healing and practice self-compassion
Picture your body healing itself. Visualisation has been shown to activate real biological responses.
Peer support—utilising peer support for psychological assistance, rooted in empathy and compassion —offers an effective method for managing stress.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article reflect my views and are intended for general information only. Each individual is unique, and perspectives can vary greatly. What works for one person may not suit another. The blog’s contents do not substitute for professional medical advice. This guidance does not apply to individuals facing health issues as assessed by your physician, and is meant solely as a daily reminder to prioritise wellness. The content of this article should never be a reason to delay seeking medical advice.