Research has shown that by changing physical aspects of your body, your thoughts and feelings can change too! 

If our state of mind is stressed and negative then this can have a significant impact on our physical health too. An example of this is if you believe you are feeling overwhelmed and can't cope with the stress you are under at the moment then you will convince yourself of that mindset therefore making the situation much more difficult to handle. 

Here are some simple ways you can start to change your mindset: 

• Smile 

Smiles are very powerful, if you choose to smile, you will automatically feel happier. You can even give it a go right now, do you feel any different? By forcing yourself to smile you are telling your anxious and stressed mind that there is nothing to be afraid of and this can change your thoughts and lighten your worries. The fastest way to change your mindset is to change you physiology, this works both ways! 

• Stand up straight

Bad posture can negatively affect your emotional state. When you straighten your posture or sit upright in your chair, you erect your spine therefore communicating to the body it should align it's state. This is a simple way to experiment with mind over matter. 

• Fake it, until you make it 

When you feel yourself stressed and down, acknowledge this and take a step back to decide how to act. Start by simply pretending how you would like to be which is usually the opposite of what you intially feel. For example if you are stressed and tense, act like somebody who is happy and relaxed in their demeanour; this may even be someone you look up to or know. This can influence your state of mind and over time can become second nature.