Ever wonder if all the fuss about having a “positive mindset” and manifesting good thoughts actually has any merit?
Believe it or not, having a positive mindset is an absolute game-changer. It affects everything around you– that includes everything from your relationships to your job. Ready to have your world changed?
Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill
⏱ 13 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Turn Negative Self-Talk into Positive Self-Talk
One of the biggest obstacles in achieving a positive mindset is you. Or to put it in other words, it’s how you treat and address yourself.
You may not notice it, but negative self-talk can sneak up on you. You may dismiss it as the “norm,” but it’s not. An example of negative self-talk can be immediately scolding yourself after something, saying that “I shouldn’t have tried that,” or “What was I thinking?” and similar talk-downs like this.
At the moment, these thoughts may be instinctive. But do you know what? Eventually, these turn into internalized feelings. Your very conception of yourself changes for the worst. Let’s turn that around!
The solution is very simple. The next time you catch yourself talking down to yourself, stop, breathe, and replace those thoughts with positive ones. For example, instead of beating yourself up over failing at something, change your mindset into: “Wow, that didn’t go as expected. Oh, well. Maybe next time. Now I know what not to try next time!”
Yes, it can be difficult to maintain a positive mindset. Negative thoughts and self-talk are like weeds that are hard to pull out, but they can be pulled out. Stop them from growing further by interrupting them at their root and changing your thoughts to a more positive outlook.
Another form of negative self-talk isn’t as internalized. It can manifest in the form of self-deprecating humor. While it’s completely healthy to have this sort of humor– something we’ll actually talk about in a minute– when it’s driven by self-hatred? It does more harm than good. This particular sense of humor is popular among the younger generations. Know when it’s unhealthy, when your jokes stop being about laughing at yourself and not taking things too seriously, and turn into self-criticism.
Start Your Day On a Positive Note
One of the easiest tips you can follow is starting your day on a positive note. Almost always, the beginning of your morning sets the tone for how the rest of your day will go. Blame it on getting out of the wrong side of the bed, waking up groggy, or downright being not a morning person, but know that there is a way to actually enjoy those first few hours of the day.
Instead of starting out the day by dragging yourself out of bed, feeling negative and pessimistic, try this instead. A lot of people swear by following a morning routine. This familiar start to your day may be just the thing you need to have a positive day.
Adding to that, start your day with positive affirmations. It may feel weird or silly at first, talking to yourself, but this has mind-blowing benefits. And what do you have to lose? Start your morning with amazing affirmations such as, “Today is going to be a good day,” or “I have it within me to solve any challenge that comes up today,” or “I feel strong today.”
Pick something that makes you feel empowered, like you’ve got this! Remember that it’s within your power to make your day. It’s up to you to invite what kind of experiences you want in your life. A firm believer in the power of positive affirmations is Oprah Winfrey. Every morning, she pulls a card from her 365 Gathered Truths box of inspirational sayings.
So, find a way to start your day off on a happy note. If that means blasting Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” or Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” then go for it! Whether you have an hour to spare in the morning for this positive routine, or half an hour, or even just a few minutes, find something that helps you feel ready to conquer the day.
Show Your Appreciation and Gratitude
You can start a positive chain reaction by simply being appreciative of others around you and by showing gratitude for the good things you have.
Think about it like this: by smiling at a co-worker and giving them a compliment, you’re making their day. If you want to receive more positive energy, then you have to give some out. And then watch the positive effects that happen to the people around you.
There have been studies on this. They show that people who sent out letters of gratitude ended up experiencing increases in their happiness scores. And while you don’t necessarily have to send out letters to loved ones; a compliment, a nice thoughtful text, or an email thanking someone who has helped you, goes a long way.
Right now, you may be thinking that it’s difficult to stay positive when you experience obstacles and negative challenges throughout the day. The key to staying appreciative and grateful is focusing on the good things, no matter how small. There is no escaping bad things happening. But you will rarely experience such a thing as a “perfect day” without actively contributing to making it positive.
Again, focus on turning the negatives into positives. If you’re stuck in traffic, for example, instead of being frustrated that you’re going to get home late, think about how you have guilt-free time to finish your favorite podcast and to relax. If your favorite restaurant is closed, think about how much you may enjoy trying out something new!
Welcome More Humor Into Your Life
Finding humor even in the most challenging situations has more benefits than you might think. Laughter has been scientifically proven to have a powerful and positive effect on your body. It’s a powerful medicine for your mental health. Laughter alone can lower your stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Laughter can also dramatically improve your mood and increase your self-esteem.
So, how can you welcome and invite more humor into your life? The key is being open to humor in every situation, even the tough ones. Laughing at yourself positively and not taking things too seriously has an instantaneous effect on your mood. Things will rapidly seem a lot less difficult. Find humor even in the most trying of challenges by reminding yourself that this will, at least, make for a good story later.
So turn on your favorite sitcom, watch a funny movie, or watch YouTube videos that make you laugh. In the short term, laughter will do more than just lightening your worries.
You may just start noticing positive physical changes. When you laugh, like that uncontrollable guffaw at a joke, you’re actually improving your intake of oxygen and stimulating your heart, muscles, and lungs. You’re also increasing the feel-good endorphins that your brain releases. Your circulation and muscle relaxation are also greatly helped stimulated by regular laughter, which means the physical symptoms of stress are reduced.
Surround Yourself With Positive People
It comes back to this: surround yourself with positive people. As cliché as it sounds, it’s completely true, you are who you surround yourself with, so it only makes sense that on your quest to develop a more positive mindset, you spend time only with people who have a positive effect on you and lift you up higher.
It’s the opposite of the famous “misery loves company” saying. Positivity is equally contagious. Someone in a positive mood can lift an entire room’s vibe, just like a negative person can bring it down.
So, surround yourself with positive people. They will lift you up, improve your self-esteem, and help you see the bright side more clearly. What happens when you spend time with positive people is that you’ll hear a healthy abundance of positive stories, outlooks on life, and advice. Think about it this way: if you took our earlier advice and did what you could to improve the positivity of others, it’s only right that you let their positivity affect you in return!
These tips are easy to follow and you’ll start noticing a difference before you know it! So get out there and enjoy your new positive outlook!
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