This is something I have to say to myself when I notice those negative thoughts start to creep in, because I know they can only breed more negativity, and ultimately, won’t give me the life I crave.
Do you know someone who drains your energy every time you’re around them? No matter the situation they always seem to focus on what’s going wrong, even if there are a lot of things going right. They’re always complaining, and negativity seems to rule their life, which in turn affects how they present to the world around them. They appear disgruntled, closed off, and unhappy, which directly affects how others interact with them--often perpetuating a cycle of more negativity in their life. As you’re reading this, there’s probably someone who comes to mind, or maybe you’re thinking, Oh shoot, that sounds a little like me…
Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. Every person struggles with this to a certain degree, but the good news is we have the power to change the way we think. So, how do we prevent this from happening? How do we get off this rollercoaster called negative thinking?
Well, here are a few practical ways you can allow the power of positive thinking to transform your mind and your life.
- Be mindful of what you allow your mind to dwell on.
Whether we like to admit it or not, our thoughts have a powerful impact on the way we live our lives. Even the way we perceive situations can affect our judgement of them, causing us to react in ways that may not align with reality.
If you find yourself imagining the worst case scenario of the situation you find yourself in, take some time to pause and ask yourself these two questions:
Are the things I’m worrying about true?
Are they likely to happen?
More often than not, the answer is “no” because a majority of the things we worry about usually never come to pass. Once we vocalize this we can see the tricks our mind is playing on us, and steward our energy toward something more productive. It’s also helpful to remind yourself that even if the worst case scenario were to happen, you’d still be okay. The things we worry about typically aren’t as scary as our brains make them out to be. Lastly, remind yourself of what is true in order to realign yourself with reality.
- Spend time everyday practicing gratitude.
This is such a simple thing, but we often forget to think of the things in our lives that are going well that we’re grateful for. Try starting your day by writing down three things you’re thankful for in a journal dedicated to the practice of gratitude. The more you do this, the more you’ll start to notice all the good things in your life, and that will become your focus--your new baseline.
- In every situation (good or bad) try to find a silver lining in it.
This can be challenging when it comes to the obstacles we face in life, however, instead of thinking, “why me?” acknowledge the disappointment you feel, allow yourself to feel sad/hurt/upset, and then ask, “what is this situation trying to teach me?” View your life experiences as things that are for you and your growth, instead of things that are happening to you. This will help you develop a more positive mindset overall--one that you will naturally gravitate towards when you are faced with challenges in your life.
Ultimately, we have to get at the root of what is holding us back from the life we want, and in the meantime, enjoy the space between where we are and where we want to be. Remember that it’s perfectly normal to have negative emotions. When they arise, let yourself feel them fully, and then release them. Don’t let them control you, or how you perceive your life, and try to focus on the good that surrounds you.