Positive Thinking
September 13th is “Positive Thinking Day”. This was founded in 2003 by an American Entrepreneur to celebrate the benefits of Positive Thinking.
What is Positive Thinking
Positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore facts or logic or force yourself to have only positive emotions. That’s not realistic. Life is full of challenges; it is how we look at those challenges that makes the difference.
Positive thinking means that you look at the challenge you are facing and look beyond it, looking at how you can change or deal with it rather than enabling it to consume you.
A positive thinker will assume best intentions and interpret actions in a favourable way rather than assuming the worst. How we talk to ourselves is so important. If you normally do look at the worst-case scenario, believe me you can change. Therapy can really help, and the more we practise positive thoughts the easier it becomes. When you practise positive self-talk regularly your brain forms new ways of thinking. There are many therapies available to help you get started, if you would like to find out more, please do call me. Being mindful of your thoughts and having compassion for yourself can also change negative thoughts.
Positive Thinking affects your overall Health.
- There is a lower risk of depression.
- A reduced chance of heart attacks and heart disease.
- Boosts your immune system.
- A stable mood rather than mood swings.
- Able to adapt to change better.
Having a positive attitude can take practice. If you struggle with positive thinking, changing how you talk to yourself, takes time and practice, but it is well worth it in the end. There will be times when you slip into negative thoughts, but notice them and ask yourself some questions such as:
- Is this really true? Could there be a different explanation, Have I interpreted it correctly?
- Is this helpful? Does this interpretation help me get through this moment and/or give me ideas to solve the problem.
- Is it kind to both me and other people?
Questioning negative thoughts allows you to change your thought patterns and have a positive mindset.
How to start thinking positively.
Be grateful. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It may be some-body holding a door open for you or smiling and saying good morning. It’s a great idea to do a gratitude journal, where you write at least one thing you are grateful for in that day in a book at the end of the day.
Ensure you get a good night’s sleep. It is when the body recharges and being tired can make you feel irritable which often leads to negative thoughts.
Accept the situation. If you find yourself in a negative situation, reframe it. For example, if your train is late. There is nothing you can do to change the situation, so perhaps talk to the other people waiting, read a book, listen to a podcast, use that extra time wisely rather than getting grumpy about the train being late.
Laughter is so important. Find humour in your daily life. It helps to reduced stress, heart rate and certainly makes you feel better.
If you notice that you have negative thoughts and are struggling to change them, please call me.