How often do we find ourselves thinking about today right now? Maybe it can be a quick thought of what our boss did or how long our meetings went. Perhaps, perhaps, maybe not. But if we constantly recall to ourselves yesterday or think about an event or action happening in the near future, could it help us feel more present and engaged? It might. We are all in some way reminded that we need to set aside time each day and ask ourselves… what can I do to help myself this evening? What can I focus my energy so effectively on that makes me feel even better? And then set out to do whatever it is. This could be anything: writing, journaling, making a coffee, cooking dinner, reading, working out, and much more. Here is some positive thinking research to help you! (For the complete list, click here & read more at BrightStories)
Positive thinking is very important to mental health. Why do we need positive thinking? Let’s start by examining why. There is an old Chinese saying “The mind begins to think about the person he wants to become that becomes the person he thinks he will become” that holds true for both personal development as well! When people are happy and self-aware, they have less likelihood of being stressed and overwhelmed. They have more control over their own life and are usually happier when they reach their goals. So, when you are happy, you start looking forward to every moment of success and achievement. Then positive thinking helps you focus on what YOU want. Because you know what you want now.. As you go along the path towards your goal, you are continually reminded of the good times you had earlier. Now that you want to achieve the next thing, you simply concentrate on what you want to get done. If our mind starts to think negatively about ourselves, about the things we need to do, about our work, etc. it leads us down a negative spiral! In order to prevent negative thoughts from spreading, practice positive thinking habits. Start simple. Simply switch off any distractions such as social media. Put nothing away, turn off all the notifications on your phone and computer and don’t tell yourself you need to do anything for tomorrow. Practice self-awareness by asking yourself these questions: Am I doing things right? Am I being kind to myself? Are my problems having any relevance to other people? What can I make a difference? These positive questions will remind you that everything is worth doing! Even if you fail. Asking these positive questions is just one element in developing healthy mindsets! If you aren’t happy, try to figure out why. Do anything you can to build happiness into your life and improve yourself. Work harder, take extra classes, or learn an additional skill. Get outside and make friends. All the little actions we do that bring positive results add up and contribute to overall well-being. Positive thinking goes beyond merely focusing on our future and being optimistic for the future, we are also actively searching out ways to improve how we perform ourselves and help ourselves better. For example, study when there are no classes, attend yoga class when and where you please, make a breakfast for yourself instead of just being hungry. Any small improvements will lead to progress and growth!
Positive thinking doesn’t necessarily mean negative, however... In a world where most people are busy worrying and overwhelmed, taking some time from your schedule to reflect and refocus can do wonders. Give yourself permission to relax after a stressful day and spend some more time doing what matters to you. Set aside a few minutes every day and use it to do what you enjoy! Use this free time to exercise, read, meditate, watch videos, learn something new, listen to music, paint, learn a language. Whatever brings you joy, make it happen! Think about things that bring you joy – family, friendships, pets, sports, work, exercise, reading an interesting novel. Keep going! Celebrate the positives, the achievements, the accomplishments. Don’t let negativity cloud your life. People who are mentally healthy are able to enjoy their lives and pursue meaningful connections with friends and loved ones. Some of the tools used to develop positive thinking include affirmations, visualization practices, mantras, mindfulness techniques, learning meditation techniques, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, planning daily tasks, and many more. By practicing positive thinking practices, you’ll automatically activate and strengthen new neural pathways of the brain to allow you to be happier and more effective.
So what is positive thinking? Well, it means you don’t just focus on the past or the future. Instead, you focus on helping yourself. Positive thinking means taking steps to stay active and successful while living life to the fullest. Yes, you must work hard and put hours in to improve what you already like. But remember: it’s not a competition. Life isn’t a race. Life isn’t fixed. You can’t change past mistakes or make future promises. Just like you can’t stop time, you won’t stop negative thinking, you can’t change the past or the future. So instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, think positively and live today to the fullest. Your mindset should be one that focuses on the future and not dwelling on the past, which is easier said than done. Take advantage of opportunities, push through challenges and never give up, but never worry about succeeding. That will eventually get you back to a place of feeling fulfilled and satisfied, and then you can look forward to enjoying everything that you love. It’s a lot easier said than done, yes, but it’s totally worth it! Positive thinking means having confidence. Knowing you have the ability to do whatever and whenever you want to. Having that belief that you are capable of achieving whatever you want, whether it is schoolwork or trying to lose weight. When you believe in yourself, positive thinking boosts self-esteem and increases your confidence – the key ingredients to staying positive and happy. If you can maintain a positive attitude and mindset, you are more likely to succeed and have more positive emotions. And when you are happier and happy, you’re more likely to experience positive outcomes. So, instead of spending time complaining and wondering where you went wrong, go ahead and do as much as you can, even if it’s only your homework! And it’s easier said than done, yes, but it’s worth it in the end! Be thankful for what you have.
Our brains are wired to think we need to solve our problems, learn complex issues, and struggle with overwhelming situations. This is because we know we are inadequate to fix ourselves and everyone else around us. Most times, we don’t realize we are facing a problem until we find yourself struggling. Our brain is programmed to fix the negative thinking that comes our way and make us feel bad about ourselves, so we immediately get frustrated and then lash out at anyone that seems like they can help or listen to us. Negative thinking drains our self-confidence, reduces our focus, decreases our ability to stay present and make decisions, and stops our ability to function at our best throughout the day. You can easily identify and correct negative thinking and increase your self-confidence and your ability to think logically rather than react impulsively! Believe in what you want to accomplish and always strive to achieve. You can also gain clarity on self-worth and make more informed choices by focusing on your career goals, your relationships, your health and your wellbeing. Focus on what you can, not what others think you should be doing. To become more confident in yourself, start changing your negative thinking habits! A clear mindset can easily be restored by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. So before you start hating anything that is different or different because you’ve read it, ask yourself the following question: Am I willing to spend any amount of time to achieve this? If you say no, accept it will probably never happen or you will hate it later. Try again, maybe you can find someone else to help or someone who shares your interest in whatever field you care about. Change your negative thinking habits by acknowledging that you’re lacking in skills or knowledge. Write down some things you’d really like to learn. Listen to informative discussions about your industry, listen to podcasts or interviews with experts in your field. Find a mentor; a teacher or another expert in your field and ask them how you can be better. If you’re struggling, start connecting with yourself and your thoughts. Embrace yourself and embrace all of yours! Nothing brings your mind down like the pressure of failure. However, you can overcome this obstacle if you find something similar to make you smile and laugh instead of sad and angry. One of the easiest ways to do this is by finding things you like to do and creating routines around them. Find activities that make you smile and enjoy doing them. Look for activities that will bring joy to your family and community. Make plans with your children to have fun together once a week during the holiday season. This may be something simple like watching movie night or playing board games with your kids for a couple of hours. If you are struggling, remember that you’re human, you can change. Believe it or not, your thoughts can change! Sometimes just being there for yourself can boost self-worth and can help you overcome any setbacks you face today. Positive thinking changes your mood, prevents stress, clears your mind so you can think
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