Positive Thinking Can Change Your Life
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We might not feel like we have the ability to choose our thoughts but with some work, we can change from negative to positive thinking. This is important because experts guess that we think between 50,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day. That seems extraordinary, doesn’t it? Experts also believe that a whopping 80% of our thoughts are negative and 95% are repetitive.
Why is positive thinking important?
One good reason to choose positive thoughts is that they shape or perception. Meaning, what you are thinking about you will see, hear and speak. You will literally not hear or see opportunities if you are in a negative thinking pattern. The actions and words of other people will have a negative light. You will self sabotage yourself.
I once sat in a meeting with 7 very high-level people to talk through some angst two of them were having. I’ll call them Sally and John. John finished eloquently and professionally giving a description of what he felt was happening. Sally immediately became defensive and heard what John said negatively. The rest of us were surprised to hear her version of what she heard. None of us had heard that. It was her perception but not the reality of the other 5 people in the room.
How do we change our thoughts from negative to positive?
Like anything in life we want to change we have to first be aware a change is needed. Then we have to have a deep desire to make that change. For most that deep desire is usually caused by a pain point. If you are aware and ready to do the work you can have the freedom to choose your thoughts. Below I outline some basic first steps.
First, ALWAYS talk nicely to yourself. If what you are saying to yourself in your head you isn’t something you’d say to someone else then stop. Try changing the dialogue to I am trying, I am doing my best, I am working towards. You get the idea.
Second, what you are thinking you are repetitively thinking you are usually saying. Probably things like I am broke, I am unhappy, I am fat, whatever that is. Reframe it in a positive. For example, instead of saying I am broke, say I am working towards financial freedom.
Third, start a gratitude journal. If you are alive there is always something to be grateful for. It can be you woke up today. You had a roof over your head. You had clean water to drink. Whatever it is try and write 3 things each day you are grateful for.
Fourth, surround your self with positive thinking people. Avoid those negative talkers or change the subject if you can’t avoid them. That goes for your social media feeds. Join some positive thinking groups with positive and inspirational posts.
Positive thinking takes time
Changing the way you think is not going to happen overnight. There are thought ruts you have created over years and years. The key is to want the change and like any new habit practice, practice, practice. If you want it bad enough you will stick with the suggestions above until you start seeing a change. Think of it as an exercise program for your brain. One that will give you as many health benefits as a good exercise regime can. One of the best ways to succeed with any new habit is to track it and try and connect it to an already-established habit. For example, you can do your journaling right after you brush your teeth. You probably brush your teeth every night.
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