If you’re like most people, you don’t put much thought into your daily thinking patterns. Most of us think about the things that matter—our jobs, our families, our friends—but not necessarily how we can improve the way we think or react to situations in our lives. It’s time to change that. You don’t have to be happy all the time (no one can be), but you can change your thinking habits so they lead to more positive outcomes in your life overall. Here are five tips to help you start practicing positive thinking every day.
1) Start with the end in mind
There’s an old saying, You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react. This may sound like a platitude or something your grandmother would tell you—but it actually holds quite a bit of truth. When you start every day with your end goal in mind, suddenly problems and setbacks don’t feel so catastrophic; they feel temporary and inconsequential. And when you set realistic goals for yourself (e.g., I will work out three times per week), small obstacles become opportunities to learn from and grow stronger. Not only does positive thinking lead to more productive days, but research has shown that those who practice positivity have higher levels of happiness and well-being than those who don’t. So start with the end in mind—it could be just what you need to get through your daily challenges!
2) Assume the best, not the worst
It’s easy to fall into a negative mindset, especially when something doesn’t go your way. But if you always assume things will work out in your favor, you never have to worry about being let down. A positive attitude can also improve your health and relationships. In fact, many experts believe positivity is good for your overall well-being—plus it can help you accomplish more at work!
3) Have positive self-talk
We’re all guilty of letting negative thoughts creep into our minds from time to time. But, if you want to practice positive thinking, you need to also replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Start by telling yourself, I love my body just as it is! every time you feel a judgmental thought coming on—and watch your self-talk shift for the better!
4) Surround yourself with positivity
If you want to work on yourself and be a more positive person, then it’s important to start by surrounding yourself with people who are just as excited about life. That doesn’t mean that you have to be an optimist all of your life, but it does mean that if you surround yourself with people who aren’t in a great place mentally or emotionally, then it can make you become negative too.
5) Write out your goals
Before you start thinking positively, it’s important to have clearly defined goals. Otherwise, you could fall into a trap of simply wishing positive things will happen rather than setting up plans to make them happen. Be sure that each goal is specific and measurable—that way, it can serve as a foundation for your thoughts. Begin by writing down three professional goals (e.g., new accounts opened in 2017) and three personal goals (e.g., attend weekly yoga class in 2017).
