Harden Elkington
The idea of positive thinking is a well-known one, and it has a certain amount of banality to it. However, several scientific research has shown that the physical and mental benefits of optimistic thinking exist.
A positive attitude can help you feel more confident, improve your mood, and even lower your risk of developing illnesses like hypertension, sadness, and heart disease.
In this article, we will explore how you can start building positive thinking habits and getting rid of negative thinking habits.
The benefit of positive thinking
First, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of positive thinking:
- A positive attitude boosts your immune system.
- Positive people are more resilient and adaptable to change.
- A positive attitude attracts people and opportunities to you.
- Positive thinkers have better physical health.
- A positive attitude can lead to a more successful career.
Now that we know some of the benefits of positive thinking, let’s look at how you can start building these habits into your life.
How to start building positive thinking habits
Make time for yourself every day
This can be as simple as taking a few minutes each morning to sit in silence and focus on your breath. Meditation has many beneficial for your mental health.
During this time, you can allow any thoughts that come up to pass without judgment.
Simply recognizing that these are just thoughts and not reality can help to lessen their power over you.
Challenge your negative thoughts
When you catch yourself thinking something negative, take a step back and ask yourself if there’s any evidence to support that thought. More often than not, you’ll find that there isn’t.
Once you start to question your negative thoughts, they’ll begin to lose their power over you.
Fill your mind with positive affirmations
Repeating positive statements to yourself can help to train your brain to start thinking more positively. Some examples of positive affirmations include “I am capable,” “I am loved,” and “I am enough.”
Surround yourself with positive people
It’s hard to stay positive when the people around you are negative. Try to surround yourself with people who have a positive outlook on life and who will support your efforts to think more positively.
Practice gratitude
One of the quickest ways to shift your mindset from negative to positive is to focus on all the things you’re grateful for in your life. Gratitude imperative will help you to live more fully and joyfully
When you start to focus on the good, it becomes easier to see the negative for what it is.
Visualize your desired outcome
When you want to achieve a certain goal, visualization can be a powerful tool. imagining yourself achieving your goal and feeling the associated emotions can help to propel you closer to actually achieving it.
How to get rid of negative thinking habits
Be aware of your thoughts
The first step to getting rid of negative thinking is to become aware of when you’re doing it. Pay attention to the thoughts that run through your head throughout the day.
When you catch yourself thinking something negative, make a conscious effort to stop.
Question your negative thoughts
As we mentioned earlier, most of the time, the evidence doesn’t support negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking something that isn’t true, question it.
Why do you think that thought is running through your head?
What evidence do you have to support it?
Chances are, the evidence won’t be there.
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones
If you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, replace it with a positive one. As you do this more and more, it will start to become second nature. Soon, the negative thoughts won’t have as much power over you.
Disrupt your patterns
If you find yourself falling into the same negative thought patterns, it’s time to disrupt them. If you always have the same negative thoughts whenever you’re in a certain situation, change things up.
Do something different. This will help to break the pattern and can prevent the negative thoughts from taking over.
Practice self-compassion
When you’re struggling with negative thoughts, it’s easy to be hard on yourself. But this only serves to make things worse. Instead, practice self-compassion.
Be gentle and kind with yourself. Understand that everyone makes mistakes and that you’re human.
This will help you to move past the negative thoughts more easily.
Seek professional help
If you find that you’re struggling to get rid of your negative thoughts, it’s time to seek professional help. A therapist can assist you in identifying the root cause of your negative thoughts and can provide guidance on how to get rid of them.
How to stay positive when life gets tough
Make a list of things you’re grateful for
When life gets tough, it can be easy to focus on all the negative things that are happening. But this only makes things worse. Instead, try to focus on the positive.
Make a list of things you’re grateful for in your life.
This can help to shift your mindset and can remind you of all the good things that are happening.
Find a positive role model
When you’re feeling down, it can be helpful to find someone who is a positive role model. This person can be anyone from a friend or family member to a public figure.
Look to this person for inspiration and motivation.
Practice self-compassion
As we mentioned earlier, self-compassion is key when you’re feeling down. be gentle and kind with yourself. Understand that everyone makes mistakes and that you’re human.
This will help you to move past the negative thoughts more easily.
Connect with others
One of the best ways to stay positive when life gets tough is to connect with others. Talk to your friends and family members about what you’re going through.
This can help you to feel supported and can provide a listening ear.
Find a positive outlet
When life is tough, it’s important to find a positive outlet. This could be anything from painting to hiking to writing. Doing things that make you happy can help to boost your mood and can remind you of the good things in life.
Seek professional help
If you find that you’re struggling to stay positive, it’s time to seek professional help. A therapist can assist you in identifying the root cause of your negative thoughts and can provide guidance on how to stay positive.
Remember that things will get better
When life is tough, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But remember that things will get better. This too shall pass. Hang in there and know that better days are ahead.
When you’re struggling with negative thoughts, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
There are many people who have gone through the same thing. And there are ways to get rid of the negative thoughts.
By following the tips above, you can start to feel better and can begin to see the positive in your life.
Conclusion
Negative thoughts can be debilitating and can make life feel tough. But there are ways to get rid of them. By following the tips above, you can start to feel better and can begin to see the positive in your life.
Remember to be kind and compassionate with yourself, connect with others, and seek professional help if needed. Things will get better.
