Updated February 8, 2019
In Part 3 of the series, we discussed how negative thinking can undermine your self-confidence, cause you to doubt yourself, and lessen the potential of an empowering activity. Today, we will explore the different ways to cultivate positive thinking. Here are 3 ways to turn a gloomy outlook into an effortlessly optimistic attitude.
Keep A Journal
A journal can help you think things through, record memories, document the “good” in the world, find patterns in your life and foster optimistic thinking habits. “Habits” is the key word here. How we think is a habit. We grow accustomed to seeing the glass half full or half empty. We make it a habit to focus on the good stuff or the bad stuff. To get better at positive thinking, we have to make it a habit, and a journal can help us do that.
When we sit down to write, we focus our attention and force ourselves to examine what we’ve been doing or thinking. It helps us clear our mind and find the important stuff. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing in an old-fashioned journal, in a word document or blog on your computer, or if you use an app on your phone. The process of putting words on the page helps us organize and evaluate our thoughts. That’s why it’s such a valuable tool when it comes to building new habits.
The beauty of a journal is that it is private. You can be (and should be) completely honest with yourself. Record your wins, but don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve slipped up and went back to negative thought patterns. The journal will help you with that process by reviewing each day and examining when you did well and what areas need improvement.
With consistent journaling, you’ll see patterns emerge. Maybe you’re good about thinking positive thoughts until you come home at night. In that case, it may be time to figure out what’s giving you a negative vibe in your space. Maybe it’s small, dark, and too crowded. What can you do to make it a more positive and inviting space to live in? Maybe you find that you do well unless you get in contact with certain people. What can you do to change the relationship dynamic and keep from sliding back into negativity around them?
Surround Yourself with Inspiration
Forming a new habit requires you to make the decision to do something different over and over again. You need reminders to change, and that’s why inspiration is so important. Things, people, and ideas that inspire us also prompt us to try harder, do better, and keep pushing until these new habits are firmly established.
Your first step is to find out what inspires and motivates you–maybe it’s an inspirational quote, a picture of your family, or it’s having a goal in front of you and tracking your progress. Then, start to surround yourself with it. For example, let’s say quotes and affirmations are what inspire you. Have them printed up, and hang them on the walls of your home and office. Get crafty and come up with your own pieces of art that incorporate the quotes. Stick them to your bathroom mirror, fridge, or computer monitor. Put them in places where you’ll see them and read them multiple times per day. Do what you can to surround yourself with inspiration. Use it as a reminder, motivator and positive mood generator.
Allow inspiration to help you start creating those positive thinking habits until they become completely natural and an integral part of who and what you are. Just keep in mind that inspiration is ever-changing, and over time, you will start to go blind to all those visual reminders of thinking positive. They will blur into the background, and you will stop being able to use them as constant positive reinforcement. That’s why it’s important to change things up and find new inspiration on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for it, and you will find it.
Create A Positive Climate Around You
If you want to get better at positive thinking, make sure you cultivate an environment that fosters just that. After all, we are affected by our environment–the space we’re in, the sounds we hear, the scents we smell, and the people we surround ourselves with all have an impact on how we feel, act, and think.
Let’s use Google as an example. They have some of the most creative and upbeat teams on the planet. They do it by creating a corporate culture and climate that makes it fun and easy to come up with innovative ideas. While you don’t have to go as far as Google has gone, you should give some serious thought to your environment and the climate you create around you. This could apply to your surroundings, your work space, your home, and even the people around you including team members, employees, and family.
Start with the things that put you in a good mood. Maybe it’s a nice sunny room or an office space without distractions. Maybe it’s a plant on your desk or a fun poster on the wall. Then, think about what helps you think—could it be something to fidget with, or maybe it’s going for a walk outside or listening to a particular type of music. You know yourself and what works for you. What does it take to get you into the zone where work becomes easy and you have your best ideas? What puts you in a good mood? Those are the things you want to surround yourself with. Start small and keep adding to it. Before long, you’ll start to notice a change in yourself and those around you. The nice thing is that this type of change is contagious. The positivity will bounce from you to the people around you and back.
In summary, positive thinking is a habit. Practice paying attention to the good stuff in life.
Call to Action: Immerse yourself with inspiring company and document your memories to help maintain your optimistic attitude.
Subscribe to my newsletter and receive your FREE 13-page Self-Care Starter Kit. If you need a boost of motivation or inspiration, follow me on Facebook or Instagram to catch my daily quote.
Leave a Reply