Strategies to Help You Overcome Negative Thinking
Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full? The way you answer this question could reveal a great deal about your happiness, health and ability to manage stress. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between your mindset and health . The simple act of thinking positively can elevate your mood, relieve anxiety and improve your general wellbeing.
Thinking positively is not as easy as it may seem. It is possible to overcome negative thinking, but it doesn't happen overnight. If you want to learn how to develop a more positive mindset, here are four ways to harness the power of positive thinking:
1. Train your brain to focus on the positive
It's human nature to focus on what's going wrong as opposed to what's going right. Thankfully, it's possible to eliminate the so-called “ negativity bias ” and achieve a more positive mindset.
To retrain your brain , get in the habit of appreciating the positive moments in your life, no matter how small they may seem. Spend at least 10 seconds focusing on each positive detail of your day, from the delicious food you had for breakfast to the beautiful weather outside.
Taking 10 seconds to focus on these positive things will help your brain become more alert to positive information. Over time, this practice will help you create a more positive mindset.
2. Learn from your mistakes
One of the most significant differences between a positive and negative person is how they react to their mistakes. Negative people often view mistakes as failures, whereas positive people view mistakes as lessons.
To become a more positive person, make an effort to learn from your mistakes , and don't beat yourself up for making a mistake in the first place. Instead, be thankful for the learning opportunity. Take the time to think of three things you learned as a result of your mistake. Focus on the importance of learning these lessons, so you don't let a simple mistake get you down.
3. Remove negativity triggers from your life
The key to keeping negative thoughts out of your head is keeping negativity triggers out of your life . Think about what causes you to have negative thoughts. The source of negative thinking could be a person in your life who constantly brings you down, for example.
But negative thoughts can come from other sources, too. Assess everything from the music you listen to on your way to work to the websites you visit in your spare time. If something triggers negativity, remove it from your life so you can develop a more positive mindset.
4. Keep a gratitude journal
Another way to become a more positive person is by keeping a gratitude journal. Research has even shown that keeping a gratitude journal can improve your health and happiness .
How does it work? Every day, write down five things for which you feel grateful. It doesn't matter how insignificant or small these things seem — all that matters is that you take the time to express your gratitude for them. You should start to notice a change in your mindset after about two weeks of journaling.
The caring therapists at Foundations Counseling can help you and your family overcome life's greatest challenges. Contact us today!
