10 Tips to Help You Think Positive (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Do you spend more time thinking positively or negatively? Many people let their thoughts take control, so if they begin with a negative thought, chances are they will continue that way – and vice

If you struggle to think positively, here are some tips on how to change things around.

1: BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE THOUGHT
Better still, say it out loud. You may settle on a single thought, or end up with a few you could use depending on how you feel. Here are some examples:

• Today is going to be a good day
• Today I will make a positive effort to feel happy
• Today I will do my best to succeed

2: SMILE!
This one is amazingly simple – so much so, it is very easy to forget how powerful it is. Try it now – smile. How do you feel? Chances are, you will feel far more positive than you did beforehand.

3: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THOUGHTS
If a negative thought comes into your mind, picture yourself picking it up and taking it outside, shutting the door on it as you do so. Then, consciously replace that thought with something more positive.

4: REMEMBER WE LEARN FROM MISTAKES
It’s hard to be positive when something goes wrong in our life. But remember something good can always come from something bad. Whenever you are confronted with a disappointing, frustrating, or just plain sad experience, go easy on yourself. Try to remember we all fail sometimes. Think positively going forwards and remember you can learn from what has happened.

5: YOUR HEALTH COULD IMPROVE
Surveys and studies have shown that our health improves if we try to think more positively. Yes, it takes time to make positive thinking a habit, but knowing it will positively impact your health as well is a great incentive, don’t you think?
 

6: REDUCE THE NEGATIVE INNER TALK
We are probably all guilty of this now and then, but if you talk yourself down constantly, you’ll feel awful. And half the time there is no reason for it. We are often too hard on ourselves, so try easing back on the negative criticisms and see things from a more positive perspective instead.  

7: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Okay, so this isn’t always easy to achieve – especially not at work. You cannot choose your co-workers, but you can choose how much time you spend with them. Minimise contact with negative people and maximise contact with positive people. A positive attitude tends to rub off on others, as does a negative one. Which group would you rather associate with?

8: GET SOME EXERCISE
I’m not talking about a long session at the gym, or a five-mile walk. Even five minutes in the fresh air will do wonders for your positivity. The blast of endorphins you’ll get from this are guaranteed to make you feel far more positive than you did before. The other advantage to getting smaller bursts of exercise throughout the day is that you can tap into those endorphins more regularly.  

9: RESORT TO HUMOUR
How good do you feel after a good laugh? Find a programme, podcast, or radio show that always makes you laugh. Make sure it is always close by if you have some time to listen to it. You could also find a good book to read that brings a smile to your face. Or go and find a new series of books you can start reading - finding new things to do is another great way to boost the way you feel.

10: FOCUS ON THE MOMENT YOU ARE IN
Did something bad happen this morning to put you in a negative mood before the day even began? Did you feel upset after a co-worker talked down to you? Whatever tries to knock you off your positive perch, take a moment to refocus your energies in the exact moment you are now in. This is the only moment you can feel positive about. The more you do this, the easier it gets.

Of course, some days are easier to feel and be positive about than others. However, if you want to make sure you can think as positively as possible, following a few of these tips will make it much easier to achieve. Remember, you have total control over the thoughts that run through your head – every moment of every day. You may not be in full control yet, but you can be. By exercising the above suggestions and persevering until they become easier to do, you will soon find your thoughts turn far more to the positive than the negative.

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.