Positive thinking as a conscious choice

Whether we feel joyful, angry, sad, or touched — our mood is
almost always determined by what goes on inside our head. But this is great
news, because it means that you can use techniques such as mindfulness, healthy
self-esteem, or a change of perspective to gain a new and positive attitude,
even to life events which initially seem challenging. An optimistic attitude to
life is good for you in several different ways. You will not only be more
contented and creative — you’ll also be healthier. Viewing the world through a
positive lens reduces energy-sapping stress and turbo-charges your immune system.

Enjoy the here and now and let your worries
wash away: think positive!

If you want to change the way you think about yourself and your
life and learn to take a more positive approach, you should start by closely
examining the patterns of thinking and behaving which have become habits over
the years. One way of doing so is to jot down all of your thoughts. If you
realize that you spend a lot of time worrying about problems which might arise
one day in the future and brooding on irrelevancies, it’s time to break the
circle of negative thinking. Because it has no happy ending. After all, the
future is inherently uncertain and out of our control.

A healthy dose of self-confidence — the key
to success?

People who are prone to self-doubt are quickly sucked into a
whirlpool of negative thoughts which puts them in a bad mood. But the opposite
is also true; people who have a high opinion of themselves and accept their own
faults are immune to the energy-sapping habit of perfectionism. This means they
have a much higher chance of happiness in their day-to-day life, since being
fixated on always getting everything 100% right and keeping everyone else happy
puts stress on both the body and the mind — a toxic combination for anyone who
wants to learn to think positively. In contrast, people who know their skills
(and their limits) and how to deploy these skills at the right time and in the
right place are likely to gain in self-confidence. A healthy belief in oneself
is the ideal basis for finding internal peace and making a positive impression
on others. Your reward will be success both at home and at work. People who
believe in themselves are not only more capable of convincing others of the
value of their work, they are also able to view failures for what they really are
— productive experiences which help them to grow.

Realistic goals to help you stay positive

Positive thinking helps us to adopt a glass-half-full attitude
to life. But you need to remain realistic in order to make sure that the glass
doesn’t crack and spill its contents. Would you like to get in shape and drop a
few pounds? It’s important to be realistic about your chances of success.
You’re not going to achieve a shredded physique in two weeks. Set yourself
goals which are doable with a certain amount of effort. For example, a
realistic plan might be to decide that you’ll use the stairs from now on
instead of taking the lift. And you’ll cycle or walk instead of using the car
for short journeys. Candies will be a weekend-only treat. After a few weeks, you
could start to build in a gentle 15-minute jog on the same day every week — no
excuses. As time goes by, gradually increase the effort.

Achievable goals reward you with regular wins. Each of these
wins boosts your mood. Change creates momentum in our life and teaches us new
things. Being aware of learning successes means that they trigger momentary
highs, and tip the scales in favor of your self-confidence.

Think positively
and see failure as an opportunity

Stress is a normal part of life. The trick is not getting sucked in for too long by the negative feelings which often go along with it. Instead, try thinking about how a situation which appears negative at first glance might, in fact, benefit you. Let’s take queuing at the supermarket cash desk as an example. Rather than thinking about how much longer you’re going to have to wait, use the time to take some deep breaths and perhaps try a short meditation or allow your thoughts to roam freely. Look on the situation as an exercise in patience. Once you’ve reminded yourself of everything which is good about queuing, your mood will soon take a turn for the better. If you’re facing problems which are ongoing or more challenging in nature, you might need something a bit more tangible to reset your mood. For example, if you have a colleague at work who often gets on your nerves, sit down with a piece of paper and list all the ways in which the situation can help you grow. Whenever you feel your hackles rising, you can refer to the list to remind yourself that this is an opportunity to see things afresh and practice your tolerance.

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