Having Trouble Thinking Positively? Want to?
By Karen | March 8, 2009
I know we ALL have our days when it’s not as easy to think positively as others. We are human and that is okay, but I am here to help you by sharing an article I read to day! =)
Here’s how to get started:
* Several times a day, stop and focus on your thoughts. Are they negative? Perhaps you’re guilty of filtering, or weeding out all of the positive aspects of a situation and focusing on the negatives.
Maybe your boss gave you a generally good performance review but mentioned one thing you could be doing better. Do you go home and obsess about that one thing without reminding yourself that your boss praised you? Instead of telling yourself you’re a terrible employee, tell yourself you’re a valuable addition to the team, and you’ll be even better once you master that new procedure.
* Be wary of personalizing situations. If a friend cancels plans with you, don’t assume it’s because of something you did. Remind yourself there are many reasons she may have canceled, including illness or a work deadline.
* Are you a catastrophizer? Do you refrain from inviting over people you’d like to get to know because you fear the worst, such as serving them a dish that’s inedible or somehow making a fool of yourself? Instead of creating imaginary disasters for yourself, tell yourself you’ll have a lovely evening with new friends, even if something is slightly over- or undercooked.
Here are other common negative thoughts and their corresponding positive ones:
* I can’t do this - I’ve never done it before. Turn it into: This is a chance to try something new.
* I have absolutely no time for this. Turn it into: How can I rearrange my schedule to allow for this?
* No one ever calls or writes to me. Turn it into: I’ll make contact with an old friend today.
Optimism isn’t something that will come overnight. But with practice and determination, you can turn around those pessimistic musings and embrace a more joyous, healthier life.
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