10 Ideas To Bring About Positive Thinking

The powers and benefits of "Positive Thinking" are often under-rated!

Positive thinking isn't an 'end-all' to improving your life, but it's certainly an excellent and necessary thing to start doing right away.

By practicing positive thinking - in an active, conscious way, you'll be able to focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, your accomplishments instead of failures, and this should increase your motivation and general happiness. You'll spend more time realizing your progress and less time feeling frustrated.

Here are some suggestions for positive thinking that will help you feel like you're starting to take control of things in your life:

1. Be Good To Yourself - Treat Yourself Well!
It is much easier to be positive when you are getting enough rest, eating well, exercising, taking small breaks for reflection during the day, and being kind to 'self.'

2. Make a "Gratitude List" - Remind Yourself of Things You Are Grateful For.
Challenges and necessary stresses won't have nearly the impact on you if you've bolstered your attitude with gratitude. When you pay attention to the things in your life that are going well, 'turning out right,' and that feel or seem genuinely satisfying, it will be hard for circumstances, other people, or yourself - to bring you down! By taking at least 1 minute - a few times a day - to remind yourself of positive things in your life, you'll appreciate the elements of your life far more from now on!

3. Remove Stress by Not Making Assumptions!
Stop making assumptions about what other people think, about not being liked or accepted, about how others interpret you. The time it takes to formulate and react to 'assumptions' IS TIME WASTED! You don't really even KNOW FOR SURE that your assumptions are correct. It is other peoples' business TO LET YOU KNOW their opinions and thoughts in certain situations - and if they don't offer these, take care of your own tasks and immediate environment. This is not to completely discount 'that gut feeling' that people sometimes get. If you gain a 'gut feeling' for some reason that won't go away - ASK! Don't waste time 'assuming' things without gaining proof! Cut down on your worries and just ASK questions so that you find out for sure about things. Once you know the answers - you can act accordingly - but certainly don't waste time by engaging in pure 'guesswork' all the time.

4. Get rid of 'Absolutes' in your vocabulary.
Absolutes often create 'conflict' because they 'sound' like final ultimatums or unchangeable opinions which other people find to often be 'attacks' on character. No more "You NEVER do things when I ask" or "You ALWAYS interrupt me." Absolutes heighten the emphasis of your words to the point that your words become caustic, accusatory, or offensive to others. Absolutes can make situations worse and unworkable where the situations don't really have to be such an issue.

5. You CAN Detach From Negative Thoughts.
Your negative thoughts do not have to hold power over you. If you acknowledge the thought - then let it pass, you'll be much better off than in holding the thought then formulating an opinion or further analysis of it. Let it arrive, step back and acknowledge the thought, then refuse to follow the train of thought down any negative tunnels. Get your thoughts back to more necessary, positive things.

6. Squash the "ANTs."
Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" in his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life." "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts are bad thoughts that are usually reactionary in nature - like, "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice thoughts like these, realize that they are ANTs and squash them! They only lead to 'assumptions,' anyway - and if you read tip #3, you already know how useless assumptions are for you to engage with.

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family)
You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity.
This will help to decrease loneliness. If you surround yourself with healthy, happy people who emit positive energy, you will receive great benefit from just being in their vicinity.

9. Volunteer!
Join a volunteer group in an organization you believe in - or simply help someone else. Help someone with a task that you are aware that he or she cannot perform on their own. It doesn't have to be anything big, but it will give you a boost and will help another person. You can volunteer your time, money, or resources, but really - often voluteering time and effort is most rewarding. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination.
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It is very rarely a productive practice, because it's not rational or solution-oriented. Ruminating is usually just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

If you've had problems with 'negativity' in the past, these 10 ideas should help you to break free of negativity - and build a more positive outlook on life.