Developing a positive mental attitude isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s up to you to incorporate a number of positive habits into your daily routine. At first these habits will feel like an effort, but eventually it’ll become more natural to look on the brighter side of life. Here are 8 things you can start doing today to help you become a more positive person.
1) Take Action
Many of us worry about all the bad things that can happen to us instead of taking control to make good things happen. If there’s something you’re worrying about, take action now to change it. If it’s beyond your control, take action by concentrating on other areas of your life that you can change for the better.
2) Practice Gratitude
If you’re the kind of person who always sees the glass as half empty, then take 5 minutes out of each day to list the things you’re grateful for. You’ll probably notice there is a lot more good in your life then you thought, which will help to create that positive mental attitude.
3) Think Good Things About Others
Our society has been accustomed to judging others and expecting the worst in people. However, thinking negative thoughts about other people is only keeping you in the habit of being a negative thinker! Instead, try to go for a whole day only thinking positively about other people. Extend this for as long as you can and notice the results.
4) Have A Sense Of Humor
Having a sense of humor and making sure you laugh each day is a simple but effective way to help you become a much more positive thinker.
5) Distract Yourself From Negative Thoughts
Have a trigger in your mind that’ll help you avoid negative thoughts. If you find yourself thinking anything negative, bring this trigger to mind. It could mean saying “STOP!” out loud, pinching yourself, or imagining a red stop sign in your head. Anything is useful as long as it reminds you to put your focus on something more productive and positive!
6) Consciously Feed Yourself Positive Thoughts
Most of us let our thoughts go automatically, without consciously deciding what to think. Start getting into the habit of forcing yourself to think positive thoughts (some people call these affirmations). It may feel silly at first, but it’ll soon get you into the habit of thinking more positively.
7) Congratulate Yourself
Negative thinkers tend to notice all their mistakes without recognizing when they do well. To help get out of this destructive habit and boost your positive mental attitude, keep a journal and note down everything you did that made you proud. You’ll soon realize that you do more things well than you thought!
8) Relax Your Mind
It’s much easier to develop a positive mental attitude when you have a clean slate to work with. Many of us are used to being constantly bombarded with thoughts and ideas from the media and our home entertainment. Try to take time out of the day to get rid of these thoughts, such as through meditation or walking in nature each day.
If you find this list overwhelming, start with just one thing – right now! Developing a positive mental attitude does take time, but it’s more than worth the effort you put in.
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