Ever wonder about the power of positive thinking? You probably know a few people who always seem happy. They seem not to get stressed out or bothered by anything. They always are positive about life challenges, relaxed, and full of self-confidence. What’s their secret? Are they Zen masters? And, do you wonder, how can I get rid of my negative self talk and become positive like them?
Actually, becoming more positive is something you can achieve, but like anything worthwhile, you have to work at it. Every day, we are bombarded by stressful events. Just waking up in the morning and listening to the news can trigger feelings of loneliness and depression. We can’t live in a protective life bubble, but we can learn how to deal with stress. More accurately, we can’t always change what happens to us, but we can change the way we react to it.
If you are someone who feels deeply, who lives an emotional life, you can easily be sent into a frenzy by everyday situations. The media pumps out chilling and horrific news, the more sensational, the better. At the same time, it floods us with entertainment news of celebrities who seem to have it all. This skewed and exaggerated newsfeed can easily overstimulate you and thrust you into despair. Remember, the news media thrives on negative stories. You need to take steps to maintain a positive outlook. Negativity is physically bad for the brain, while a more positive outlook actually enhances brain function.
Your internal life – that is, your thoughts and what you focus on – affects every aspect of your outward life. If you spend too much time focusing on negative and pessimistic thoughts, it’s no surprise that your mood will be bleak. If you want to not only feel better but accomplish more, you want to emphasize the positive and leave the dark side behind.
One of the best ways to break out of negative thought patterns is through the power of positive thinking. The ability to think positively can be achieved with affirmations.
The dictionary defines affirmation as “a statement or proposition that is declared to be true,” but it’s more than that. It’s really the power of positive thinking. Does that mean that if you believe you can accomplish your goal, then you will? Not exactly. But using affirmations might make it more likely. To use affirmations, you write down your goal, and repeat it out loud, regularly. Science has shown that by writing, reading and speaking our goals out loud, we come to believe deeply that they are possible, and unconsciously, we are better equipped to achieve them.
Many of the most successful entrepreneurs in personal development, such as Tony Robbins and Oprah, attribute the use of affirmations to their success. This process directs their thinking to the best path to achieve their defined goals. Those who suffer from disorders of the brain like clinical depression find that using affirmations provides less dramatic results, but it can still be a useful tool.
There are reams of books and free online courses of this technique. For an affirmation to be effective, it needs to be present tense, positive, personal and specific. These are positive thinking tips described as “I” statements, owned by you. For example, “I am healthy and happy.” “I have the energy to finish this assignment.” “I will pass this test.”
Affirmations allow you to use both your brain and your mind to capitalize on the power of positive thinking. Changes outside begin with changes inside. If you can direct your brain space to beneficial paths focusing on specific and feasible goals, you will be more likely to achieve your defined goals. Thinking about your objective and how to get there, writing it down on paper and speaking it out loud on a daily basis can turbo-charge the potential in your psyche. If so many successful people have used the power of positive thinking and affirmations to achieve goals, why not you too?
Please note: This blog is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. If you need treatment advice for medical illness, please seek the help from your health provider.