Positive thinking can boost your mood, keep you energized when working, and give you self-confidence. Maintaining a healthy thought process is not easy but it is possible. You can direct and re-direct your thoughts throughout the day despite your busy and sometimes stressful schedule.
Here are 8 very simple yet extremely effective ways to help you achieve a healthy thought process:
- Block out all negative thoughts and comments
How many times a day do you hear comments like “you are not smart enough” or “you are not qualified for this?” How many times have you allowed such comments stop you from going after your dream? Developing a healthy thought pattern depends on your ability to block out unhealthy thoughts that are often caused by listening to negative compliments.
Start blocking out negative thoughts and comments by not paying attention to bad things that are said to you and about you. If blocking out negative thoughts seems impossible, you can begin feeding your mind with positive content to replace the bad comments. Content that makes you believe in yourself and your abilities is the only content you need to instill on your mind.
- Spend more time with positive people
The people you spend more time with are responsible for the way you see yourself. Positive people will impart positive thoughts. They will challenge you to be better. Some will even create an environment to enable you to reach your goals. Positive people pay more attention to passing comments on how much you can achieve. Instead of saying “you do not have what it takes” they focus on “there are many ways of achieving what you want” and “this is how you can improve your skill set.”
- Discontinue ties with people that demoralize you
People who bring you down and undermine your every move are a hindrance to you and your development. So, cut ties with people who find pleasure in disheartening you.
- Learn from your failures or disappointments
Taking valuable lessons from your failures, disappointments or mistakes is another effective way of controlling your thought process. Instead of thinking “nothing good can come out of this” start thinking “what valuable lessons have I learned here” and “what method have I not used that can get me the results I want?”
- Practice positive affirmations
Positive affirmations are an excellent way of controlling what happens in your head. They have the power of turning what you are proclaiming with your mouth into reality. A few positive affirmations you can start your day off with include “I’ve got this”, “today is going to be great”, “I will pass my exams”, “the future is great.”-etc.
- Practice positive self-talk and stop all negative self-talk
Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk to turn your life in the direction you want. Your thoughts influence your action and they have the power to turn you into a remarkable success story. Constructive thoughts will push you to act constructively. Start practicing positive self-talk for a positive outcome.
- Identify what needs to be changed
The only way you can change your negative thoughts to productive ones is by analyzing your thought patterns. Identify the people or things that cause you to start thinking negatively about yourself, your work, your relationships, etc. After identifying what those things are, start writing down the steps that you are going to take to get rid of such triggers. If its people, avoid them or cut ties completely. If its something you say or do, avoid saying or doing it. Replace such deeds with something that has the power to capture your full attention.
- Live in good physical shape
People who stay in shape have less stress. This is because of the feel-good hormone that is released when you exercise. Staying true to your exercise routine can have an impact on how you view what is happening around you. It is also a great way of blocking out negative thoughts.