HYGHPB: Positive Thinking

So you decided to choose happiness? Great, welcome to the club! Now in order to help you stick to your decision, I’ve decided to share a few tips that helped me find a positive space. Nothing works unless you’re determined and you practice, practice, practice. You’re essentially reprogramming the way you think and the way you live your life, so be patient with yourself and the process. After all, it did take a few years for you to develop the habits you’re now looking to change.

Ready?

The first thing I think one must learn to do, is to think positively and to try and recreate what makes them feel good. Sounds simple, sounds cliche, yeah, yeah, I know… but negative thoughts and negative emotions literally holds you back. Don’t believe me? Check out this post.

When you feel good, you’re more apt to see things within a positive light. You’re able to see the good in shitty situations. And for me, when I am in a bad place, I expect everything else to come to be bad also. It’s as though you begin to look for the negative things to further feed the negative emotion you’re feeling. So how does one combat that? By thinking positively and searching for the good at all times. Yes boo, all the time.

Here are a few things that keep me thinking positively.

• Thought stopping – It’s exactly what it sounds like. Once you begin to think a negative thought tell yourself to stop… and I literally mean tell yourself (in your mind of course). Anything that puts you down, makes you feel icky (yes icky) and doesn’t promote positivity and/or productivity, stop it in it’s tracks. The aim is to not allow the thought to plant roots into your mind. Trust me, I know it’s difficult but the more you do it, the easier it gets. I pictured a stop sign whenever I thought of something that brought my mood down. Now, I can dismiss negative thoughts without having to really focus on doing so. Took me about 3 and half months till I noticed it had become SO much easier. Once you learn to dismiss the negative thought, incorporate an affirmation or a positive thought, more details on that tomorrow!

• 

  Gratitude List – Pretty simple. Write down all things you are thankful for and do it as often as you like. This trains you to look for the positives within your life. Whether it is an opportunity, or the fact that you woke up on time for work today, it still counts! It also helps to look over these lists whenever you need a reminder of all you have to be grateful for! Check out my lists to the right.

• Create A Funny List – It sounds corny, but it works. Create a little bookmark for yourself within your browser of things that make you laugh. Need to block out negative thoughts? Laugh. It’s hardto be miserable when you’re laughing. Here are some of my favorites:
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw7RxrozfO4&feature=kp
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxU5NCPTY7g
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUKMUZ4tlJg
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey3b3Xmz8YM

Note: These are things that have worked for me. I can only go based off of my own experiences.

Next up is Positive Affirmations!

Don’t forget to check the video!