It is.
Work.
But if you knew the benefits of positive thinking, you’d never have a negative thought ever, ever again! – Said someone, I’m sure.
Ok, c’mon… that’s not entirely true because you’re human. You’ll experience or even cause, negativity. I can tell you though the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, I’ve spent consecutively thinking positively have yielded the most amazing outcomes! From blissful happiness, better health, awesome news, less stress, new friends, dream jobs, more money, lower debt, different homes, reliable vehicles, to fantastic opportunities – the list goes on!
Thinking positively takes a conscious amount of mental effort every day. Nah, every minute of every day.
Wait, you have enough “work” just to make it through a full 24 hours, right? Keeping upbeat at your job and around family, having to exercise, dabble on social media (for fun or for work), hang with friends, socialize with colleagues, entertain clients, take care of the kids, the pets, feed everyone, find time for date nights, chores, and even make-nice with strangers… all of it = work. Now I’m encouraging you to exert extra energy toward being positive inside and out too? Yes! Yes I am.
Nothing good comes easy. You know.
So… here are four tips to think positively as often as you can:
- DON’T LET NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IN. This tip is the easiest to put into practice. Every time a negative thought enters your inner dialogue, immediately stop it. Actually say (out loud if you need to), “Nope, caught myself, not letting that thought in”. Here are a few examples: “What the hell is that girl wearing? Wait, no. Judgement isn’t welcome here; that’s negative.” Or, “I’m never getting out of debt. Nuh-uh. I see myself getting out of debt and I will get out of debt.” How about this one, “My legs look terrible in this outfit. Stop. My legs look amazing in this outfit”. You get it.
- START EACH DAY WITH A MANTRA. This one is hard. No lyin’. You actually have to make time in your morning shower, or while you’re waiting to hit the snooze button, again, or during your workout, or before waking the kids up for camp, school, whatever… to make a promise to yourself, and keep it. For example: “Today I will not think about or talk about him, or her. Today I will be kind all day to anyone I see, speak with in person or over the phone. Today I will not let my co-worker bother me or my boss annoy me. Today I will not let my kids upset me. Today my words and body language will be warm… no matter what.” Keep your promise (s) to you. Besides, it feels so good to make others feel less, uneasy.
- LAUGH. Yep. This one – also tough… because unless you’re funny all by yourself, you’re going to need help. A movie, friend, loved one, a comedy club, a book, youtube, whatever. It requires you to take physical action to put you in a good mood. Challenging. Especially if you’re already in a negative mood. But… there is a sliver lining… if you’re practicing number one above, numbers two and three become easier!
- BREATHE. Not just to stay alive, silly. The kind of meditative-like breathing that only comes (while awake anyway) from a peaceful thought or from identifying a desire and mentally receiving it (also the start of alignment but I’ll write more about that in another post). Breathing in wants… and breathing out positivity. This tip isn’t easy either because so many of you have convinced yourselves you can’t sit quietly in thought whether your mind is in the present, past, or future. You’re just too busy for that relaxing, spiritual, mental, shit. Question – do you pray? Do you ask for something or are you thankful in those moments of prayer? What if you took it a step further, or rather, deeper… and just listened… the listening part… that’s a form of meditation. Feel the cadence of your breath when you’re listening? You are thinking positively simply by not thinking negatively in these moments. Try removing your tongue from the roof of your mouth too… Did you just do it and instantly become more relaxed? You don’t have to answer, I already know :). Calm. Peaceful. Centered. Happy. Positive… Breaths.
You will regress. You will get thrown from the nest. Tossed from your comfort zone. Taken out of your routine. Making it down right impossible to be positive.
You are not alone!
All of the above happened to me regularly this month – especially the thrown from the nest part :).
Extensive travel, missing Brad, worried about the kids, anxious about different sporting activities, witnessed my daughter experience a new opportunity that made me proud, giddy and hyperventilate at the same time, strange physical environments, both girls receiving fantastic news, and *heaps* of unwanted, unsolicited, negativity from someone over the phone (while at a dance competition)… Breathe.
See
How
I did that…. #4.
It, July, has been challenging and fantastically wonderful at the same time. So many lessons. Opportunities for growth. Evolution. So much MORE WORK to do.
Positivity is work.
But the days are so much better if you think and stay, positive. Do it with me :).
More to come,
Tanya B.
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