How to increase your positive thinking with five easy and effective habits.
Positive thinking sounds so easy right? But sometimes the gap between knowing it’s a good thing and actually doing it but can be further than we think.
Positive thinking has a cumulative effect on our thoughts, action and our overall daily lives so it’s totally worth the effort. But the proof is in the pudding, and if we don’t ever get started, we can miss out on seeing the great effects in our life that then makes it easier to keep on track. Here are five great habits you can incorporate in your daily life that will get you right on track.
1. Gratitude journal
There are always things we can be grateful for, even on the worst of worst days. The air we breathe, the memories we have, the sun on our face keeping us and all the plants, herbs and flowers around us alive and the traffic not being particularly bad that day!
Start by noting down three things every day that you are grateful for. They don’t have to be different from day to day, but the more you practice thinking of different things the easier it becomes to think of more and more things that you’re grateful for. And the longer you do this, the more you’ll find this gratitude and positive thinking flow into other parts of your day.
Not to mention a new practice is the perfect time for a new journal, am I right? Yes, I am a bit journal-mad 🙂 (but I know I’m not alone!). This gratitude journal is so beautiful you’ll be inspired to pick it up every day!
2. Re-phrasing negative thoughts
Just for one week, commit to re-phrasing EVERY negative thought you have. It might seem tedious and silly when you start, but give it a try and you might be surprised by the end of the week. Here are some examples –
Negative thought – Ugh, I feel so tired!
Positive spin – It’s been a long day, but you know what, I’ve gotten heaps done and I’m looking forward to tucking into bed tonight with a good book.
Negative thought – I never have enough money!
Positive spin – I have a roof over my head, food in my tummy and I really don’t need that new handbag anyway. It’ll just clutter up my wardrobe.
Negative thought – I just can’t be bothered helping Emily move house this weekend.
Positive spin – It’s great that I have an opportunity to help out a friend. I really am grateful to have such a good friend in Emily, and she’s always there for me so it feels good to be able to do something in return.
3. Practice affirmations
Let’s be honest here. Your inner voice is already having an opinion on everything you do and say throughout the day. Make sure it’s a voice worth listening too! Whether you just say it quietly to yourself, meditate on the affirmation or write it down in your diary, affirmations are a really great way to change your thought pattern.
- I’m excited to face the day ahead.
- I have a strong, healthy body.
- I’m full of gratitude and love.
- I can achieve anything I set my mind too.
You might notice that this may be the opposite of some of the thoughts that run around your head on a bad day. I’m too fat, no one loves me… If you wouldn’t say it to your best friend, don’t say it to yourself!
4. Read books on the power of thought
There are so many great books out there on the power of thought, positive thinking and the law of attraction. For me, I just love to read a smany as I can because you often take away something different depending on what’s happening in your life at the time, or how much you’ve already thought about, well… thinking!
But my all-time favourite is James Allen’s “As a Man Thinketh”. This book is such a good introduction into understanding how our inner thoughts create our outer environment. And that we can choose our thoughts and thinking patterns. We’re not just at the mercy of every random thought that pops into our head. Plus the beautiful keepsake edition has an added bonus of his final work “Eight Pillars of Prosperity”.
You can also check out my Resources page for more book ideas.
5. Morning rituals
If you’re hitting snooze too many times, rolling out of bed late and then getting straight into the mad rush of the day, you are missing out on the best part of the day to set your intentions right.
Take a moment to stretch. Take some deep breathes, outdoors if you can. Roll your shoulders back, lift your chin up to the morning sun and smile. And guess what? Now’s a great time to write in your gratitude journal or say your affirmations. 🙂
And remember, practice makes perfect!
So decide which one or two (or all five!) you’re going to give a go and commit to them for 30 days. You’ll be amazed at the impact positive thinking can have on your day to day life. And the more you see it working, the more you’ll want to explore the power of your thought.
