We have all heard that positive thinking works miracles, and whilst that statement may be something of an exaggeration, it is true to say that positive thinking can go a long way to helping you change your life for
better. If you think in a positive way then you automatically begin to act in a more positive way, and results you get in life are therefore more likely to be positive ones.Developing a positive mental attitude isn’t something that can be achieved in an instant because your thoughts are usually habitual, and habits take time to change. However, you can make an immediate start in learning to think in a more positive manner by applying following principles:
#1 – Adopt A Positive Life Metaphor We all have different metaphors to encapsulate how we perceive life to be. Some people describe life as being a test or trial. Others view it as a grind or, even worse, as a bitch. Whilst we are all free to hold our own opinions, none of these particular metaphors are tremendously empowering, and if you believe that life is a test, trial, grind or bitch then in truth that is what you will perceive it to be in your own experience.
Adopt a more positive life metaphor and you can immediately improve way you perceive your life. View your life as a game and any problems your encounter will be perceived as challenges which you can overcome. Label your life a dream and you will find it easier to detach yourself from any negative emotions you might otherwise experience. Describe life as a party and you will usually increase amount of fun you get from each day.
Changing metaphor you use to describe your life won’t magically change what happens to you, but it will transform way you perceive your daily experiences. This being case, make sure you set yourself up for success by adopting a positive life metaphor. Select one from list below or invent your own, and note positive impact it has on your day to day life.
Life Is...
•A game •A dream •A ride •A gift •A stage •A party •A movie •An adventure
#2 – Seek Out The Positive We all know people who go through life seeking negative side. These are people who focus hard on finding reasons why nothing will work and why things will always go wrong instead. Tell them about your hard-earned promotion and they will tell you how tough it is to have so much responsibility. Tell them how much money you’ve saved and they’ll point out that it won’t buy you happiness. Tell them that you’ve met love of your life and they’ll tell you that they give it three months.
The people who achieve and enjoy true personal success in life don’t do this. Instead they seek out positive side of life as a matter of habit. When facing a problem they ask themselves, ‘How can I get something good from this?’ or ‘What can I learn from this experience?’ They view proverbial glass as half-full instead of half-empty. They take their eyes off mass of any cloud and look instead for silver lining which they know is always there.
Seeking out positive side of life in this way might feel a little awkward at first - especially if you are used to focusing on negative. However, if you practise this principle each day, then in a matter of weeks it will become second nature and you will wonder how you ever managed to live without it.
