Good health is about more than just what you’re eating + how you’re exercising- it includes what you’re thinking + saying too.
The thing is, most of us, severely underestimate the impact our thoughts can have on our physical health. So let me give you some perspective…
Research shows that on any given day, the average person thinks between 50,000 and 60,000 thoughts. And not surprisingly a large majority (80 percent or so) of those thoughts tend to be negative.
Now, I say “unsurprisingly” because it’s human nature to view events + happenings through a negative lens. To some extent, it’s evolutionary- after all, at one point human survival depended on our ability to dodge danger!
So it makes sense that we are highly sensitive to negativity.
But the problem with negative thinking comes when we find ourselves stuck in a negative state for a prolonged period of time. When this happens, we are more at-risk to experiencing such problems as chronic anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, trouble sleeping/exhaustion + certain mood disorders.
But re-wiring our brains to be more positive isn’t always as easy as telling ourselves to just ‘think happy thoughts’. And that’s why in this blog post, we’re discussing how you can silence negative thoughts and encourage positive thinking in just 4 simple steps!
Every single one of us has an internal dialogue that runs through our heads almost non-stop.
Now, our thoughts create our reality- which means that that internal dialogue is quite literally, the lens through which we view the world.
Have you ever known someone who is always in a bad mood? They constantly complain about things gone wrong + seem to encounter more problems than the average person…
Well, it’s because their lens is colored to focus on the negative.
Your unique lens is a result of the way you’ve been taught, at the sub-conscious level, to think, believe + consequently, act. Because of your life experiences- both good + bad, what you’ve been told by others, and what you’ve told yourself, you’ve been conditioned to think in a certain way.
Now, if the chatter inside your head isn’t allowing you to live the life you’ve dreamed of, the good news is that it IS possible to change the way you think!
Follow my top 4 Tricks to Adopting a Healthy Mindset below and watch how fast your life changes when you make the switch to positive thinking.
Related Posts:
- The Power of Positive Thinking: Adopt a Healthy Mindest in 4 Easy Steps
- The Daily Gratitude Practice that Changed My Life
- 6 Steps to Creating the Perfect Night Routine for More Productive Mornings
- 21 Books that Radically Changed My Life
- The BEST Hack to Creating More Happiness in Your Life (In Under 2 Minutes!)
Step 1 to Positive Thinking: Interrupt Negative Thoughts
Your power when it comes to your mind is found in your ability to choose one thought over another.
Often times we get stuck in this negative funk because we have habituated ourselves to think negatively. But because habits run on autopilot- we are often unaware of just how negative our thoughts are.
The truth is, only when we become aware of what we’re thinking, can we change the situation. That’s why it’s important to take a mental inventory of each + every time we catch ourselves drifting into negative territory.
The more you interrupt those thoughts, the less likely you are to continue to condition your mind to think that way.
Wrap a rubber band around your arm + give it a light snap when you catch yourself thinking negatively, voice the word “stop” each time you find yourself in a negative thought, do whatever it takes to remind yourself that this way of thinking is not something you wish to continue.
Step 2 to Positive Thinking: Affirmations
I’ll be honest, I first cringed when someone recommended daily affirmations to me. The idea seemed cheesy, ineffective + like something you’d encounter at a self-help convention.
But here’s the thing that I’ve learned- positive thinking doesn’t just happen. It’s intentional. And in order for positive thinking to become habitual, it needs to be practiced routinely.
Remember how I said earlier that habits run on repetition? That’s exactly why affirmations are so powerful- affirmations are a tiny seed you plant within your mind + the more you remind yourself of that thought, the more likely that seed is to take root and become a deeply ingrained belief. (For best results, practice saying aloud your affirmations DAILY)
Some of my favorite affirmations that are currently on my list include:
- I always keep the promises I make to myself
- Everything I am going through is making me a stronger, wiser + more compassionate woman.
- I am the most productive woman I know.
You can get as creative as you’d like with your own affirmations. Make this practice your own!
The important thing to remember is that affirmations are a tool meant to remind you of who you want to be + what you want to accomplish- allow your emotions to get involved + really feel the power of these statements as you speak them aloud.
Step 3 to Positive Thinking: Journal
Don’t be afraid to get your thoughts out of your head + put them on actual paper!
I’m a firm believer that the more senses you can involve in your positive thinking practice, the more likely you are to change your personal behavior.
Journaling, in particular, is a great way to gain valuable insights into your thought process- insights that you’d otherwise never see. The thing about writing something down is that it forces you to think it through enough to understand it.
One of my favorite journaling exercises is to list out ten goals that I have for myself. The trick is that I write those goals + dreams down in the present tense, as if they have already come to fruition.
For instance- instead of writing I am going to be a successful blogger, I write- I AM a successful blogger.
The difference?
The first statement is about becoming something (or someone) new- it’s a subtle reminder that you are not yet at the place you intend to be.
On the other hand, Statement 2 is about being the woman that you intend to be. By believing that you are that woman, you begin to adopt her habits, her way of thinking, her actions and little by little you actual become her.
This is a simple, yet powerful exercise. And in full disclosure, learning to believe in yourself + in your abilities is a big step toward a more healthy mindset.
Step 4 to Positive Thinking: Keep Your Surroundings In-Check
The last step to more positive thinking is to surround yourself with uplifting people who inspire you to live better.
I mean, seriously- you can’t sit in filth all day and expect to stay clean- so then why do you think you can keep company with negative people and still remain positive?!
What you feed your mind is just as important as what you feed your body, so choose to nourish your mind with pleasant, growth-orientated thoughts.
Make friends with people who make your heart feel happy, read books that motivate you to act in an affirmative manner and be mindful of what you scroll across on social media.
You are in control of the people + the content that touches your life. Choose wisely where + how you invest your time and energy. Interact with people and participate in activities that encourage you to live life on a more positive note, and avoid everything else that drains you of the peace you wish to feel.
Conclusion
Positive thinking doesn’t just happen- but with practice, you CAN gain a more positive mindset + live a life that truly feels happy from the inside out!
I’d love for you to share in the comments below some of your favorite techniques that keep you thinking positive. Together we can help one another be a light in an often negative world 🙂
As always, here to support YOU! XO- Britney (ms.fit.farmer)
Browse more: Personal Growth Happy Goal Setting
