The Transformative Power of Positive Thinking

positive thinking
What is positive thinking
positive thinking is good
  • higher life expectancy
  • less stress
  • better mental resilience and psychological health
  • better physical resistance
  • better sense of physical well-being
  • lower risk of cardiovascular disease
positive thinking in 5 steps
  1. Become aware of your thoughts Everyone has an internal monologue. Listen to what thoughts come to mind. You don’t have to go into it specifically, just state what you think.
  2. Consider whether those thoughts are positive or negative Are you gentle with yourself when you are tired or have made a mistake? Or are you more likely to hear strict and judgmental thoughts? Listen and think about how it makes you feel.

Try to do this at different times: alone or in company, during beautiful but also during difficult moments. It is important to view these thoughts neutrally. You can imagine that your thoughts are like clouds that you see floating by: you look at them from a distance, without judging them.

  1. Pick out the negative thoughts and reflect on them – still from a distance – for a moment Suppose you think that you are doing everything wrong. Then ask yourself whether that is really the case. Are you, always, doing everything wrong?

Question the thought in a neutral, non-judgmental way. If this is difficult for you, you can ask for help from a counselor or a coach.

  1. Transform your negative thoughts After step 3, you will notice that your negative thoughts are often unfounded. Maybe you’re worried about something. Maybe you feel insecure. You may notice that you set the bar very high for yourself. With this realization, you can transform the negative thoughts into a neutral or positive thoughts.

Some examples are: “I can’t do this” can become: “I didn’t succeed at this now, but what can I do better next time?” “This is too hard” can become: “This will take some time and effort, but it will work out in the end” “I made a mistake, so stupid of me!” can become: “Everyone makes mistakes and that’s okay. What can I learn from this?”

So positive thinking is not about ignoring the negative. You observe it and try to look at it rationally, without passing judgment on anything or anyone. Not even about yourself.

  1. Repeat! The more you practice these steps, the easier they will become. After a while, it happens naturally. The way we think is a habit, and changing habits takes time. Give yourself that time too, and be proud of yourself!