Need Happiness? Stop being so negative

Thoughts have power. As we think, so we become. If we allow negative  thoughts to dominate our mind, we will be frustrated, unhappy and  lacking in inner peace. If we can stop negative thoughts, we will will  be able to see the beautiful, even in the mundane; we will be able to  attain peace of mind, even in the turmoil of everyday life. 

How To Stop your Negative Thoughts.

Be Committed 

The very first step is simply the awareness that you want to stop  your negative thoughts. Unfortunately, there is a part of us that holds  on to negative thoughts; if we didn’t consciously or unconsciously  invite negative thoughts we wouldn’t have them. For example, we  sometimes hold onto negative thoughts out of self-pity; we have to be careful of this. If we strongly value the benefit of rejecting negative thoughts we will be able to do it. Be Aware. Another problem is that negative thoughts can often slip in  unnoticed. We allow negative thoughts to spiral around in our mind and  don’t have the discipline to reject them. Always be conscious of your  thoughts, and don’t allow your mind to wander down a path of negativity.  Feel that when you allow negative thoughts into your mind you are  staining something very beautiful. Take time to periodically review your  thoughts so that it will become more instinctive to be aware of your  own mind. 

Positive Visualisation. 

Only by our positive thinking,
By our bringing the positive qualities
Of others to the fore,
Will this world be able
To make progress. – Sri Chinmoy 

The most effective way for countering negativity, is to throw  yourself into the opposite – which is a positive view of life. Don’t  focus on a person’s minor misdemeanour’s, but focus on the real self,  the part that is divine. If you are frustrated how society is at the  moment, visualise how society can change into something beautiful. By  thinking of the positive and by feeling divine qualities of love, we  will not want to harbour negativity. Don’t feel you are fighting  negativity, but just growing into a better world-view. Negativity Hurts yourself. Much negativity is focused on other people – colleagues who annoy us,  friends who disappoint us, politicians who fail us. We wish to blame  and criticise other people we come into contact with. However, as we  gain more experience, we come to feel that our own negativity  unmistakably returns to its source. The failings we see in others are  merely some part of our own larger nature. When we realise that  negativity towards others returns like a boomerang, we will naturally be  more compassionate, forgiving and loving. By being kind to others, we  are really being kind to our more illumined self. 

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world. – Lord Buddha 

Meditation Sometimes, when sitting down to meditate, I just allow thoughts to  pass by and I act as the observer of the thoughts. This allows myself to  be aware of the thoughts that I produce; it also enables me to see  thoughts as separate from my real self. By simply observing thoughts  that pass by your mind, you will be able to see them as passing,  transient objects – separate from yourself. With this perspective it is  much easier to reject those you don’t want.