Maybe when you think about positive thinking, you think of the Pollyanna type of positive thinking where you put a positive spin on everything no matter what the situation is and no matter how serious it is.
It's not the kind of positive thinking I'm talking about. Positive thinking, as defined by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, is more of a change in attitude. It's about taking your situation and looking for the “seed” of change that can turn the situation around.
I am sure you have a lot of dreams, ideas, and goals for your life. We all have things that we want to change and that we want to achieve. Your first step here should be an attitude change. With a change in attitude, then you need to translate your goals into something quantifiable. A goal is only good if it is something defined. Then it is time to act.
Now, if you want to change your attitude, you will have to change the way you think. Here are seven tips you can use to change the way you think about it and find those “seeds” of solution in your life. Positive thinking can help you see solutions that you might not have considered otherwise.
1. Stop talking about your problems, your dreams and your goals. Write them down. Look for the seed of change in your problem and see if you can use it to solve your problem. You have to believe that you can change. You have to believe that you can grow and become better.
2. Commit to thinking about the life you actually want. Can you visualize your new life in detail? The more you can see exactly what you want, the easier it will be to visualize the steps involved in achieving what you want. Again, it's a matter of belief.
It should include thinking about your life from different angles. You may want to change your financial situation, but what about your health, your relationships, your spiritual life? You really need to consider these elements when visualizing your ideal life.
Norman Vincent Peale has always said: "Believe, accomplish, receive". It really is that simple.
3. Remember that you will only be there once at this precise moment. You will never have this moment again because every moment of your life is different. Savor every moment. Make the most of every moment of your life.
They say “life is too short”. It really is. Master your time and learn to manage it efficiently. Don't waste your time with thoughts that will reduce your chances of being whatever you want to be. What I mean by that is don't waste your time dwelling on anger, hate, revenge, or the past. These things only hold you back and they are unnecessary baggage that you just don't need.
4. Show gratitude. Be grateful for every good thing in your life. The truth is, if you dwell on negative things, you will only attract more negative things. In my life, I have noticed that when my thinking is negative, it cuts off the opportunity for me to find the solution to a problem. If you are a writer like me, it can certainly affect your ability to come up with new ideas and write. Stay positive. You will definitely see a difference in what you can accomplish.
5. Don't waste your time dwelling on the past. We can all do this Shoulda / Coulda / Woulda mode where we regret how we handled a situation or didn't act when we should have.
The problem here is that you can't change the past. Sometimes you may be able to change the situation. Most often, however, this is not possible. Better move on and stop fighting. Live in the now because the now is all you have. Make it the best it can be now.
6. Keep a sense of humor. It is estimated that about seven in ten American adults are angry at something. Anger, in the right situation, is actually a positive emotion. It can help us see where we are going wrong in our lives. It's not the anger that's the problem; that's how we deal with it.
Manage your anger in a positive way. Solve the problem, because anger will only turn into resentment if you don't deal with it. In the long run, unresolved anger will only hold you back. Why not take care of it and get rid of it?
7. Believe that you can change your life. Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are right."
Positive belief is crucial. Otherwise, when you finally get what you want in life, you won't be satisfied with it. In fact, you will not be happy at all. Be honest, get rid of your baggage and live honestly. You can't take the next step, which is action, if you're not honest about why you want what you want. If you want to enjoy what you receive and be happy, you have to be honest about your reasons for wanting something.
Take that first step towards positive thinking. Change what you believe. Then it will be easier for you to make lasting changes in your life.