5 Simple Tips to Embrace Practical Positive Thinking

Have you ever noticed that sometimes in life you have a meh, unenthusiastic feeling about life and at other times you feel energized, motivated, and things just seem to fall into place?

Wouldn’t it be great to have more upbeat, joyful times? Understanding the power of positive thinking with these tips for practical positive thinking can help you get more of those good, happy days.

 

Positive thinking has really helped me feel happier in my life. By positive thinking, I mean simply focusing on good things and believing that things will work out. With that being said…

It’s important to understand that this does NOT mean dismissing your feelings or sweeping your emotions under a rug.  Journaling, having a hobby, and getting support from others are all ways to help process your emotions. AND THEN, decide how you want to show up. Do you want to dwell in negativity, or do you want to move toward feeling better?

Abraham-Hicks has been a huge influence on my philosophy of positive thinking. I’ve listening to countless audios, read their books, and attended one of their workshops in Chicago.

The main idea is that you get what you think about – you get what you put out there. It’s based on The Law of Attraction.

Positive thoughts are contagious – the more positive thoughts you have, the more you’ll naturally get.

Bottom line is that thinking positively feels good! Of course you can’t snap your fingers and suddenly have positive thoughts. It’ll take some practice and the tips below will help you to more easily choose thoughts that will make life more enJOYable!

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Tell me, which of the following two short stories makes you feel more happy and uplifted?

• I had almost every possible interruption possible on my way to the concert. My mom called me with an annoying question, traffic was horrendous, and some stupid person decided to drive 45 in a 55 MPH zone. I barely made it to the concert and was exhausted when I got there.

~OR~

• On my way to the concert I had a quick chat with mom and then had a great highway sing-a-long  with myself. Almost like magic I swooped into the concert with perfect timing for the first song!

Hopefully you chose the second story! The first story is all doom and gloom, while the second story lets go of the stress and any negativity, leaving only a happy story of a concert.

Having a positive mindset can make your journey through life A LOT more joyful. (My post Optimism: It’s a Choice gives hints for making your life filled with more ‘glass is half full’  stories.)

5 Simple Daily Tips for Positive Thinking

Here are a few tips you can do to form a habit of focusing on more positive thoughts. By practicing these tips on a daily basis, you WILL become a more positive thinker.

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Once in the habit of thinking positively, you’ll be better prepared to deal with unfortunate situations as they arise.

1 – Have a ‘glass half full’ kind of attitude towards life.

Appreciate the things you DO have instead of focusing on the things you DON’T have. Enjoy what you have right now.

This type of few tiny adjustment in your thoughts will help you see things in a different, more enjoyable light.

Enjoy the path you’re on because the joy is in the journey.

“So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.” ~Helen Keller

2 – Let your thought drift to places that feel good as often as you can.

Take note when you’re feeling good. What thoughts are producing that good feeling? Be sure to revisit those thoughts often.

Acknowledge when something feels good and identify what about it makes you feel good. Purposely spend time looking for those happy thoughts.

A positive mindset has a lot to do with the Law of Attraction which essentially is you get what you think about.

A vision board is a great tool to help you think about good things that you want. Vision boards are easy to make. Read my Ultimate Guide to Vision Boards and get started today.

3 – Recall three good things in your day.

Every night when you settle down for sleep, think about your day and recall three good things that happened.

• Did you eat something tasty?
• What caused you to laugh?
• What things went well?

Whether these good things are big or small, dwelling on them will help you grow the happiness in your life.

The goal is to train your brain to think more positively.

If you choose to implement only one tip, I recommend this one. Over time, recalling three good things in my day has really helped me gain a more positive outlook in my daily life.

I feel so strongly about this “tool” that I created a Daily Positives Journal, and want you to have it for free.

By consciously reviewing good things that happened in your day, you’ll gain perspective on recognizing the positive in all situations.

There are joys in every day, and every situation… you just need to build your positive mindset to the point where  you can identify and relish the positive, joyful moments.

4 – Change your perspective to gratitude.

Even if your current situation is not optimal, consciously find something good in the situation. Seek out and express gratitude for the little joys in life. Research shows that practicing gratitude can increase joy, which in return increases gratitude.

When you catch yourself complaining, stop and find something simple to  be grateful for in that very situation.

• Not happy with your job? Be grateful for your friendly co-workers or for the income it provides.
• Frustrated with someone? Focus on their positive aspects and be grateful they share those aspects with you.
• Is the weather too cold?  Think about how the sun came up this morning, trees are standing tall, and birds are still chirping. So much to be grateful for!

Make journaling what your grateful for a part of your morning and/or nightly routine. Writing reinforces your positive, grateful feelings so you can more easily grab onto gratitude when life throws a curve ball.

You have the power to change your thoughts using gratitude. Focus your energy on finding little joys throughout your day.  An attitude of gratitude will help you get through the dark days.

5  – Guide your thought.

Life is not always roses and butterflies. When you find yourself thinking negatively, acknowledge your thoughts and take time to process them. Then, realize that you can change that thought.

Consciously guide your thought back to happier (or at least better) thoughts. Tweak the thought so it is less harsh.

For example, if you are feeling angry, use tip #4 to get to a place of feeling frustrated. Frustration feels better than anger. Then, work your way up to hopeful and so on, until you can get to a feeling of satisfaction. Feeling satisfied feels so much better than anger!

Don’t beat yourself up, just ease back into positive thoughts.

Positive thinking can be tough, especially if you’re used to thinking negatively. However, a negative mindset can hold you back from living the most satisfying life.

In my post Become the Most Positive Person You Know, I give strategies for turning your negative thoughts into positive thoughts… one thought at a time.

Been There, Done That

I’ve gone through times in my life where I wasn’t happy with something, and I let myself stew in my negative thoughts.

To make matters worse, my negative thinking was contagious from one area of my life to another; relationships, events, job, house, you name it – I was down on everything.

By implementing the tips discussed above, overtime I was able to modify my habit of thinking. With a more positive mindset as a foundation, I was able to take responsibility for my happiness.

I tense up just thinking about times when I start slipping into negativity, so I’m thankful for all my intentional effort I put into making myself a more positive thinker.

Are You Ready For Some Positive Thinking?

Viewing the world through a positive lens will help you adjust your outlook on life to one that is generally more positive, and you’ll be better positioned to nurture happiness in your life.

It takes practice, but focusing on positive thoughts CAN change your outlook and consequently, you WILL become more happy.

Give it a try, and let the power of positive thinking up the ‘happy factor’ in your life. Rediscover  joy and inner peace.

For more great ways to increase your positivity and happiness, read my tips to attract more good experiences to your life.

Good Reads for Positive Thinking

For additional learning about positive thinking and building a stronger positive mindset, here are my recommendations of additional reading that I found helpful.

The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life

Shawn Achor is a happiness guru who has done research, author, and speaker known for his advocacy of positive psychology. He is incredibly motivating and presents many tips for positive thinking that can be implemented into anyone’s life. Read my book review of The Happiness Advantage.

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E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality

I listened to Pam Grout’s E³ audio book and it was plump full of actionable tips. She often referred to the E² book, so that is on my “must read” list. You will definitely get some

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Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires

Ask and It is Given is authored by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Their methods have literally changed my life. I am a big Abraham-Hicks fan and have attended their workshop and listened to endless audio CDs and YouTube episodes.

In this book, “you’ll discover powerful processes that will help you go with the positive flow of life. It’s your birthright to live a life filled with everything that is good-and this book will show you how to make it so in every way!”

Esther and Jerry have many other books. My other favorite is The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham.

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