Thoughts are very powerful. If positive thoughts have the power to build a huge business empire from very humble beginnings, negative thoughts make you immobile and prevents you from taking action in spite of having all the "know-how" to start something big. The sooner you nip this pattern of negative thoughts, the better. Health, happiness, and prosperity can be yours if you could "flip" that secret talisman (object marked with magic) of yours from negative to positive".
A small amount of stress is okay for progress. That is actually called positive tension, which will help you finish your assignments on time, or which will make you cautious about certain genuine fearful situations. However, the problem arises when you are obsessed with the negative thinking patterns. Here are few tips that will help you overcome the debilitating negative thought patterns and lead a happy, healthy, and prosperous life.
- Awareness is the Key: All the negative thoughts like sadness, hopelessness, guilt, anger, etc, can be used as a cue for taking action. Notice when your mood changes for the worse, and look back at what was running through your mind at that moment. Over the course of a few days, you will be able to point out the thought that made you feel those emotions, so that you check yourself before that thought becomes feeling and feeling becomes emotion and gets ingrained in your mind. You will become aware that most of the time, the same thoughts keep recurring.
- Steal Some "ME" Time: Most of us are so busy taking care of others and other things that we forget to allocate some time for ourselves. Even during our morning walk, we will be thinking what to cook for breakfast or how to go about doing that office assignment. Keep aside some "ME" time each day for yourself, when you are engaged in doing what you enjoy without any other interrupting thoughts. This way, your efficiency at other things also will improve. The happiness that will reflect on your face will make your loved ones happy too.
- Manage Time: There is only one thing in this life that all human beings have equal share of, and that is TIME. Learn to manage the 24 hours a day that you get efficiently. If you cannot finish your assignments on time, that is going to worsen your negative thought patterns and will affect your confidence level too. Allocate time for each task and stick to it. Eradicate all the "minor" and "major" time wasters.
- Keep Good Company: One rotten egg is enough to spoil the whole basket of eggs. Even if you are the most positive thinking person, companionship of just one negative thinking person can change your thinking pattern for the worse. Choose your friends carefully. Try to spend more and more time with friends who are positive in their outlook.
- Leisure Activities: Things that give you pleasure like listening to music, reading your favorite author's book, watching a comedy movie or show on the television, indulging in some arts and crafts, etc. are some of the ways you can divert your mind from negativity towards positivity.
- Sharpen Your Senses: Nowadays, thanks to the rat race, people have become immune to their senses. "Stop to smell the roses," as they say. Pay attention to your senses in each activity. Be aware of the smell and taste of your food when you eat. When bathing, be aware how water flows through your body. Feel different textures and fabrics. Look at the sky and feel the wind against your face while biking. All this will make you more alive and spiritual. You will become more thankful and positive.
- Avoid Generalization/Exaggeration: Many a times, we keep recounting some negative incidences so many times that it becomes etched in our mind and keeps making us sad. Forgetting and forgiving is very important in life. At other times, we tend to exaggerate our thoughts by using generalized statements. If you are aware what you are speaking and modify your sentences, it will give you and others less distress. For example, the over generalized statement of, "You never listen to me" can be reframed to, "There have been times in the past when you were very attentive and I felt as though you heard me. At this moment, however, I feel that you are not quite interested in what I have to say." The second statement is more truthful and less exaggerated. As a result, a more positive outcome can be expected.
- Stubbornness Never Wins: They say, "you can either be right or happy." To be happy, you need to let go. Being stubborn is such a waste of time. Each person is entitled to his or her own opinion. Their lookout can be a little different from yours. Even if you win the argument, it is not going to make you happy because of the unpleasantness of the situation. So, sometimes to "look dumb" in front of your loved ones is okay. Let peace and happiness prevail.
- Avoid Jumping into Conclusions: Sometimes, before your loved ones have completed their talk, you jump into conclusions, which may result in some unpleasant arguments and again you will be filled with negative thoughts. Avoid taking a stand with lot of assumptions in your mind. The point is that we should not take everything at face value until we seek a better understanding of what really happened. Patience is the key here.
Life is full of choices. You can choose to be happy or sad, whatever your situation may be. "Your mind has a secret invisible talisman. On one side is emblazoned the letters PMA (positive mental attitude) and on the other the letters NMA (negative mental attitude). A positive attitude will naturally attract the good and the beautiful. The negative attitude will rob you of all that makes life worth living." These are the words of the famous Napoleon Hill from his book, "Success through a Positive Mental Attitude."
