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Renowned author, fitness expert and motivational speaker Danette May believes in the power of thinking positively! A positive mindset can both set you up for daily success and empower you to continue through difficult times in life. Here are five steps you can take to get a more positive mindset and improve your life.
In my opinion, the most powerful muscle in your body is neither your tricep nor your quadricep. It’s your brain. The power of positive thinking and your attitude when facing challenges can affect the outcomes more than you realize.
Once you work to develop a more positive way of looking at things, you will begin to see that the challenges that once felt insurmountable are easier to face and overcome. The good news is that a positive mindset is already within your power. So how can you keep your thoughts focused for success? Here’s five tips that I use every day.
1. Let negativity go
The first step in letting go of negativity or worries is the ability to realize when a thought is no longer doing anything positive for you.
Thoughts that are limiting or closed-minded beliefs that are not helping you need to go. With practice, you can become adept at letting them go by applying steps 2-5 below.
2. Shift towards positivity
Once you’re aware of your negative or harmful thoughts, ideas, beliefs and old patterns that are not helping you, it is time to make the decision to “shift.“
Deciding to shift is not something that comes easily. It takes dedication, commitment and practice to recognize negative thoughts and be able to shift your mindset to another place.
What’s the best way to shift away from negativity and go towards a positive mindset? Take three deep cleansing breaths before reacting to a situation or a negative thought pattern. Then, think of something you are grateful for or transport yourself to a happier place in your mind. You may need to keep reminding yourself to do this over and over again until it becomes part of your normal reaction to negative thoughts.
This act of shifting your thoughts will help you focus on the positive and eliminate negative and unhelpful thoughts from your mind.
3. Make Your Decisions Based on Love, Not Fear
Think about your authentic self versus your ego. Your true authentic self will lead from the heart and lead with love while the ego will encourage you to lead from fear and doubt.
If you’re confronted with a situation where you have to make a difficult choice, or you’re worried about the negative impact it may have on your life, first pause. Take a moment to consider how you would approach the situation with love. Let yourself connect with your truest self and then make a decision from that perspective. Taking time to really consider how you want to approach a situation is more likely to lead to happiness than immediately letting your ego drive the decision.
Taking the time to make a decision based on your values and beliefs will also make you happier in the long run because you will ultimately be more content with your decision.
4. Find The Silver Lining
Work to cultivate the positive in every situation. How should you do that?
Find the silver lining!
There is a lesson to be learned (sometimes good, sometimes bad) from every experience. Actively try to find something to take away from every experience instead of passively allowing yourself to fall into “victim mode.”
Consider what you can learn from every situation. Ask yourself: How did I grow? What will I do differently next time?
When you take the ego out of the situation, instead connecting with your heart and focusing on what you are grateful for, even daunting and negative situations can be learning experiences. Be grateful that you have been able to shift and change your mindset even a little bit.
5. Develop a morning ritual to start the day off right
Morning rituals can and should go beyond coffee and eggs! These five- or 10-minute series of tasks can help start your day right. Your morning ritual can set the tone for the rest of your day, establishing your mood and perspective for everything you will encounter in the world each day.
Here are some of the rituals I incorporate into my morning routine to set the stage for my day.
FIrst of all, do NOT pick up your phone or computer until you have completed your rituals.
The first thing I want to do when I wake up is pick up my phone and check my emails.
Here’s the problem: doing that immediately causes me stress and anxiety and sends me several hours ahead into the future versus the present. Here’s what I suggest. Give yourself 30 minutes in the morning to just be present in the day before you dive into your correspondence and your to-do lists.
This may mean waking up 10-15 minutes earlier, but the end result will be worth it.
Daily affirmation or morning meditation
Take three to five minutes every morning (either before you get out of bed or while you’re in the shower) to focus on breathing or an affirmation for the day. Try to focus on what positive aspects of your life you’d like to have more of in your day-to-day.
Morning stretch for the body and mind
Take small movements and simple stretches to get the energy flowing through your body after you wake up. Perhaps sitting in child’s pose, stretching from side to side, doing a few half sun salutations will get your energy flowing gradually before the rush of the day.
Morning gratitude practice
Either through meditation or journaling, take some time to focus on things you are grateful for. It doesn’t have to be deep! Even anticipating your hot cup of coffee or thinking about how lucky you are to have a hot shower can reset your mind toward appreciating the little things.
Take time to enjoy your hot water with lemon, tea, or coffee
Any routine can become a ritual. That means that even sipping your morning beverage can become a mindful practice.
Focus on the warmth and the comfort it brings you by closing your eyes and really trying to enjoy every sip.
BONUS: Practice morning self-love
Taking even one minute to look at yourself in the mirror and admire yourself for who you are can make a difference in helping to change your mindset. Say to yourself “I love you.”
Practice, Practice, Practice
I am not suggesting you do ALL of these every single day because I know, sometimes even getting out of bed is a struggle. But, if you can, try to make your morning activities more intentional. Cultivate positive thoughts, be grateful and nourishing your mind, body and soul before starting the work of the day.
I can almost guarantee that if you implement some of my suggestions will find yourself in a better mood and more able to handle the difficult situations that come your way. Through these small positive changes, you will be able to get a more positive mindset and enjoy life more thoroughly.
Summary:
- Having a positive mindset can empower you and help you deal with difficult times
- When you feel a negative thought, take some deep breaths and try to find something positive, something you can be grateful for
- Try incorporating some morning rituals such as morning meditations, stretching or even enjoying your morning beverage to help you start the day off right
- Making positive changes in your life is possible through practice
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