Have you ever been in a situation so negative that positive thinking seemed like a complete joke? Do you ever have difficulty keeping a positive mental attitude? Don’t worry—everyone feels that way sometimes. So, what I’d like to offer here are a few easy positive thinking tips that help me get back on track when life throws a curve ball in my direction.
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Relax With Breathing Meditation
The quickest way to release tension and worry, thus preparing your mind for positive thinking, is a simple meditation technique. Go to a quiet, comfortable room. Close your eyes and center your attention on your breathing.
In times of stress, you’ll likely notice that you are taking shallow breaths into your throat or barely breathing at all. So, deliberately take slow, deep breaths. Notice the natural rise and fall of your chest. If your mind drifts to random thoughts, just refocus on your breathing.
With your attention focused on breathing instead of problematic circumstances, you will release anxiety and enable your mind to refocus. No, this won’t make the problem go away. It won’t dramatically change your future in an instance. But you will experience relief. You will slowly begin to realign with a positive vibration that attracts positive thoughts and experiences.
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Practice Mindfulness and Appreciation
After releasing anxiety through breathing meditation, it’s time to practice conscious awareness of all that is good. I personally like to step outside for this mindfulness exercise, but there is just as much to appreciate indoors.
Open your mind to sensations of all types—sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, sights. You may notice bird songs, the brightness of the sunshine, cloud shapes, heat or cool air against your skin, children’s laughter, the steady beat of your heart, and so much more.
Realize how wonderful it is that these things exist and that you are experiencing them. Give your attention to each one for a moment. And embrace that moment with thoughts of appreciation. Isn’t it wonderful that you have functioning eyes and the gift of literacy so that you can read this article right now?
When we are mindful, we open ourselves to an amazing amount of positive energy. We see just how much we usually take for granted. We embrace our oneness with the Universe and with all-that-is. And we experience the abundance that exists whether we are aware of it or not.
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Journal the Positive Aspects
If there is a certain circumstance that is clouding your reality, challenge yourself to find the positive aspects. This exercise, which I learned from Abraham Hicks, is an awesome way to bring you back to that happy place. Here’s how it works:
If you typically write in a journal, open it to a blank page. Otherwise, just grab a notepad. Write at the top of a page, “My Book of Positive Aspects.” On the next line, write “Positive aspects of ________________.” On that blank, put the name of something (or someone) that is very easy for you to speak positively about. It may be your spouse, pet, car, hobby, or anything else that brings you joy. Now, write line after line of positive aspects about him, her, or it. Keep writing as long as it flows.
Now repeat this process for a second person, place, thing, or situation that is easy to feel good about. You’ll notice that your mood is taking a step up. Your mind is now prepared for the more challenging part of this process.
On another blank page, write “Positive aspects of ___________________.” This time, what you’ll put in the blank is the circumstance that has been troubling you. On the lines that follow, you will write positive aspects related to this part of your life experience.
It’s a bit of an extreme example, but let’s say the doctor has just decided that your leg must be amputated. You may write positive aspects about your body, such as, “The overwhelming majority of my body is functioning perfectly; this procedure will allow me to remain alive and to enjoy time with my family; my body still has arms and hands to touch and hug; leg-amputees have run marathons and I can be just as limitless.” None of this reattaches the leg to your body. However, it beats the hell out of feeling depressed and powerless.
Can you see the immense benefits of these positive thinking techniques? The purpose is not to fool yourself with falsehoods in order to feel better. With these techniques, you naturally achieve a feeling of relief through conscious awareness of the reality that you were overlooking.
As you go through your day, challenge yourself to see more than whatever is apparent at first glance. Remember that joy is your birthright. You need only to relax your thoughts and allow it into your experience.
Related Positive Thinking Articles
Law of Attraction and Positive Thinking: Difficulty Controlling Thoughts
The Productive Art of Positive Thinking
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Hi Nea,
I appreciate your post!
Positivity and focus are most important for the tough times. I can relate to this as I have a taken a turn from the tough time of my life.
Yes when we are looking at the clouds we can see so many different images. It is always good to grab a notepad and write what comes to your blank mind and on blank page.
We are not aware that we are full of positive thoughts and energy which can break any tough duration on the earth.
Cheers,
Cheryl Paris Blog
Thanks for the valuable article! I think life will be more tolerant if we try to think about the positive side of every event we have. Another beneficial tip, I believe, is sharing the troubling situation with the people who have the same one. Talking about the problems might release a lot of the stress resulted from them.
Hi Nea, these are some good tips. You can even do the breathing thing without going somewhere. Focusing on your breathing is just a great tip anytime you feel the stress or tension rising.
Hi Stephen. Thanks for dropping by again. Yes…. breathing techniques are oh so beneficial.
Mindfulness is a wonderful tool!
Find a technique that’s right for you…
Nice post Nea +_+
Thank you Axel. Welcome to the site. Glad you enjoyed the article.
Oh wow! Mindfulness changes your perception and approach and one is able to re-frame the situation for better!
This reminds me of the Happiness App on my iPhone. It’s been a while since I used it, but it incorporates much of what you have written about here. I personally enjoyed your points about mindfulness and appreciation: when I practice those simple disciplines, my day and life go a whole lot better. As within, so without
Hey these are excellent reminders! You did an amazing job laying out these very important points.
For me, it all hinges on gratitude. Thanks so much for the reminder!
Thanks for the valuable article! I think life will be more tolerant if we try to think about the positive side of every event we have. Another beneficial tip, I believe, is sharing the troubling situation with the people who have the same one. Talking about the problems might release a lot of the stress resulted from them.
While I agree that it’s a good idea to verbalize your problems, I think it’s important to be aware of the risk that you’ll get stuck doing so. Typically, if we get with a group of people who all have the same problem, it turns into a big session of moping and self pitying. This is not the way to enter a positive mindset or to change the circumstances.
I think it’s best to find a more positive or objective person who encourages you to have a different outlook on the situation. It may not initially feel as comforting as the pity party, but the long term results are more in alignment with the relief that we all desire during times of hardship.