Achieving a more positive mindset...
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Many of us will naturally worry about what might go wrong or focus on the negatives in a situation instead of the positives - we will all have negative thoughts but when we find these recurring on a regular basis this can start to impact our mental wellbeing and can lead to us feeling more anxious or depressed.
One of the reasons why we tend to think more negative thoughts than positive ones is that positive emotions tell us everything is ok so there is no need to think about them anymore but negative emotions tell us something is wrong and therefore we are more likely to spend time and energy focussing on these feelings.
The good news is that there are lots of things we can do to shift our mindset to one that is more positive which can give us more confidence, help us be more resilient and improve our mood.
Start the Day with a Positive - how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day, therefore start your day with something positive such as telling yourself in front of the mirror “today will be a good day” or reading an inspirational quote or listening to your favourite song as soon as you wake up to put you in a positive frame of mind for the day.
Positive Self Talk - certain situations may lead to more negative self talk or self doubt, recognise what scenarios lead to negative emotions and prepare yourself to turn these negative thoughts into positive ones. Positive self talk is something that can be practised regularly and many of our negative thoughts are based on our perceptions and not reality, some examples of turning a negative thought into a positive one are:
Negative - "I have never done this before and I will be bad at it".
Positive - "This is a great opportunity for me to learn something new and learn from
others".
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Negative - "I have failed"
Positive - "I am proud of myself for being brave enough to try".
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Negative - "I’m not going to get any better at this".
Positive - "I will give this another try".
Reflect and Evaluate - when thinking about a negative situation, look for the opportunities for improvement and recognise what you did well, think about the following when reflecting:
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What aspects of the situation can you improve for the future?
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What can you do to be sure this doesn’t happen again?
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Is there anything positive that came out the situation?
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Can you have a positive influence on what happens next?
Laugh - as the saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine”, laughter can lighten your burdens, stops distressing emotions, relives tension and stress and help to put things into perspective. Build more laughter into your day by watching a funny movie or TV show, speak to friends or family that always make you laugh, make time for a fun activity or do something silly.
Surround Yourself with Positive Individuals - by spending more time with positive people, you will hear more upbeat stories and outlooks which will positively influence your own thinking. Eliminate those around you that are negative and try to improve the positivity of others.
Give Yourself Positive Affirmations - seeing positive words or inspiring images can be enough to redirect your thoughts. Stick up small reminders in your office, in your home, and anywhere you spend a significant amount of time.
Focus on the Good Things - every day we will experience obstacles, however when you do encounter challenges, focus on the benefits of the situation, for example if you get stuck in traffic, think about the fact you may have time to listen to more of your favourite music or podcast.
Practise Gratitude - by regularly practising gratitude and taking time to notice and reflect upon things you are thankful for can help us having more positive emotions and improve our wellbeing. Think about writing in a journal each day for things you are grateful for which can help us reflect positively each day, write thank you notes wherever possible or post on social media something you are #grateful for.​