5 Ways to Incorporate Positive Thinking into your Everyday Life

We all know how life can be. It can be crazy, chaotic and tiring. Sometimes it can be hard to maintain a positive mindset. However, when we have the right skills, it can become easier to achieve and maintain. Here are my 5 tricks to incorporating positive thinking into everyday life.

1. Affirmations

Affirmations can help you to recognize your best qualities and to help you realize that you can do anything you put your mind to. You have capabilities beyond your imagination. You just have to realize that they are there. The first step is affirmation; accepting that there is more to you than you would believe. "I can do this, I am Strong, I have potential, I am enough." Write down a few affirmations and try saying them everyday. Start today!

2. Be Kind to Yourself

Be your own best friend! You know how to uplift your loved ones and recognize the amazing qualities in them. You know how to make them feel better. Just like they need you to do that for them, you also need to be that person for yourself. You need to understand your worth and value yourself as your loved ones do. During times where you feel inadequate, lift yourself up! "I made a mistake and that's okay. I am learning and doing my best. I got this!". Let yourself know how proud you are of yourself. Encourage yourself to keep going. You will be amazed at how you see yourself with greater clarity! It just takes practice and time.

3. List things you are Grateful for

Think about all those things in your life you are grateful for and make a list: family, friends, significant other, blue skies, education, nature, music, movies, your living environment etc. Listing these things can help you to realize that you have so many wonderful things in your life. Give gratitude for those things because not everyone is lucky enough to have them. Treasure them and remember that your loved ones are grateful for you as well. You are appreciated and loved!

4. Get Motivated

Remember all those goals you have been wanting to accomplish? Make a plan to start! You can begin with something small such as doing the dishes as soon as you get home from work or taking out the trash. Once you have mastered one task, move on to the next. The goal is to get as many things done as you can and to start accomplishing long term goals such as career goals, education goals, travel goals, health goals, personal goals, family goals etc. It makes us feel good about ourselves when we are productive and make progress towards what we want in life. Additionally, when we work to achieve these things we are growing into the best version of ourselves.

5. Mindfulness

Mindfulness allows us to be present in the moment and to be self-aware. During this time you can let go of negative thoughts and feelings and be still. You can relieve the tension in your body; slowing your breath, releasing the shoulders, easing your muscles. Let your senses be hyper aware of what is going on around you. What is it in this moment that you see, feel, hear or taste? Do you feel a breeze brushing against your face? Do you see a tree? Can you hear the birds sing? Do you taste anything in particular. Mindfulness allows us to relax, dismiss negative thoughts and self-reflect on the good things in our lives.

Conclusion

My friends, it is not easy to be positive and even when you have finally started, it can be difficult to maintain. You can start with these steps. Repeat them everyday! Positivity is something you are constantly working on. It is a journey!