It used to be said that “sucking in your gut won’t lead to a six-pack”, implying that you have to do actual sit-ups to make a difference, you have to do the physical work. However, we now know that pulling in your stomach as you go about your day actually does strengthen your abdominal muscles and is a great way to keep them toned. Similarly, “thinking positively” has been long dismissed as pointless advice compared to “work hard” and “be persistent.” But those days are behind us!

Research is beginning to prove that positive thinking does so much more than create momentary happiness or optimism. As it turns out, positive thinking can (and will) slowly morph your life into the lush landscape of satisfaction you’ve always wished it was.

This is amazingly good news! The only problem is, it’s really hard to think positively when we’re feeling awful, or going through painful circumstances. When we want to think positively but can’t no matter how hard we try, we can begin to feel bad about ourselves, wondering if we’re broken or defective in some way. But this is not the case. After an entire life of negative thinking and belief that only hard work can change your circumstances, it’s EXTREMELY difficult to suddenly fill your mind with positive thoughts and find the brightside during hard times. So, instead of trying to change your thoughts overnight, think of it as a goal you’re working towards, and enjoy the journey along the way using these easy, pressure-free approaches:

• Recognize the Negative Thoughts
  Throughout the day you will have worries and resentments, it’s natural, but if you try to swat them out of your mind, they’ll only get louder (they really want your attention). As you know, the more you tell yourself not to think about something, the more your brain will be unable to resist going there. INSTEAD, start by dedicating five minutes at the beginning and end of every day to focus on both things you love in your life, and things that you want to have in your life. Believe it or not, these five to ten minutes are capable of counteracting the negative thoughts that pop up during the day.
   
• Stay Present
  Many of our negative thoughts have to do with the “What if’s”. “What if I lose my job? What if I don’t make rent? What if my boyfriend/girlfriend leaves me? What if I get a serious illness?” These concerns plague us and drag us down a dark train of thought and into a long-term negative state of mind. When you notice yourself worrying, ask yourself if your fear is happening to you RIGHT NOW. Unless you’re in actual danger in that very moment, the answer is ‘no’, which means the fear is theoretical and not reality. It’s a fiction that your mind has created.  But, because every thought has a feeling associated with it, it can feel very real; even though that thought  is about something that hasn’t happened yet. The best way to deal with worrying about the future is to remind yourself in that very moment that you’re safe, you’re ok. Remind yourself that your mind is not necessarily telling you the truth!
   
• Flip Your Thoughts
  This is simple, and can even be fun. Take your negative thoughts and simply flip them into their positive counterparts. Think it to yourself, say it out loud, or write it down, whatever works for you. For example, if you think, “I will NOT smoke a cigarette today”, catch that thought and then deliberately compose the opposite thought: “Today, I AM smoke free”.
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When you practice these three approaches, you’ll train your mind day by day to learn how to think more positive thoughts than negative thoughts. These are the first steps on the path to liberating your mind from negativity and living the delightful life you deserve.