In a
study at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota patients were given a
personality test that assessed their levels of optimism and pessimism. The
progress of the patients was measured over 30 years, and it was found that the
optimists lived longer than average for their age and gender while the
pessimists had a shorter than average life. Researchers found that optimism
strengthens the immune system and helps people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Optimists feel better about themselves and take better care of themselves,
while pessimists confirm their fears by having higher blood pressure, more
anxiety and depression.
You can choose to have depressing,
negative thoughts or inspirational, positive thoughts; your attitude determines
your mindset, which in turn determines your behaviours and the outcomes in your
life. Many studies show that you will achieve more, feel happier and live
longer if you chose the positive option. Here are some tips to boost your positive thinking.
Believe
in Yourself
Successful people start with a deep
inner self-belief. It has been shown that self-belief is more important than
intelligence, education or connections in terms of life-long achievement. The
important starting point is your conviction that you are capable of significant
achievement or that you have something special to contribute.
Set
Clear Goals
If you have no destination then your
journey is haphazard. If you write down ambitious but achievable goals, then
you are already on the road to accomplishing them.
Form
a Mental Picture of Your Success
Imagine yourself achieving your goals.
Savour the experience of your book being published, of making the sale, of
giving the speech to rapturous applause, of winning the race, of living your
dream. As your mind comes to terms with this picture it will help you to put
the steps in place in order to achieve it.
Take
Ownership and Responsibility for Your Life
Don’t be a victim. Don’t blame others or
circumstances. You are the captain of the boat and you decide where it goes and
what happens. If you are unhappy with an aspect of your life, then form a plan
to change it and take action.
Talk
to Yourself
Become your own motivator by telling
yourself positive things. For example: at the start of the day you might say to
yourself, “I am going to do really well today.” Or, “I am going to make real
progress towards my goals.” When things go wrong or you falter, don’t make
excuses—say something like, “That was my fault, but I can learn from that
setback.”
Eliminate
the Negative
Use positive self-talk to overcome the
doubts and negative thoughts that creep into your mind. Deliberately eliminate
worries about difficulties and obstacles by taking a positive attitude, “I can
overcome this challenge.” You do not ignore problems—you face up to them with a
constructive and optimistic attitude.
Associate
with Positive People
Among your friends, relatives, and
associates there are probably some upbeat, positive, optimistic, dynamic people
and some downbeat, negative, pessimistic or cynical people. Think about them
for a moment and select examples of each. You should spend more time with the
positive people and less time with the negative people. The optimists will
inspire and encourage you, while the pessimists will feed your doubts and make
you depressed.
Count
Your Blessings
Draw up an assets and liabilities sheet
for yourself. If you are educated,
employed, healthy, in a loving relationship, financially solvent etc., then put
these on the assets list. If you are unemployed, ill, in a toxic relationship,
bankrupt, etc., then put these items into your liabilities list. The chances
are that your assets will far outweigh your liabilities. We tend to take all
the good things in our lives for granted and focus on our failings and needs
instead.
Find
the Silver Lining
Learn to look for the opportunities in
every situation that comes along. Many self-employed consultants will tell you
that being made redundant was the best thing that ever happened to them. At the
time it may have seemed a terrible blow but now they have found greater fulfillment
and satisfaction in what they do. Every change brings good as well as bad,
opportunities as well as threats. The people who do well in life are the ones
who use setbacks as springboards for new successes.
Relax
and Enjoy Life More
Lighten up a little. If you can laugh at
things then you can cope with them more easily.
Don’t try to do everything at once. Don’t become overburdened with work.
Deliberately give yourself little treats and do things that make you smile.
Laughter is the best medicine—and the cheapest—so try to keep a balance between
work, exercise, relationships and play.
Fake
It.
If all else fails then fake it. If you are really worried, nervous, or
doubtful, then pretend that you are confident and self-assured. Stride to the
lectern, smile at the audience and act as though you are positive, professional
and successful. Acting the role helps you develop the attitudes and behaviours
that go with the part. You can fool the audience, and more importantly, you can
fool your brain—you will start to be the confident, positive person that you
are acting.
If positive thinkers achieve more, live
longer, and are happier than negative thinkers then why would anyone choose to
be a negative thinker? The answer is that many people find negative thinking to
be an easy option that is more comfortable and offers less challenge. Do not fall into that trap. Think positively!
Southbourne
Positive Living Group (SPLG) meets on the last Wednesday of the month
(excluding holidays).
Join
a group of like - minded people and rediscover the purpose and meaning of your
life.
