Top 5 Positive Thinking Rules That Can Improve Your Life.

by Swapnil Adivarekar November 21, 2022

We constantly look for external sources of joy, but we often overlook our incredible resource within ourselves - our mindset! The connection between having a positive attitude and having a positive outcome may seem obvious, but many of us do not take the time or make the effort to truly apply this approach to many aspects of life.

Doesn't it sound simple? "Just stay upbeat!" When faced with a challenge, we've all heard this before. However, it is not always that simple. It takes practice to maintain a consistently positive mindset. It is almost as important to avoid negative energy as it is to create positive energy. And, with so many self-improvement techniques and methods available, it's easy to become overwhelmed when deciding where to begin. So, let's take it slow and look at five quick and easy tips you can put into action right away:

1. Use affirmations

Positive affirmations are short, positive statements that you can repeat to yourself or leave notecards around where you will see them regularly. They should be positive, in the present tense, and state what you desire. They are easier to remember and repeat when they are brief. Try telling yourself things like, "I'm alive and well" or "today is going to be a great day!" It sounds too simple, doesn't it? You'd be surprised how effective this practice is at generating positive energy.

2. Remind yourself to focus on the good things, no matter how small they are.

Attaching thought triggers to items you use every day can help you remember what makes you happy. For example, you could change your phone wallpaper to evoke a memory of a specific location, place a sticker on your water bottle to remind you of your favorite hobby, wear a bracelet given to you by your best friend, or even change the password you use every day to something that reminds you of something you are grateful for. Small triggers like this can add up over a day and have an impact.

3. Do something nice for someone.

4. Focus on the present moment.

We frequently allow negative memories from the past to influence our current thinking. Or do we allow worrying about the future to influence how we think about the present? Remove your focus from the past and future and concentrate on what you can control right now. Keep in mind that nothing ever happens in the past or future. Things occur in the present. If you don't let worry about other things get in the way, every moment you're in, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can be a positive one. If you concentrate on your current situation and what is affecting you right now, you may realize how insignificant some of the things you have been worrying about are.

5. Surround yourself with positive people.

You've probably heard the adage "we become the average of the five people we surround ourselves with," or something along those lines. While it is risky to draw such firm conclusions about your character based on who your friends are, we can still use this principle as a guide to help us create healthier environments in which to thrive. Consider the following: Does this person encourage and support me? Or do they make fun of me to make themselves feel better? Sometimes the answer is more difficult to find than you might think. Seek out people who will encourage and support you, and then reciprocate. The more positive thoughts and outlooks you hear from those around you, the more likely your ways of thinking will be influenced.

Even if you can't implement all of these suggestions right away, try one or two. Positivity tends to build up over time. Consider each small step you take toward changing your mindset as a drop of fuel in your tank. Even if it isn't full, it will get you where you need to go.