5 Tips for Positive Thinking: How to Change Your Mindset

Are you stuck at the bottom of the emotional staircase right now? Do you feel sadness, depression, despair, anger, rage, frustration, and more? Want to learn how to switch to positive thinking?

I had these feelings. The more I felt it, sat in it, and thought about it, I went further and further down the fiery staircase of negative thinking and feelings.

I noticed my negative thoughts and feelings carrying me down this spiraling staircase of overthinking a couple years ago. So, I began climbing back up the stairway and onto a beautiful balcony filled with gorgeous flowers of blissful thinking.

I am now in a daily practice of watering my thoughts each day with meditation, hypnosis, journaling and giving myself new stories. Most of all I focus on gratitude, loving myself and knowing my worth.

The first lesson to learn is to stop the negative thinking before you spiral down into a fiery abyss. I became aware of my thoughts and changed them. At first, I may have gotten down 5 or 6 steps of the burning staircase before I noticed.

It was messy and a struggle to turn around on those narrow, skinny steps and walk back up. As I consistently practiced and gave myself grace, I began catching myself on step four, then 3 and so on. Recently, I am reversing the first negative thought in most cases. Now I can turn around a bad day with strategies of positive thinking and actions.

Tips for Positive Thinking

So, how did I climb back up when I was at the bottom? Remember: BLISS…

Breathe

That’s right. Just breathe. Deep breaths in and out. I brought in that inner peace and calmed my heart rate. I let the tears come and gave myself the most loving hug deep in my soul.

Listen

I listened to what I was saying to myself. What story was I telling myself? I assessed the situation or thought and came back with a more loving approach to myself and others. I broke the negative comment/situation apart and proved how illogical my thinking was. However, I allowed myself to have the feelings and acknowledge them. Let them flow out of my body. I don’t ignore or stuff them down.

Initiate

I initiated positive thoughts by switching my stories or the statement around. For example, if I thought something like I gained weight the last couple weeks. I switched my story to I am beautiful in the size I am because weight doesn’t clarify beauty. I am beautiful on the inside too because I am kind, generous, compassionate, loving etc. I am so grateful to be ME.

Solutions

Solutions are available once I am calm and can think clearly. One of the solutions for myself is practicing self-love techniques. I use self-love meditations for example. I read books on giving myself loving thoughts and allowing it to saturate into my soul. Affirmations and meditation help me during the day. What are features that I love about myself inside and out? I write a gratitude list about them. I journal how I am feeling and work them out.

Smile

I smiled from the inside out. I am proud of me for turning myself around and walking back up those stairs and through the balcony of beautiful flowering thoughts. By consistently practicing every day, I am finding it quicker and easier to naturally have positive, loving, and compassionate thoughts for others and myself. It’s not about being perfect, just bringing more joy and peace to each day. The secret is spreading lots of gratitude thoughts and feelings into each moment.

Bad Days Happen

I just had a “Monday” yesterday. Ironically, on an actual Monday (It usually doesn’t happen like that for me.) I was smiling because I caught myself quickly. I was able to reason and say, “Okay, I’m just having a moment or two today that isn’t working out as planned.”

I immediately went through BLISS, rescheduled, and made the best out of my day. I remained peaceful, didn’t beat myself up about it and the day became better. My huge win was I recognized it, didn’t get into self-hate, and looked for strategies.

I switched my thinking to, “I am so happy and grateful that I have a flexible schedule to work things out for later in the week. I am so proud of myself for acknowledging my feelings, working through them, and giving myself love and grace.”

I thought of taking 15 minutes to read, meditate, or listen to one of my coaches on their podcast. I took a moment to reset myself and get into those positive vibes. (Key word is took. I don’t think I’m too busy to gather myself even if I take 5 minutes.)

Then I set intentions and goals for the rest of my day since my appointment fell through.

Preventing Recurring Negative Thoughts

I must stay out in front and plant the garden myself by using the best soil for the thoughts to grow and planting the seeds. I water the positive thoughts every day and pick out the weeds of negative stories.

I spoke of watering my flowers of positive thinking. To stop these thoughts before they began, I did this: I set up a morning routine that includes taking care of my needs each morning and making my bed, drinking a cup of coffee, meditation, and gratefulness to God for this day. Asking the question, “How can I serve others today?” I write down my intentions for personal and business growth. I journal (I am a writing freak! I love it!) which starts out as my gratitude list, then I begin writing poetry or a story. Yes, I do have to get up earlier, but it is so worth it!

If I start my day positive, normally the rest of the day will flow in that direction. When the day throws me a few fireballs, I can extinguish them quick and easy. Then I am right back in the flow.

This could look different for you, but you get the idea. Start with just one and get up 10 to 15 minutes earlier. The gratitude list may only take 5 to 7 minutes.

I also have a lunch and nighttime routine which includes many of the same things.

I love doing a meditation and gratitude list in the middle of the day. If I don’t have as much time in the middle part of the day, I pick one of the activities. Even if I think about what I’m grateful for that day in my head while driving, or at a stop light. These happy vibe activities help give me a quick boost!

I have learned that being in positive thought is essential to my mental health. There are a million ways to keep those positive vibes flowing!

What is your routine? Do you practice any of the same activities to stay positive or something different? I would love to know! Leave a comment below.