{"id":1905,"date":"2020-07-22T21:14:56","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T21:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=1905"},"modified":"2020-07-22T21:14:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T21:14:56","slug":"how-to-become-a-positive-thinker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2020\/07\/how-to-become-a-positive-thinker.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Become A Positive Thinker"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"positive\"<\/a>
Photo by Binti Malu from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all can fall prey to negative thinking sometimes.\u00a0 After all, life doesn\u2019t always go according to plan.\u00a0 People can disappoint.\u00a0 Unforeseen circumstances, such as pandemics and hurricanes, can turn our lives upside down.\u00a0 Life can be discouraging, and at times, it is challenging to be a positive thinker.<\/p>\n

In addition, some people simply are prone to negativity.\u00a0 They either were raised by people who were depressed and negative, or they are genetically less upbeat.\u00a0 We all know people like that.\u00a0 Nothing is ever going well in their lives.\u00a0 Their cup is always half empty.\u00a0 They are the first to tell you that the weather is going to be bad, the economy is in a downturn, and that other people are \u201cstupid.\u201d\u00a0 Their world has a perpetual cloud over it.<\/p>\n

The good news is that having a positive or negative attitude is a choice.\u00a0 No matter how good or poorly life is going, we have a choice as to how we view it.\u00a0 We can choose to think positive thoughts of gratitude and compassion.\u00a0 Or we can choose to be grouchy and judgmental.\u00a0 The choice is ours.<\/p>\n

Below are some techniques to train yourself to be a positive thinker.\u00a0 Use them and see your attitude improve and your happiness increase!<\/p>\n

Spend Your Time with Positive People<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No matter how much of a Pollyanna you are, if you spend enough time with negative people, their poor attitude will rub off on you.\u00a0 Negative people are the types who say, \u201cDon\u2019t bother to try to go to college.\u00a0 It is too expensive or too difficult to get into.\u201d\u00a0 They will discourage you from your career choice by saying, \u201cOnly 5% of people succeed in that field.\u201d\u00a0 Or they will say things like, \u201cOnly lucky people get rich.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you spend enough time with people like that, you will adopt their views.\u00a0 And then you\u2019ll go through life with zero ambition and defeated.\u00a0 I shudder to think of how many greater writers, poets, scientists and musicians never achieve their full potential because they have adopted the defeatist views of their family members or friends.<\/p>\n

So, if you want to be a positive thinker, position yourself to be around people with great attitudes.\u00a0 Spend time with folks who believe in themselves, and who believe in you.\u00a0 Let their great attitudes rub off on you.\u00a0 Pretty soon, you will be working harder and achieving more because of your positive outlook!<\/p>\n

View Failures as Learning Experiences<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I will admit that failure is hard to face when we are young.\u00a0 For young people, even the smallest disappointment can be devastating.\u00a0 It takes some gray hairs to realize that failure is a natural part of the process toward success.\u00a0 That is because there is no such thing as an overnight success.\u00a0 Rather, success comes at the end of a long road of wins and losses.<\/p>\n

Positive thinkers realize this fact.\u00a0 As a result, they don\u2019t treat their failures as mistakes or errors.\u00a0 Instead, they treat them as learning experiences.\u00a0 So, positive thinkers don\u2019t fall apart when faced with failure.\u00a0 Instead, they view failure positively<\/em>!\u00a0 They figure out what they can learn from the experience.\u00a0 And they don\u2019t beat themselves up because they failed.<\/p>\n

For example, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison both are known for their great success.\u00a0 But they also are known as individuals who rebounded after many failures.\u00a0 That is the benefit of being a positive thinker.\u00a0 You aren\u2019t stopped by failure or obstacles on your path.\u00a0 You simply treat them as learning experiences on the road to success.<\/p>\n

Celebrate the Small Wins<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In order to maintain your positive energy, it helps to celebrate the daily, small wins in life.\u00a0 During my day, I will celebrate everything from finding a great parking spot to receiving a $10 check in the mail.\u00a0 Every little win counts!<\/p>\n

I challenge you to spend the day noting all the little things in your life that go well.\u00a0 If you do, you will be surprised.\u00a0 We tend to take for granted all the things in life that go smoothly.\u00a0 Driving to work and getting there on time.\u00a0 Your child getting a good grade on a test.\u00a0 Making a recipe that turns out well.\u00a0 Most days, there are a thousand things that go well.\u00a0 We just don\u2019t acknowledge them.<\/p>\n

When you appreciate the small wins, it helps you to think positively.\u00a0 Suddenly life doesn\u2019t seem so bad!\u00a0 It is then that you realize that life is actually going pretty well.<\/p>\n

Focus on Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the most important ways to train our brains to think positively is to focus on today.\u00a0 We can go down the path of negative thinking if we dwell too much on the hurts of the past, or if we fret about the future.<\/p>\n

Realize that the past cannot be changed.\u00a0 You may wish that you had been raised by different parents.\u00a0 Or perhaps you believe that you married the wrong person.\u00a0 Maybe you chose an unrewarding career.\u00a0 Unfortunately, you can\u2019t change any of that.\u00a0 The past is over and done with.<\/p>\n

Similarly, we have no control over the future.\u00a0 Unforeseen accidents can happen.\u00a0 Loved ones can get fatal illnesses.\u00a0 Our job can unexpectedly lead us to move to a different city or country.\u00a0 The future is unpredictable.\u00a0 So, while making plans for the future is a positive activity, worrying about the future is pointless.\u00a0 The future is something that we can neither predict nor control.<\/p>\n

So, the only way to think positively is to focus on the present.\u00a0 Positive thinkers seize today<\/em>.\u00a0 They don\u2019t worry about the past, and they don\u2019t fret about the future.\u00a0 They simply focus on what they can do to make today as fantastic as possible.<\/p>\n

Consider using the above techniques to become a positive thinker.\u00a0 You will find that if you have an upbeat, positive attitude, you will be happier and more content, no matter what is going on in your life.<\/p>\n

Email: meerabelle@meerabelledey.com<\/p>\n

If you would like to receive my Free E-Book, “The Confidence Course,” and sign up for my weekly newsletter, go to meerabelledey.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all can fall prey to negative thinking sometimes.\u00a0 After all, life doesn\u2019t always go according to plan.\u00a0 People can disappoint.\u00a0 Unforeseen circumstances, such as pandemics and hurricanes, can turn our lives upside down.\u00a0 Life can be discouraging, and at times, it is challenging to be a positive thinker. In addition, some people simply are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Become A Positive Thinker - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In today's world, it can be challenging to be a positive thinker. 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