Ways to Encourage Positive Thoughts

Sometimes we get stuck in negative thought patterns but there are ways we can encourage positive thoughts and thinking through our actions. Taking responsibility for ourselves is the first step because then we can work on the steps we can take to feel even better.

the act of Creating goals makes us feel good

A life without goals is a life without well….. maybe just start setting some goals. When we set goals, we have something to work towards, we have a purpose. Just by moving into goal-setting mode, the mere act of doing it can make us feel happier. We are then on the road to beginning to achieve something even if it’s something small.

Keep it simple

Goals don’t have to be complicated or too far in the future as setting a goal or intention (or as some like to call it), can help us go in the right direction. If we’re working towards something, it helps create the momentum of change. Start with small goals and write them down in a journal. When they’re written down, it makes it easier for us to then work out the steps to achieve them.

Get a cheap journal or keep notes on your device to begin. I find using a journal easier because I can then go back on it when needed. Using different coloured pens also helps as important steps can be highlighted, drawing my attention to them while flicking back through.

Take responsibility for our actions

Taking responsibility for our actions is a big one but at the end of the day, we are the ones responsible for our own behaviour and the choices we make. We can give ourselves all the excuses under the sun why not to do something but the moment we change that train of thought, we are in control of what we do.

Some things in life are of course, out of our control. But how we perceive things and then act on things, IS under our control. We can either choose to look at a situation with a negative mindset or CHOOSE to respond to it in a positive way. I always say to myself, ‘what is this situation or event trying to teach me?’. I see it as a learning experience. This way, I don’t respond to it in a negative way and therefore don’t have a negative reaction to what’s happened.

At some point, being accountable for our reactions and possible excuses defines whether we continue doing something or not. I CHOOSE to see things in a positive way.

Check out this short video clip about how our perception of events or things creates a fear response in the body. We have to make a conscious effort to change our thoughts and be responsible for this process.

Movement helps release energy

Movement and feeling positive seem to have a very strong correlation. This is definitely evident through the emotions of stress, anxiety and feeling down.

Our body is mostly made up of energy, from our cells within every part of our body. If we get a sudden rush of fear, anger, anxiety or whatever, moving our body seems to help. It’s pretty much a trial and error process as everyone is different and responds differently to situations. If we try to suppress the feeling, it can result in the ’emotion’ just being trapped.

Any kind of movement will do

Simple forms of movement like walking, swimming, dancing around the room (for those of us who don’t give a shi@) are great ways of changing from a negative state of mind, into a positive one. They can all change how we feel quite rapidly. Try different things until you find something that suits you and your current situation. Oh, and don’t worry about what other people think, just do it. You may like it ;p

Related post on Creative Movement Ideas for Adults and Children

Positive Music & why dancing helps

Have you ever felt like utter crap, chucked on some positive tunes, and had an almost immediate change in your emotional state? If you haven’t…. read on. If you have, keep reading ;p Music has the power to change how we feel almost instantaneously. But just like music can bring us ‘up’, it can also bring us crashing down.

Usually, the music that we listen to holds some emotional charge to it so to speak. Music holds memories. If we’re trying to move on from something or not wanting to live in the past, putting on familiar songs might not be the go for encouraging positive vibes. Try making a completely new playlist based on your new circumstance. This is a great strategy for dancing around the room.

Chucking on positive, uplifting tracks helps boost mood. Go for anything with a faster-paced, uplifting sample in the background. I prefer uplifting house or trance with female vocals. Most of these tracks are mood enhancers and create a feeling of inspiration and empowerment. Everyone is different with different tastes so it’s important to do what suits our unique taste. And we also have different memories associated with different tunes, so what might make me feel on top of the world, could produce a cataclysmic emotional catastrophe for you!

Put some music on and go nuts! Don’t bother about what other people think. It’s your life, not theirs.

follow the ones with the Good vibes

Surrounding ourselves with positive people helps, and engaging in as much positive stuff as we can, makes a massive difference.

Have you ever noticed, that when you walk into a room, you get a certain ‘vibe’ from it? Everyone has their own sort of energy and one way to check if a person or situation sucks the life out of our energy, is to examine how we feel after the encounter. If we walk away feeling energised and happy, then we can use this ‘feedback’ as to whether we engage with ‘it or them’ again.

Beware of energy vampires as they will suck the positive vibes right out of you. Move towards those who have good vibes!

Fake it until we make it & really act like we feel it!

We can say we are positive and do positive things but until we actually believe it, nothing much seems to change. This is why it’s so important to surround ourselves with positivity until it becomes second nature to us.

The same goes for the content we engage with. I know now that I only like watching stuff that makes me feel good. Positive stuff like true life stories of people overcoming adversity or documentaries about real things.

This is the same for negative content. Although it might not feel that the negative media exposure (that seems to stream 24/7) doesn’t affect us but it actually has a negative effect on us whether we feel it or not. Choose to engage in positive, uplifting, inspirational content and then measure the difference in how you start feeling.

‘Nudge’ ourselves in the right direction

Actually feeling positive does take some nudges in the right direction. If we feel and believe that we can do something, then we have a high chance that it will actually happen. The same goes for the opposite. If we feel that things won’t happen for us, then they probably won’t. Watch positive video clips and empowering content, and do things that make us feel good. And….. keep going. Changing limiting beliefs is a good place to start.

Related post on Changing Limiting Beliefs. Click the rainbow below.

Recognise our thought patterns for positive change

Recognising our thoughts and our thought patterns is a massive one. If we can become aware of any repeating thoughts, it then provides us with the opportunity to change them. Too often these days, we don’t give ourselves time to just stop and think. I’ve been there! But by taking some time out to contemplate how things are going for us, gives us a chance to get to know ourselves better and to listen to the crap we might be saying to ourselves in our own heads.

Writing down strategies and ways we can improve our situation, gets the thoughts out of our heads, and onto paper. Give it a go.

Struggling to get ideas on what to write, check out my journal prompts bundle where you can gather ideas to help get whatever is going on inside your head, down onto paper. Click the link below to go straight to the product.

What keeps repeating?

One easy way to check our thoughts is to listen carefully to what is on repeat. Are they positive or negative? A good way to work this out is to then ask ourselves, ‘is this something I would say to a friend?’. Be the observer! If we can become the observer of what we’re telling ourselves, then we have a far better chance of changing whatever is going on in our heads. Try it.

Writing thoughts down is a good way to start to see patterns. Get a cheap journal and give it a go.

Create new beliefs to change our lives

Bottom line

It’s important to remember that it’s only US that can make us happy but before we can really do this, we need to know ourselves really well first. It’s also important to note that we have to take responsibility ourselves to become the observer and take steps to bring happiness to us. It won’t just come knocking at the door, so we have to nudge ourselves in the right direction and then be ready to open that door.

So if we find ourselves stuck in negative thought patterns, try implementing one thing and see if it makes a difference. If not, try something else. Once we’ve mastered one thing, move on to the next and keeeeeeeeeeeeep going 🙂

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