Transform your life with positive thinking

IT is a funny thing, but when I’m trying to achieve something and I notice that someone says “You can do it!”, I wonder what makes him think so. But if someone says “You’re doing what? I don’t think that’s possible!”, I’m convinced they know what they’re talking about.

Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson suggests this is because negative thoughts are stronger than positive thoughts. In her book

she suggests that for every negative thought, we need three positive ones to undo the damage.

That’s not an easy thing to do but it is possible, especially if you work at it consciously.

Fredrickson suggests “broaden and build”, meaning that you train yourself to become more aware of the positive things in your life and move to enhance their effects.

To do this, set aside a few minutes each day to think about the positive things that have happened to you: the stranger who held a door open for you, your being able to help out a neighbour with something or the fact that you took the stairs instead of the lift, meaning you’re committing to a healthier lifestyle.

At the same time, learn to look for regular negative self-thoughts and cut them out. For example, when you’re trying to exercise more, there might be that voice saying “You’ll give up like you always do”.

Learn to spot that nasty thought and fight it by making a list of your strengths instead. Then dismiss the negative thought by saying to yourself, “Today one set of stairs and two tomorrow” or “I passed my exams, I passed my job interview, I can walk up a set of stairs every day too”. It’s a small achievement but feeling the positivity in your life will give you a big boost in the happiness department. Try it and see.