| Positive Attitude 101 | |||
How to Practice Positive Thinking |
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| Grab a pen and paper. Right here and right now, we are going to dismantle
a negative thought pattern and replace it with (you guessed it) positive thinking! This technique
takes only a few minutes and can yield tremendous results. 1) Find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted for at least 30 minutes. Turn off the phone, and remove any other potential distractions. 2) Sit quietly for a moment and think of a goal, desire or situation you are facing where you are lacking a positive attitude or where you are less than completely content. It may be a relationship that needs repair, a worry you are struggling with, a business you want to start or some important task that you have been avoiding. Maybe you have to give a speech and you are feeling apprehensive. It can be small or large. 3) On top of the page, write a title for your goal, desire or situation. 4) Without stopping, write all negative attitudes, beliefs, and criticisms that come to mind around this topic. Once you get rolling, you may need more than one page! Write down attitudes about you (I am ..) and others (He/She is...) and the world (It is…) and what you fear will happen. Think of this as mentally 'throwing up'. Be intent on expressing all negative attitudes completely and honestly. You will destroy this paper and no one will ever read it, so do not sugar coat. Most importantly, do not stop writing to edit or evaluate. 5) When you feel like all the statements are complete, put down your pen and reflect how you feel. You may feel a slight lift in your attitude at this point. The simple act of expressing negative attitudes can be a relief, but you’re not done. Your thinking on this topic is getting a complete overhaul today! 6) Think of good friend or loved one, past or present - someone you really care about. Image that person coming to you with a similar goal, desire or situation. How would you feel if they confided in you the same negative attitudes and statements? You might feel some compassion for that person. You would want to set them straight, right? Good! 7) As if you are playing the role of rational friend or family member, write a rational rebuttal / counter to each negative statement. Keep them short (one to three sentences) and simple. You now have a rough list of your personal positive affirmations. 8) Review, refine and practice these affirmations 20 minutes every day for the next four weeks. In a short while, you will develop a powerful, sizeable list of affirmations.
Like any deeply rooted habit, overcoming your negative self talk will required a moderate amount of practice. But it is not difficult to develop and master this skill. The positive impact on your attitude and self-confidence will be tremendous. |
| Articles | ||
| What Is Self-Talk? | Positive Attitude 101 | Self Talk Improves Mood Instantly | How to Handle Procrastination | ||
| Self Talk Programs | ||
| Self Motivation | Building Self Esteem and Self Confidence | Think and Grow Rich | Weight Loss Motivation | Motivation to Exercise | Sales Motivation | Weight Loss | Financial Success | Health and Fitness | Personal Productivity | Career Success | Fulfilling Relationships | Personal Best | ||
| Recommended Personal Development Resources (complete directory) | ||
| Self Help Links | Self-Talk Articles on the Web | |
| THOUGHT FOR THE DAY | |
| Most of us are about as happy as we make our minds up to be. | |
| US PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN | |
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