Lately, I have been working towards thinking more positively and having a better outlook on life. Just doing this has already changed my world greatly.
My life isn’t perfect and I understand that no one else’s life is as well. Everyone has something that might make them sad, angry, scared, etc. and I understand that in some circumstances it can be quite difficult to see the positive.
However, no matter how bad life seems to be going for you, I believe that having a positive outlook on life and engaging in positive thinking exercises can change your life. Learning how to be positive can be a great thing as there are many benefits of positive thinking.
You’re probably wondering “How does being positive relate to Making Sense of Cents?”
This is a topic I am discussing on my blog because being negative can impact many areas in a person’s life.
Being negative can impact your finances in that you may never think you will get out of debt. Then, because of this you give up and let the debt keep piling up because you don’t see a way out.
Being negative can impact your career because you may think that you are permanently stuck with a job you hate.
Being negative can make a person think they don’t deserve certain things in life such as traveling, family, friends, fun, and so on.
The list goes on and on.
Due to the reasons above, I thought this topic would be perfect to talk about today. I believe that being positive can help improve your financial situation, your career situation, your life, and everything else.
Below are some of the many benefits of positive thinking.
Being positive can help motivate you in life.
The first of the many benefits of positive thinking is that it can help motivate you. It can motivate you in life because it can help you realize that you are in charge of your life.
If you are positive about things going on in your life, then you most likely will set goals for yourself and strive to achieve those goals. This is because you believe that good things are possible and that you are in charge of your destiny.
By being positive, you will hopefully feel more motivated to get out of debt, to find your dream job, to travel the world, or to do whatever else in life that you want to do.
Being positive will help you stop fretting about the past.
If you have a positive mindset, that means you are no longer dwelling on the past. You will realize that you cannot change the past, and all you can do is realize what happened and how you can improve for the future.
Dwelling on the past will get you no where in life and all you are doing is wasting your time. Instead, make positive changes and learn for the future.
Being positive can change your outlook on life.
Being negative can limit yourself and your abilities greatly. If you think you cannot do something, then you most likely will not. Negative thoughts can make you feel stuck, they can make you feel like there is no way out of your problem, and that you have no options.
This is why you should stop acting negative and be more positive instead.
Being positive can help you realize that you are able to do things. Being positive will help you realize that you are in control of your life. Being positive will help you realize that little things in life will not kill you. Being positive will also help you move on and deal with stressful situations better.
Everything in your life will be impacted if you choose to live more optimistically.
How to be positive with positive thinking exercises.
So, how does a person learn how to be positive? Now that you’ve read the many benefits of positive thinking, I’m sure you are interested in trying it out and seeing if it works.
Here are my positive thinking exercises so you can learn how to be positive today:
- Instead of saying “I can’t,” say “I can!”
- Smile more. Smiling is contagious! Studies have also proven that smiling can improve your mood as well. Even if you have to force a smile, just do it.
- Be optimistic. This is one of the positive thinking exercises that you must do no matter what. No matter how bad things are, you should try to think about the positive things going on in your life. Think about how you can improve your life and how you are in charge.
- Be thankful for what you have.
- Don’t try to keep up with others or compare yourself to others in a negative way. Yes, you can use others as motivation as long as it’s what you truly want.
- Remember you are in control of your life. If you are unhappy at your job, then do something about it. If you are unhappy about your finance situation, then change your situation.
- Forget about regret. Regret doesn’t get you anywhere in life and this is an important step when learning how to be positive in life.
- Do nice things for others. You’ll help someone else be more positive and you’ll be helping yourself as well. This can mean carrying someone’s groceries, saying hello to strangers, volunteering somewhere, and more.
Do you believe in the benefits of positive thinking? Why or why not? What positive thinking exercises do you do?
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Being positive is so very important. I cannot remember who quoted this but it has stuck with me, it is 10 two letter words “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
Everyone has that person in their life who is toxic, they are never happy! Sometimes you have to separate yourself from them if only for a while. If you struggle with being negative try to find someone who is positive to be around and emulate them.
Great quote! Very uplifting.
Yes, exactly!
I agree 🙂
Love what you said – ” Life is simply too short to have a bad attitude about it.”
I come at this from a counseling point of view (my grad degree)… I’m a big believer in cognitive behavioral therapy, which basically says that our behavior is shaped by our thoughts, and that changing the way we think about things can change our behavior. So, yes, looking at things in a more positive light certainly can help us change our behavior.
That being said, I’m not an inherently positive person, so this is something I often have to remind myself about!
Yes, you should do it more often! 🙂
I love this! It doesn’t cost any money to be positive 🙂 I agree with smiling – it instantly makes me feel better. Plus having my dogs makes me feel more positive in general. They always brighten up my day!
Thanks Kristin!
I would add also exercising and eating well. 🙂 I always feel better after working out!
Yes, same here!
I definitely believe in the power of positive thinking. I used to be stuck in a really negative mindset, and it never made life enjoyable. When I learned about cognitive psychology and the fact that you truly have power over your thoughts, I decided to harness that power. I get upset from time to time, but I always make an effort to be more positive. It’s well worth it!
Yes, well worth it 🙂
I am a firm believer in positive thinking. Every night before I go to bed, I reflect on my day and make note of the positive things that happened to me. Even when bad things happen, I try to find the silver lining. Then when I wake up in the morning, I get excited for the day and the endless possibilities that it offers. Throughout the day, I keep my eye out for positive things and when they happen, I acknowledge that I am thankful for them.
To some, this might sound odd, but doing this is a great cycle to be in. When you are positive you see the good in life. This makes you happy. When you are happy, you are more motivated to do things which leads to greater success. The more successful you are, the more opportunity comes your way and you can do more good in life. The cycle just keeps repeating and compounding upon itself.
Yes, definitely a great cycle to be in. If only more people realized that.
I feel really fortunate that I am a naturally optimistic person. My mom is not and she lives with us now, and it’s awful sometimes to hear nothing but negativity come out of her. I truly believe that we receive the energy we put out there so I put out lots of positivity and hope to get it in return, and so far, I believe that it does.
Hopefully she will start to be more positive. Living with a negative person would be hard!
When I think of NOT being positive, I think of all the commenters on Yahoo. They could pick apart a nun who goes barefoot because she donated her last pair of shoes to someone in need. Negativity really is an excuse for why you aren’t accomplishing your goals.
Yes! I was thinking about that today! Comment trolls can be horrible.
It’s definitely attitude not aptitude that determines your accomplishments and general happiness.
To me, attitude is the sum of positive thinking, gratitude and belief. All three combine to create a potent force for good. I’d love to say, I’ve got them all happening at all times but I’m definitely working on it… every day.
Thanks for the reminder Michelle.
Welcome Diane 🙂
I definitely agree that being positive can help you in many aspects of life. I start out most days by reading positive affirmations or looking at the positive things on my vision boards.
Sounds like you start your day right. Good job!
Positive thinking has often been a challenge for me. I know the power of it but negative thinking is incredibly seductive, especially in trying times.
Millionaire mind was a big turn around point for me. I still fall into negative thinking from time to time but recognizing it makes it easier to pull yourself out of it quickly.
Negative thinking can be seductive, but it’s not good! 🙂
I believe that being positive makes me a happier person. Even though I try to stay positive, I do sometimes have negativity creep in. Focusing on what I’m grateful for in my own life helps me switch my mood back to positive.
Yes, thinking about what you’re grateful for in life is a great way to switch back to a positive mood.