How to Be Positive: Can we rewire our brains to see the glass half full?

Recently, I posted a video in my FREE Facebook group all about how to be positive. I believe addressing your mindset is the most important step to unlock your success. Why? Because your thoughts drive your actions, and your actions become your habits.

It becomes much easier to make choices aligned with your goals when you know what triggers your self-limiting beliefs, how to put an end to your excuses, and how to stay calm in moments of intensity.

Your life depends on your thoughts…

Your thoughts become your actions… Your actions become your habits… Your habits demonstrate who you are on a daily basis.

Many of my habit coaching clients know that their thoughts about WHY they can’t achieve their goals are holding them back. They know comparing themselves to others is a waste of time. They know the excuses they make are not serving them. Yet. they don’t know how to be more positive.

Think of negative thoughts as uninvited party crashers…

Imagine if your mind was your home. You obviously want to keep your home in top notch condition… clean, a positive space, a happy place. Think of negative thoughts as uninvited house guests barging into your home and disrupting the peace. As the home owner, you have the option to let these house guests in, or you can choose to not to answer the front door, observing them on your front porch & waiting until they leave.

You CAN make it a habit to observe and dismiss your negative thoughts. It just takes practice.

How to be positive in 5 simple steps…

1. Feed and acknowledge your positive thoughts.

Fuel your mind with positive media, books, people, and activities. Throughout the day ask yourself, “What will create a happier, lighter energy in you?” Do more of what puts you in a state of joy. Turn off junk TV shows. Respect yourself enough to end relationships with people who bring you down. Find a way to make more time for activities and people you love. When you notice yourself in a positive state, ask yourself what started it? How can you do more of that?

Here a few of my favorite ways to shift into a more positive, calm state…

• Exercise
• Nature walks
• Transcendental Meditation
• Guided Meditation
• Quality time with my cats 😉
• Singing
• Listening to music
• Going to the sauna
• Taking a few deep breaths
• Journaling
• Taking an epsom salt bath
• Thinking about what’s going right/what’s good in my life right now
• Writing a thank you note
• Reading a personal development book
• Visualizing
• Listening to a personal development podcast
• Connecting with people in my free Health Coach Nation Facebook Group

Think about how to be positive through your actions.

2. Articulate your negative thoughts.

In order to have a breakthrough, we have to break down the negative thoughts holding us back.

For example, when I used to be owned by perfectionism, I would get annoyed when I saw other people relaxing. I would think to myself, “That person is lazy. Why aren’t they being productive?” Harsh, I know! The reason I was thinking that: because I was depriving myself of relaxation. I was bitter about it.

Once I identified this as a common pattern, I was able to see that my thoughts were a direct result of my self-deprivation. I secretly wanted to be able to “turn off” and relax like others could, but I didn’t allow it. Realizing this was the first step towards my recovery.

3. Recite release statements (instead of affirmations).

Unlike positive affirmations- which might feel inauthentic- release statements shift you into a solutions-oriented state of being.

For example, “I forgive myself for getting distracted this morning. I choose to re-focus my attention on my top priorities for the rest of today.”

Or if you’re upset with someone, you can say, “It’s okay to feel this way sometimes. Once the anger calms down, I’m going to set up a time to discuss the issues with _________ (fill in whoever is causing the anger).”

Release statements help you observe and address your thoughts instead of letting them own you.

4. Practice inquiry.

When you want to redirect your attention towards empowerment and positivity, ask yourself a powerful question. Write down your answers in a journal, or take a moment to reflect silently. Here are some examples of powerful questions to choose from:

• How will I avoid distractions today?
• What’s one more good choice I can make today?
• How can I build my confidence today?
• How can I “lean in” at work today?
• What does excellence look like for me today?
• What would be my best next choice?
• How can I make the rest of my day the best of my day?
• What is the worst thing that can happen? Can I live with that?

When you ask yourself these powerful questions, you are bringing yourself into this moment, dis-identifying with your pain or negativity, and training your brain to focus on positive action steps.

It’s amazing how quickly you can go from feeling overwhelmed to confident.

5. Reframe your perspective every day.

In the book The Obstacle is the Way, author Ryan Holiday writes that one of the best skills you can learn is “reframing.” This means choosing to see every situation as something that is happening in your favor. When you reframe, you are 100% in control of any challenge.

So, if you are going through a stressful or uncomfortable phase in your life right now, you’re not stuck or broken. Create a new story that benefits you. I always remind my clients of one of my favorite quotes from The Zen and Art of Happiness, “Everything that happens to me is the best possible thing that could happen to me.”

Choose to believe that the universe has your back. The most inspiring people turn their tragedies and shortcomings into their greatest assets and opportunities for growth.

Want to chat?

I’m looking for women who want to change their health and mindset, but struggle with consistent follow through.

My signature system will help you form unbeatable daily habits that will keep you healthy, strong, and motivated to be your best self for life, even when obstacles arise. I’d love to chat with you and get your feedback.