We all have people in our lives who are ever positive – those who carry a warm smile and look into the future with hope and optimism, despite having many things weighing on their heart and mind.

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Some are even buoyant and bubbly to the point that they radiate that positivity onto others.

Such positive-thinking people focus on that which is great, and see the possibilities that life has to offer. There is no “I can’t”, but only “I can”. Instead of thinking “Life is too hard on me, I will never get what I want”, they think “Life is redirecting me to better opportunities”.

A positive person sees obstacles as opportunities. She anticipates happiness, contentment, success, and health. As Napoleon Hill said, “What the mind can achieve, it can conceive.” We at R.A.W Inside Out are firm believers that we attract that which we desire, and we create opportunities and situations towards that end. Countless authors continue to highlight the power of positivity. Nevertheless, there are still people who are doubtful, calling this concept useless gibberish, even scorning at “followers”. Yes, positive thinking is contagious but beware, because negativity is equally transmittable.

Negative Emotions

Negative emotions not only manifest as thoughts but also as depression and destructive behaviour. Some people are so bitter that it seeps into their daily life. Positive growth is hindered in this environment, and the ground is fertile for anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Negative thoughts create fear, which is the way to failure, dissatisfaction, and regret. Fear is the thing blocking people from achieving their dreams and desires.

There are four types of negative thinking that we need to eliminate as much as possible:

All-Or-Nothing Thinking: “I have to do things perfectly because anything less than perfect is a failure.”

Disqualifying The Positives: “Life feels like one disappointment after another.”

Negative Self-Labeling: “I feel like a failure. I’m flawed. If people knew the real me, they wouldn’t like me.”

Catastrophizing: “If something is going to happen, it’ll probably be the worst-case scenario.”

We might be exercising such negative behaviour subconsciously. If relating to any of the four types of negative thinking mentioned above; the only way to divert negative thoughts to positive ones is by acknowledging and understanding any pessimistic emotions. Changing one’s attitude and behaviour does not happen overnight.

Your Life Is Your Responsibility

Having a positive attitude makes us experience an abundance of happy feelings and contentment. Positive emotions broaden our view of the world and keep our mind open to more choices. It makes us more confident, our voice more powerful, and our beneficial impact on the world enormous.

Here are five ways to start eradicating negative thoughts and to welcome positive emotions into our lives:

1. Understand Criticism

There are two types of criticism – constructive criticism and mean criticism. Constructive criticism is good as its purpose is to help others to improve their work. On the other hand, mean criticism is harmful, with someone wrongly condemning others, making them doubt their capabilities. Positive people know the difference between these two and do not let themselves be affected by the latter.

2. Do Not Play The Victim

“Playing the victim” mentality is lethal. Truth is, life is unfair. Misery and pain can knock on our door at any time of the day, but it’s up to us if we let these dreadful energies control our lives. When we indulge in self-pity, we become self-absorbed and selfish, and less aware of the suffering of others. You are the master of your own destiny. You can’t change your past but you can change your future!

3. Meditate

Meditation is an instrument that helps us to connect with our deeper emotions and be aware of our strength and weakness. Whether negative or positive thoughts, meditation guides us to understand these emotions better. To be able to eliminate negative thinking one must be aware of the cause of it.

4. Replace The Word “Problem” With “Challenge”

This is a mantra for everyone to follow. “Challenge” sounds better than “problem”, as it gives us a motivation to solve it. Do ask life to give you strength to face any challenges it throws at you.

5. Surround Yourself With Positive People And Avoid The Negative Ones

You are the average of five people you hang out with. Remove toxic, energy-sucking people from your life. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to be the best person you can be. When you encircle yourself with positive people, you will start bouncing positive habits off each other.

No matter how positive you are, there will be moments where you forget the power of positive thinking. Write these steps in your journal and read them when you are feeling down. Better still, share these with loved ones who are having a life crisis today.

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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