Positive Thinking

Last month while Diane and I were pulling together topics for September and scheduling them, that this topic would be so appropriate.  Yesterday morning one of my daughters sent me an email "...I came in this morning and was let go ... Yes, Fired!"  She had been working at this job for the past seven and half years.  Caught up in the economic fall-out and it was a numbers game like so many others, including myself early last year.

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it. Among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines optimism as having "hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favourable or hopeful view." The word is originally derived from the Latin optimum, meaning "best." Being optimistic, in the typical sense of the word, ultimately means one expects the best possible outcome from any given situation.

Positive thinking techniques

If you’d like to tackle problems with self-esteem, put positive thinking to work for you.  Follow these simple tips to create a more positive attitude:

• Take care of yourself.  As you begin to follow a healthier lifestyle, you are giving yourself the message that you are worth taking care of.  Even if you’re not sure yet if you believe that, you’ll soon start to feel better physically, and that will help you feel more positive.  Exercise several times a week, eat healthy foods, and learn some relaxation techniques for when you need to take a stress break.
• Surround yourself with positive energy.  Make sure that the people around you are optimistic in their outlooks.  Nothing is more contagious than negativity, so try to banish it in your environment.
• Spot-check your attitude.  Several times a day, take a moment to analyze what you’re thinking.  Are you being positive or negative?  If the latter, try to reframe the situation in more positive terms.  By becoming more self-conscious about your negativity, you’ll learn to curb it.
• Use positive self-talk.  Encourage yourself by giving yourself positive affirmations; e.g., “I am a self-confident individual who has much to offer.”  Avoid the use of “could-a” and “should-a” messages to yourself. Change what you need to change, and try not to beat yourself up in the process.  Allow a little humor into your talk.  Laughing at yourself and at life does reduce stress.

Quotes:

• Positive and negative are directions. Which direction do you choose? ~ Remez Sasson
• Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.~ Oprah Winfrey
• A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.~ Mahatma Gandhi
• Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.~Willie Nelson
• Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence. ~Helen Keller
• Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours. ~ Swedish Proverb

Please share with us some of your favorite  quotes and thoughts on positive thinking.