> The Power of Positive Thinking

Saturday, June 18, 2005

The Power of Positive Thinking

Imagine being 17, you’re contemplating where you want to go with your life, trying to fit in with the cliques, do well in school and deal with the usual teenage pressures. (Bring back memories?)

Then, what seems out of nowhere you receive a trinket of advice, “Happiness is a switch in your head and you don’t have to reach for it through your rectal orifice.”

OK, how is that supposed to help and what does it mean??

Now let’s fast forward a bit….

Several years ago, I think I reached the lowest point; business was slower than molasses, my son was being bullied at school and I had the stress of trying to sell my house. I spent a lot of time crying on my dad’s shoulder. Once again, with love, that phrase reappeared on the scene…”Pam, happiness is just a switch in your head…”

Honestly, I wanted to scream…hearing that made me feel worse rather than better -- like something was wrong with me because I was not able to “flip that switch”.

I spent time digesting those words, trying to understand the very meaning. Feeling that I was already at the end of my rope, I was ready to try anything. Heck, what did I have to lose and what could thinking a few positive thoughts hurt?

It took some time and practice, believe me. There were times when I did not believe what I was saying to myself. Once I shifted my beliefs and continued to practice replacing my negative thoughts with positive ones, the more I began to act and feel positively and I’ll be darned if things did not start changing. I began to smile more, I no longer woke up with a dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach, money worries dwindled, I started living my life with purpose, felt less stress, and even lost weight (which was a goal).

We all have that negative self-talk in our heads, especially when it comes to making changes. It’s natural. We also have the power within us to turn that negative self-talk around and replace it with positive beliefs, thoughts, and feelings.

Here are just a few suggestions to help get those positive thoughts and feelings flowing:

1) Draft at least three really powerful affirmations that are centered on your goals, beliefs and desires. Something that resonates with you and ignites a fire.

2) Make sure that the affirmations are written in the present tense, for example, if your goal is to lose weight, your affirmation could be “I am always able to maintain my ideal weight of <ideal weight>”.

3) Say your affirmations 10 times each right when you wake up and 30 minutes before bed.

4) When a negative feeling begins try turning that negative into a positive. For example, “I can’t do this” can be changed to “I can do this and I am a success at everything I do.” Keep repeating that positive saying until the negative feeling disappears.

Just remember, you don’t have to deal with negative thoughts and feelings alone!

If something about this entry triggered a thought, feeling, comment or question, by all means, please share it here. Together we can make a difference.

Until next time, be well…

Pam

Comments

"Happiness is just a switch in my head." I like it! I also like your suggestions for how folks can get out of their own way so they can flip that switch!

Posted by Stacy Brice on 20/06/2005

Hi Stacy,

Thank you for your comments. I greatly appreciate them. It is not uncommon for us to get in our own way. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of support and encouragement to learn how to move aside so that positive things can happen.

Be well...

Pam

Posted by Pam on 06/07/2005