For achieving happiness “Change your thoughts and you change your world”- Norman Vincent Peal.
There’s no tried-and-true recipe for achieving happiness, but there are things we can do to help us feel more positive. For example, we can change our thoughts.
That’s simple enough, right? Well, it is far easier said than done, and for some, it may seem way too abstract for one to really understand how to change their thoughts. So, let’s start with one specific change you can make to actively change how you process negative emotions and thoughts.
Rationalize negative emotions and thoughts.
Often, we battle with feelings of sadness and unhappiness that stem from negative thoughts. Dissect those thoughts, where they come from, and why you’re allowing them to have so much power over you.
Very often those emotions are a byproduct of a process by which we let our thoughts run wild and start believing everything we are thinking, even if it’s far-fetched.
For example, let’s say you are interviewing for a job, are feeling nervous, and start thinking, “I can’t do this” or “I’ll never get this job”. Now, let’s take that thought process and dissect it. Why can’t you do this? Just because it seems difficult does not mean it won’t happen for you. You have a call back for an interview, so clearly you are in the running for the job. It is okay to be nervous, but don’t let these negative thoughts make you under-confident.
Other examples of common thoughts that lead to a lot of negative emotions are, “I’m not good enough”, or “I don’t deserve this”. Whenever I feel this way I ask myself, why? Next, I counteract those negative thoughts with positive ones: “I am as good as anyone else, and if there is something, I’m not good at then I can improve. I have worked hard and put in the effort, so I deserve this just as much as anyone else”.
Don’t sell yourself short and let negative thoughts take you to a dark place. Learn to recognize when these negative thoughts are taking over, affecting your emotions and behavior. There is plenty of material that can be found on the power of positive thinking and the reason is because of how effective it is.
Try applying this simple method to your everyday life and see the difference it makes. A more positive outlook will help you find the silver lining in tough situations and hard times.
