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How to change your thinking from negative to positive – 4 methods that really work

By Operation Meditation

how to change thinking from negative to positive

Are you stuck in an ever-deepening spiral of negative thoughts? We all have negative thoughts from time to time, but if you are feeling overwhelmed by the negative in your mind it is time for a change. Try these ideas for a new view on life:

Let go of the fear

Fear is the most paralyzing of all emotions. Like a deer in the headlights, if you are in the grip of fear, you are unable to move. Identifying the presence of fear in your life is an important first step in changing your thinking from negative to positive. Often fear puts on a disguise and pretends to be another emotion – especially anger. If you are feeling especially angry and negative about something then carefully consider why? Is that colleague that infuriates you really making you afraid that you won’t be considered for the promotion? Labelling and ‘outing’ the fear in your life can give you the courage to face it and, eventually, let it go.

Practice meditation

More than 2 decades ago, Dr Jeffrey Schwartz, a leading world expert in the field of neuro-plasticity and a student of meditation, showed how changing your thoughts can reprogram your brain. In his ground breaking research, he taught his patients how frequent refocusing can change the nature of their thinking to intentional rather than automatic. Not only did he give the world a new treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder, he also showed clearly how the practice of mindfulness can give people greater control over their lives.

You can also benefit from his research – learning how to meditate is simple and rewarding, as you rapidly begin to experience the many benefits that the practice of meditation can bring in your life. Meditation also increases the neuro-plasticity of your brain. This is the ability of your brain to change for the better. Like exercise for the body, meditation leads to better brain fitness – you will find yourself able to change your thinking from negative to positive for good!

World Peace – does it start with you?

“Attacking the self with criticism and negativity is one of the most common forms of violence… Peace begins with me. When I take responsibility for changing my consciousness, another giant step towards world peace is taken”, Judith Pemell in The Soul Illuminated.

Are you your own harshest critic? Before you can begin to see the outside world through more rosy glasses, you need first to silence your own inner critic. Be kind to yourself! Right now, write down 5 things that you like about yourself, that you are good at, or that you have ever done that you are proud of. Try to add something to your list every day – make sure you put it somewhere that you can see it if you start to stray down the negative path.

Turn off the chatter

Commit to finding time every week (or even better, every day) to switch off – silence the phone, turn off the computer, television and any other electronic gadgets you might have. If you can convince your whole household to do the same, it will be even better. If you have friends or family members that constantly bombard you with negativity or toxic gossip, then work out a strategy to limit this in your life, too. Negativity is contagious, but so is being positive – the more you immerse yourself in the positive – positive thoughts, people and media, than the easier you will find it to permanently change your thinking from negative to positive.

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