MIND & THINKING - How to think positively

7 days 7 ways: Take these daily steps to a more
optimistic outlook. 

One goal for positive thinking for each day of the week.

Turn your negative thinking around and live a happier, more optimistic life. Start with one goal for positive thinking each day.

Monday

Start with the simple things and smile. Even this basic act will make you feel happier.

Researchers at Barnard College in the US studied people who had undergone Botox and found the lack of facial expressions infl uenced their ability to feel emotions. Starting the day with a smile makes you happier.

Tuesday

Identify your strengths.

Psychologist Dr Tim Sharp, from The Happiness Institute, says, "We all need to work on and/or manage our weaknesses and limitations, but there's no doubt those who spend more time building on what they're already good at tend to be happier, healthier and more successful."

Wednesday

Choose to be happy.

Philosopher Bertrand Russell said: "Happiness must be, for most men and women, an achievement rather than a gift of the gods."

Eat a lunch that makes you smile, put on music that brings back happy memories or call a friend who always makes you feel good.

Thursday

Find a solution.

There's one for every problem if you look hard enough. Rather than risking disturbing your sleep by thinking late at night, Dr Sharp recommends finding the time of day when you're most creative and thinking most clearly to find solutions.

"We're all different so find what time works for you."

Friday

Be grateful. We tend to forget all the simple things we have to be grateful for, so take some time to write them down. Start with the basics (health, family, shelter) and then move on to more specific items. Starting a gratitude journal can also help hone your focus on all the good things in your life.

Saturday

Turn negative talk into optimism. "Real optimism includes an active search for and focus on positive things, but it's also grounded in realism," Dr Sharp says. "Aim for flexible thinking that focuses on positives as often as possible, but that also focuses on challenges when necessary, in a constructive way."

Sunday

Keep focused. Plan your week around what's going to make you feel positive. Having a short-term, mid-term and long-term goal to improve your life will see you focused on a better future. If you know what you want, and deal with any issues that come up along the way, you'll have a more positive frame of mind.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/