Smart Habits to Become a Positive Thinker

By Tabitha Britt 

It seems like the busier the day gets, the easier it is to focus on the negative – especially on a Monday. You may feel overworked, tired, and stressed out, which can cause negative thoughts to wiggle their way into your mind. 

While you're probably aware of the fact that positive thinking is better for your mental state, you might be surprised to learn that thinking positively is good for your overall health, too. In fact, research has proven that positive thinking has a variety of benefits, from improving your psychological well-being to boosting your self-confidence. 

But that leaves us with the overarching question: How does one effectively replace negative thoughts with positive ones? Fortunately, it's not as hard as you may think. Even if you're not a full-on optimist, there are a few things you can do to catch a ride on the good vibes train. 

Start the day off right with a positive affirmation. 

This may sound ridiculous, but you'd be surprised by how much of a difference just one powerful and positive affirmation can make. Think about it – the way you start the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day, so why not give it a shot?

Instead of letting the alarm clock and the delayed subway line ruin your morning, start your day with a healthy statement like, "I'm going to be awesome today." 

Don't forget to laugh. 

Sometimes, laughing really is the best medicine. For learning's sake, let's think about the worst situation possible: You come into work only to realize you've been laid off. What do you do? Instead of sulking, imagine the most absurd way you could spend your last day. You could even think about what ridiculous job you'll get next, like a bubblegum sculptor. 

Turn those negative thoughts into positive thoughts. 

It's pretty easy to talk down to yourself. Sometimes, negative self-talk creeps up without notice. Thoughts like "I'm so bad at this," or "I definitely shouldn't have tried that," are a dime a dozen. If you catch yourself thinking this way, flip the script. Instead of thinking you're bad at something, think: "If I practice this a few more times, I'll be a champ."